SpearfishingMap

Jamaica

Americas · Caribbean

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Jamaica but heavily restricted. A valid fishing licence/registration from the National Fisheries Authority is required (the Fisheries Act, 2018 mandates licences for recreational fishing). Spearfishing with impaling devices (spearguns, Hawaiian slings) is prohibited at night, between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010 (government-funded replacement with Hawaiian slings) and night diving for spearfishing was banned from the same date; a special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical underwater-breathing devices used for fishing. All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited inside designated Special Fishery Conservation Areas (fish sanctuaries) and marine parks (e.g. Montego Bay Marine Park) except under licence/permission. Closed seasons apply to spiny lobster (Apr 1 – Jun 30) and queen conch (declared annually). Spearfishing is widely cited as the single greatest threat to Jamaica's marine biodiversity.

Restricted
Datuen fidagarritasunaKonfiantza ertaina

Azken eguneraketa Apirila 22, 2026

Arau-esparrua

  • §The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018)
  • §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)
  • §The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
  • §The Fisheries (Spiny Lobster) Regulations and amendments (2009, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2026)
  • §The Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023
Baimena beharrezkoa
Beharrezkoa
Arpoia
Baimenduta

Legea, hitzez hitz

Lege-testuak

Hemen arpoiarekin arrantzatzea arautzen duten xedapen araugile eta arauzko zehatza, argitaratutakoak aipatuak, iturri ofizial bakoitzeko esteka batekin.

01Regulation 4(1)Jamaica · national

Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence

The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012

ENJatorrizkoa

No person shall fish in a special fishery conservation area except in accordance with a license issued by the Licensing Authority.

02Amendment provision on impaling devicesJamaica · national

Ban on use of impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling) at night

Fishing Industry Act amendment (2011) / Fishing Industry Regulations

ENJatorrizkoa

A person shall not, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. use for the purpose of harvesting fish, any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device.

Noiz urpean sar zaitezken

Denboraldiak eta denbora-mugak

Urteko itxitako, irekitako eta mugatutako aldiak. Egiaztatu beti espeziearen arabera lokalean.

Urt
Ots
Mar
Api
Mai
Eka
Uzt
Abu
Ira
Urr
Aza
Abe
ItxitaMugatutaIrekita
  • ItxitaSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobsterApi 1 – Eka 30

    Annual closed season for spiny lobster. Fishing for any species of spiny lobster during the closed season is illegal; possession without special permission is also illegal during this period.

    jis.gov.jm
  • ItxitaQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)Abu 30 – Ots 28

    Annual queen conch closed season (dates as cited for the 2023 regulations; declared/varied annually by the National Fisheries Authority). During the closed season it is illegal to possess, sell, process or trade any conch products or by-products, under the Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023.

    jis.gov.jm

Arrantza-baimena

Baimena

Uretara sartzeko behar duzuna, zenbat kostatzen den eta nola lortu.

Baimena beharrezkoaNational Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining bidez

Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.

Lortu zure baimena

Atari ofiziala irekitzen du · fisheries.gov.jm

Baimena beharrezkoa
Mota
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
Kostua
unknown
Baliozkotasuna
Renewed annually
Nola lortu
Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
Agintaritza
National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Lizentzia-atari ofiziala · fisheries.gov.jm

Ekipajea eta teknika

Ekipaje-arauak

Zer ekipaje dagoen baimenduta, nola erabil daitekeen eta aplikatzen diren baldintzak.

ArpoiaBaimenduta

Murrizketak

  • Impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling or any other impaling device) may not be used to harvest fish between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (night spearfishing ban).
  • Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010, with a government programme replacing them with Hawaiian slings.
  • Night diving for spearfishing was banned effective 31 March 2010.
  • A special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical devices used for underwater-breathing purposes for fishing (effective 31 March 2010).
  • Zero tolerance for fishing with dynamite, bleach or other toxic substances.

Spearfishing remains legal by day under licence using permitted gear (notably Hawaiian slings). The legal status of mechanical/band spearguns is restrictive: the government ran a buy-back/replacement programme favouring Hawaiian slings, and night use of any impaling device is prohibited.

Zer har dezakezun

Harrapaketa-mugak eta babestutako espezieak

Eguneroko kuotak, tamaina minimoak eta inoiz hartu behar ez diren espezieak.

Eguneroko muga

unknown

Babestutako espezieak — ez hartu

  • BabestuaSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
  • BabestuaQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
  • BabestuaMarine turtles and corals are protected under wildlife/environmental law

Parrotfish are heavily advocated for protection and are key reef grazers, but as of the cited reporting they are not nationally banned. Targeting lobster or conch out of season, or undersized, is illegal regardless of method.

Nork arrantza egin dezakeen

Bisitariak eta bertakoek

Arauak nola desberdinak diren atzerriko bisitarientzat eta bertako bizilagunendako.

Atzerriko bisitariak

Eskakizunak

  • Same licensing/registration framework applies; a valid fishing licence from the National Fisheries Authority is required to spearfish.
  • Permission/letter required to fish within marine parks such as Montego Bay Marine Park.

Murrizketak

  • All national restrictions apply equally: no night spearfishing with impaling devices, no fishing in Special Fishery Conservation Areas/marine parks without a licence, closed seasons for lobster and conch.

No specific foreigner/tourist spearfishing regime was confirmed in authoritative sources. Tourists are generally expected to fish via licensed charters and are barred from sanctuaries and marine parks; independent confirmation from the NFA is recommended before spearfishing as a visitor.

Bizilaguneak

Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational or commercial) via the National Fisheries Authority

Eskakizunak

  • Register as a fisher and licence the vessel (commercial or recreational) with the Fisheries Division / NFA.
  • Hold a valid annually-renewed fishing licence to spearfish.

The Fisheries Act, 2018 exempts persons fishing from a pond on private property and persons using a fishing line from the seashore from licensing - this exemption does not cover spearfishing.

Kostan non

Baimendutako eta debekatutako eremuak

Arpoiarekin arrantzatzeko irekita edo itxita dauden eremu izendatuak. Ikusi irudi osoa mapa interaktiboan.

Debekatutako eremuak

Ikusi mapan

Uraren gaineko baldintzak

Baldintza biziak

Jamaicako kostaldeko erreferentzia-puntu baten ondoko itsas eta eguraldi-egoera bizia, Open-Meteo bidez. Baldintzak aldatzen dira kostaldean zehar — adierazgarritzat hartu.

Itsas eta eguraldi-baldintza biziak Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area ondoan.

Baldintzak

Nori galdetu

Agintariak

Arrantza eta baimenez arduratzen diren organo ofizialak.

  • National Fisheries Authority (NFA)

    fisheries authority

    fisheries.gov.jm+1 876 948 9014; fisheries@nfa.gov.jm

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

    government ministry

    new.moa.gov.jm

  • Maritime Authority of Jamaica

    maritime authority

    jeijamaica.gov.jm

Hemendik datorren informazioa

Iturriak

Orri honetako aldarrikapen bakoitza erreferentzia haietako batera lotzen da.

  1. [01]

    The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018) - full text PDF (scanned)

    Ofiziala
    fisheries.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  2. [02]

    The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012 - Jamaica Trade Information Portal

    Ofiziala
    jamaicatradeportal.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  3. [03]

    Legislation - National Fisheries Authority

    Ofiziala
    fisheries.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  4. [04]

    Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service

    Ofiziala
    jis.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  5. [05]

    Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO

    Ofiziala
    fao.orgSarbidea Eka 14
  6. [06]

    Annual Lobster Closed Season April 1 - June 30 - Jamaica Information Service

    Ofiziala
    jis.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  7. [07]

    No Changes to Existing Conch Close Season Regulations - Jamaica Information Service

    Ofiziala
    jis.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  8. [08]

    Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority

    Ofiziala
    fisheries.gov.jmSarbidea Eka 14
  9. [09]

    Hold the spear - Government pushed to implement new Fisheries Act - Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14)

    Bigarren mailakoa
    jamaica-gleaner.comSarbidea Eka 14

Ikertzailearen oharrak

Spearfishing in Jamaica is legal but restricted, governed primarily by the Fisheries Act, 2018 (which replaced the Fishing Industry Act, 1975 in October 2018) and subsidiary regulations. Confidence is MEDIUM rather than high because the official Fisheries Act 2018 PDF on the NFA site is a scanned/image-only document (JBIG2) that could not be machine-read to extract verbatim spearfishing/equipment sections; the verbatim night-impaling-device clause ('between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. ... any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device') is sourced from the Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14) which reported the Fishing Industry Act amendment, and the direct article URL returned HTTP 404 on access (text retrieved via search index); it should be re-verified against the consolidated statute. The verbatim Special Fishery Conservation Area Regulations 2012 Reg. 4(1) text and the 14 named conservation areas were retrieved from the official Jamaica Trade Information Portal. Coordinates for sanctuaries are approximate (town/bay level) and should be treated as indicative. The 2012 regulations list 14 Special Fishery Conservation Areas; media report a higher figure (18) including later additions - 13 named prohibited zones are listed here from the official regulation (Galleon appears twice in the source - as St. Elizabeth and as Galleon Harbour). License cost and daily/size catch limits specific to spearfishing were not confirmed in authoritative sources and are marked unknown.

Egunean egonGoiztiar sarbidea

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Mezu elektroniko bat bidaliko dizugu Jamaicako denboraldiak edo arauak gure datu-multzoan eguneratzen direnean.

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