SpearfishingMapa

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
Kumpiyansa ng datosKatamtamang kumpiyansa

Huling na-update Abril 22, 2026

Namamahalang balangkas

  • §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  • §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)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
Kinakailangan ang lisensya
Kinakailangan
Speargun
Pinahintulutan

Ang batas, verbatim

Mga legal na teksto

Ang eksaktong mga estatutoryo at regulatoryong probisyon na namamahala sa spearfishing dito, na-quote ayon sa nailathala, na may link sa bawat opisyal na pinagmulan.

01Regulation 4(1)Jamaica · national

Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence

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

ENOrihinal

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

ENOrihinal

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.

Kung kailan maaaring sumisid

Mga panahon at limitasyon sa oras

Mga sarado, bukas at limitadong panahon sa buong taon. Palaging kumpirmahin ang mga pagsasara na partikular sa isda nang lokal.

Ene
Peb
Mar
Abr
Mayo
Hun
Hul
Ago
Set
Okt
Nob
Dis
SaradoLimitadoBukas
  • SaradoSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobsterAbr 1 – Hun 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
  • SaradoQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)Ago 30 – Peb 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

Pahintulot na mangisda

Lisensya

Ano ang kailangan mo para maaari sa tubig, magkano ang halaga nito, at kung paano makuha ito.

Kinakailangan ang lisensyasa pamamagitan ng National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

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.

Kunin ang iyong lisensya

Nagbubukas ng opisyal na portal · fisheries.gov.jm

Kinakailangan ang lisensya
Uri
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
Halaga
unknown
Bisa
Renewed annually
Paano makuha
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.
Awtoridad
National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Opisyal na portal sa pagpapalisensya · fisheries.gov.jm

Gear at teknik

Mga patakaran sa kagamitan

Anong kagamitan ang pinahintulutan, kung paano ito maaaring gamitin, at ang mga kondisyon na nakakabit dito.

SpeargunPinahintulutan

Mga Paghihigpit

  • 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.

Ano ang maaaring kunin

Mga limitasyon sa huli at mga protektadong isda

Mga araw-araw na quota, pinakamaliit na sukat, at mga isdang hindi dapat kunin.

Araw-araw na limitasyon

unknown

Mga protektadong isda — huwag kunin

  • ProtektadoSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
  • ProtektadoQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
  • ProtektadoMarine 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.

Sino ang maaaring mangisda

Mga bisita at residente

Kung paano naiiba ang mga patakaran para sa mga dayuhang bisita at lokal na residente.

Mga dayuhang bisita

Mga Kinakailangan

  • 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.

Mga Paghihigpit

  • 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.

Mga residente

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

Mga Kinakailangan

  • 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.

Saan sa baybayin

Mga pinahintulutan at ipinagbabawal na zone

Mga pinangalanang lugar na bukas o sarado para sa spearfishing. Tingnan ang buong larawan sa interactive na mapa.

Mga ipinagbabawal na lugar

Tingnan sa mapa

Mga kondisyon sa tubig

Mga live na kondisyon

Live na marine at weather snapshot malapit sa coastal na reference point sa Jamaica, mula sa Open-Meteo. Nag-iiba ang mga kondisyon sa buong baybayin — ituring bilang indikatibo.

Live na marine at weather malapit sa Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area.

Mga Kondisyon

Sino ang dapat tanungin

Mga Awtoridad

Ang mga opisyal na katawan na responsable para sa mga isda at pagpapalisensya.

  • 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

Saan nagmumula ang impormasyon

Mga Pinagmulan

Bawat pahayag sa pahinang ito ay nagmumula sa isa sa mga sangguniang ito.

  1. [01]

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

    Opisyal
    fisheries.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  2. [02]

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

    Opisyal
    jamaicatradeportal.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  3. [03]

    Legislation - National Fisheries Authority

    Opisyal
    fisheries.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  4. [04]

    Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service

    Opisyal
    jis.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  5. [05]

    Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO

    Opisyal
    fao.orgNa-access Hun 14
  6. [06]

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

    Opisyal
    jis.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  7. [07]

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

    Opisyal
    jis.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  8. [08]

    Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority

    Opisyal
    fisheries.gov.jmNa-access Hun 14
  9. [09]

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

    Pangalawa
    jamaica-gleaner.comNa-access Hun 14

Mga tala ng mananaliksik

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.

Manatiling updatedMaagang access

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