Guinea-Bissau
Africa · Western Africa
Guinea-Bissau has no statute that explicitly names recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / caça submarina). It is governed indirectly by the general fisheries law, Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000. That law recognises 'pesca desportiva' (sport/leisure fishing) as a category (Art. 4(5)) and, like all fishing in waters under national sovereignty, it requires a licence except for traditional subsistence fishing. The law bans certain methods - explosives, toxic substances, electric/light-attraction means and suction gear (Art. 26) - and protects marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds (Art. 27). A breath-hold speargun is not itself a prohibited gear under the verbatim law text retrieved, but secondary fishing-operator sources report that in practice SCUBA-assisted spearfishing is banned and only apnea (breath-hold) spearfishing is tolerated, that a recreational licence is required for boat-based fishing, and that the richest grounds lie inside the Bolama-Bijagos Biosphere Reserve and its marine national parks where extra permits/guides are mandatory and turtle/shark/ray protections apply. Verbatim statutory text confirming a SCUBA/spearfishing-specific rule could not be retrieved, so confidence is low; field rules should be confirmed with the Ministry of Fisheries (Ministério das Pescas) and the protected-area authority (IBAP) before any trip.
Seinast dagfest Juni 14, 2026
Stjórnandaslag
- §Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000 - Recursos Pesqueiros e Direitos de Pesca nas Águas Marítimas da Guiné-Bissau (General Fisheries Law, 21 Aug 2000)
- §Decreto-Lei nº 9/2011 - Lei Geral das Pescas (General Fisheries Law)
- §Decreto nº 24/2011 - Regulamento da Pesca Artesanal (Artisanal Fishing Regulation, 7 Jun 2011)
- §Decreto-Lei nº 30/2017 - Alteração ao Regulamento da Pesca Artesanal
- §Decreto-Lei nº 2/2022 - Período de Repouso Biológico (Biological Rest Period)
- §Lei nº 13/2013 - Fixação do Espaço Marítimo (Maritime Space Delimitation)
- Leyfi kravt
- Kravt
- Skúbba
- Forboðið
- Útlendingar
- Vælkomin
Lógin, orðrætt
Løgligar tekstar
Nøgustu løgligar og reglugerðarligar fyrimæli sum stjórna skotfiskiskap her, tikin sum útgávnar, við tilvísning til hvørja heimlígu keldu.
Types of fishing by purpose (incl. sport/leisure fishing)
Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000 sobre Recursos Pesqueiros e Direitos de Pesca nas Águas Marítimas da Guiné-Bissau
1. Em função da sua finalidade, a pesca pode ser de subsistência, comercial, cientifica e desportiva. 2. A pesca de subsistência é a praticada com artes de pesca tradicionais e tem por objecto fundamental a obtenção de espécies comestíveis para a subsistência do pescador e da sua família. 3. A pesca comercial é a praticada com fins lucrativos. 4. A pesca científica tem por objectivo o estudo e o conhecimento dos recursos, bem como o ensaio de navios, materiais e técnicas de pesca. 5. A pesca desportiva é a pesca exercida a título desportivo ou de lazer.
Criteria distinguishing artisanal and industrial fishing
Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000
Os critérios de distinção entre a pesca artesanal e a pesca industrial serão estabelecidos por diploma regulamentar. Na determinação destes critérios serão tomadas em consideração as características gerais das embarcações, nomeadamente a sua capacidade e autonomia, e as artes de pesca empregues, bem como os critérios de distinção aplicados nos Estados da sub-região.
Prohibited fishing methods (explosives, toxic substances, electric/light means, suction gear)
Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000
É expressamente proibido, no exercício de qualquer actividade de pesca: a) Utilizar lâmpadas, meios eléctricos, materiais explosivos ou substâncias tóxicas susceptíveis de enfraquecer, atordoar, excitar ou matar peixes, bem como a utilização de aparelho de pescas por sucção; c) Deter a bordo das embarcações de pescas materiais ou substâncias mencionadas na alínea precedente.
Protected species (marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds)
Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000
1. São proibidas, salvo autorização especial da Comissão Internacional das Pescas para fins de investigação científica ou técnica, sob proposta do membro do governo responsável pela área da pesca: a) A pesca, a captura e a detenção de todas as espécies de mamíferos marinhos; b) A pesca, a captura e a detenção de tartarugas marinha; c) A caça, a captura, a detenção de todas as espécies de aves marinha. 2. É proibida toda a comercialização das espécies visadas nas alíneas do número anterior.
Nær tú kanst kafa
Tíðir & tíðarútilokanir
Lokuðar, opnar og avmarkaðar tíðir um árið. Staðfest alltíð artsligar lokunanir staðbundið.
- LokaðIndustrial fishing in waters under Guinea-Bissau jurisdiction (biological rest period). Not confirmed to apply to recreational spearfishing.Jan 1 – Jan 31
Período de Repouso Biológico established by Decreto-Lei nº 2/2022. The Ministério das Pescas closes industrial fishing activity throughout January each year, the peak fish-reproduction month. Coverage of artisanal/recreational fishing is not explicitly stated in the retrieved official page.
Loyvi til at fiska
Leyfi
Hvat tú tørvar til at vera loyft í vatninum, hvat tað kostar, og hvussu tú fært tað.
Through the Ministério das Pescas / Direcção-Geral da Pesca Artesanal; in practice lodges and licensed operators handle the paperwork for visitors. Extra protected-area permits via IBAP for parks within the Bijagós reserve.
Fá títt leyfiOpnar heimlígu gáttina · pescas.gw
- Slag
- Recreational/sport fishing licence (pesca desportiva). Required for fishing in national waters except traditional subsistence fishing (Art. 4 & licensing regime, Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000). Spearfishing-specific licence is not separately defined in law.
- Kostnaður
- Not set in statute. Secondary operator source reports recreational permits arranged via lodges at roughly EUR 45-50, plus park entry fees (~EUR 35/day) for protected areas.
- Gildistíð
- unknown
- Hvussu tú fært tað
- Through the Ministério das Pescas / Direcção-Geral da Pesca Artesanal; in practice lodges and licensed operators handle the paperwork for visitors. Extra protected-area permits via IBAP for parks within the Bijagós reserve.
- Myndugleiki
- Ministério das Pescas e Economia do Mar (Ministry of Fisheries)
Tøki & teknikk
Tøknireglur
Hvat tøki er loyft, hvussu tað má brúkast, og undir hvønum skilyrðum.
Avmarkanir
- Explosives and toxic/poisonous substances prohibited (Art. 26(a), Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000)
- Electric means and light-attraction lamps prohibited (Art. 26(a))
- Suction fishing apparatus prohibited (Art. 26(a))
- Carrying any of the above prohibited materials aboard a fishing vessel is forbidden (Art. 26(c))
- Secondary source: SCUBA-assisted spearfishing reported banned; only breath-hold (apnea) spearfishing tolerated; monofilament nets reported banned
The verbatim text of Art. 26 retrieved does not name harpoons/spearguns or diving apparatus, so the SCUBA-spearfishing ban and breath-hold-only rule come from a secondary fishing-operator guide (fishingworldguide.com), not from confirmed statute. Treat speargun_allowed as unknown pending official confirmation.
Hvat tú má taka
Fongstmarkir & friðlýstar artar
Dagligar kvotur, lágmarksstørðir, og artar sum aldri má takast.
Daglig mark
unknown
Friðlýstar artar — tak ikki
- FriðlýstAll marine mammals (mamíferos marinhos)
- FriðlýstAll sea turtles (tartarugas marinhas)
- FriðlýstAll seabirds (aves marinhas)
- FriðlýstSharks and rays - capture prohibited under Artisanal Fishing Regulation (Decreto nº 24/2011, reported); reputable lodges enforce catch-and-release for sharks, rays and large tarpon (secondary source)
Art. 27 of Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000 prohibits the fishing, capture, possession and commercialisation of marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds except by special scientific/technical authorisation. Recreational fishers are reported to be barred from selling any part of their catch.
Hvør má fiska
Gæstur & búsetufólk
Hvussu reglurnar eru munandi fyri útlendigar gæstur og heimlígt búsetufólk.
Útlendigar gæstur
LoyftSerstakt leyfi kravt
Krav
- Obtain a recreational fishing licence (typically arranged through a licensed lodge/operator)
- Obtain additional protected-area permits and use local guides when fishing inside the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve / national parks
Avmarkanir
- May not sell any part of the catch (recreational fishing is leisure/sport only)
- Subject to all protected-species and prohibited-method rules; SCUBA-assisted spearfishing reported banned
No distinct statutory regime separating foreign from national recreational fishers was found in the retrieved law; in practice visiting anglers/spearfishers go through lodges that handle permits. Confirm with the Ministry of Fisheries before travelling.
Búsetufólk
Subsistence fishing with traditional gear for the fisher and family is exempt from licensing (Art. 4(2)); other fishing requires a licence.
Fyrimunir
- Traditional subsistence fishing (personal/family consumption, traditional gear) does not require a licence
Subsistence exemption is defined by gear and purpose (traditional gear, non-commercial), not by residency or nationality; it would not cover speargun-based recreational spearfishing.
Hvar á ströndini
Loyft & forboðin søvnir
Nevnd øki sum eru opin fyri ella lokuð fyri skotfiskiskap. Vís heilt mynstrið á gagnvirka kortinum.
Forboðin øki
- João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park (Parque Nacional Marinho João Vieira e Poilão), ~495 km2, established August 2000, comprising João Vieira, Cavalo, Maio and Poilão islands. One of the world's most important green sea-turtle nesting sites. Inside the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve; access for fishing is restricted and managed by IBAP, with sea turtles and seabirds protected under Art. 27 of Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000.
- Orango Islands National Parknational park
Parque Nacional das Ilhas de Orango, ~1,582 km2, created in 2000, including Orango, Orangozinho, Meneque, Canogo and Imbone islands. A marine protected area within the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve where fishing access is restricted and additional permits/guides are required.
- Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reservebiosphere reserve
UNESCO biosphere reserve (recognised 1996) of 88 islands and islets off the Guinea-Bissau coast, containing the country's marine protected areas (Orango, João Vieira e Poilão, Urok Community MPA). Many of the best fishing grounds lie inside it; extra permits and local-zoning guides are required and protected-species rules apply.
- Urok Islands Community Marine Protected Areacommunity marine protected area
Community-managed marine protected area (Área Marinha Protegida Comunitária das Ilhas Urok) within the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve, with community fishing restrictions.
- Cacheu River Mangroves Natural Parknatural park (marine/estuarine protected area)
Parque Natural dos Tarrafes do Rio Cacheu (PNTC), ~886 km2, established 1 December 2000 on the Cacheu River estuary in northern Guinea-Bissau. The largest concentration of mangroves in West Africa and a key shrimp/fish breeding zone; classified as a Marine Protected Area within the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) and managed by IBAP, where fishing access is regulated and protected-species/zoning rules apply.
Veðurástand á havinum
Livandi veðurástand
Livandi sjógongdar- og veðursnapshotur nær einum strandlegum tilvísnarstaði í Guinea-Bissau, úr Open-Meteo. Veðurástand broytist við ströndina — brúka sum vísingarlig.
Livandi sjógongd & veður nær João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park.
Hvørjum at spyrja
Myndugleikar
Heimlígu stovnarnar ábyrgar fyri fiskiskap og leyfi.
Ministério das Pescas e Economia do Mar (Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy)
fisheries authority
pescas.gwBissau, Guinea-BissauDirecção-Geral da Pesca Artesanal (DGPA)
fisheries authority
Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas Protegidas (IBAP)
environment / protected areas authority
ibapgbissau.orgManages national parks and marine protected areas in the Bijagós
Hvaðan hetta kemur
Keldar
Hvørt krav á hesum síðu kemur frá einari av hesum tilvísningunum.
- [01]
LEI DAS PESCAS - Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000 (full Portuguese text)
Undirkeldadidinho.orgFunnið Jun 14 - [02]
Ministério das Pescas - Quadro Legal (official legal framework list)
Heimlígpescas.gwFunnið Jun 14 - [03]
Ministério das Pescas - Período de Repouso Biológico
Heimlígpescas.gwFunnið Jun 14 - [04]
The Outlaw Ocean Project - Global Fishing Legislative Database: Guinea-Bissau
Undirkeldatheoutlawocean.comFunnið Jun 14 - [05]
Fishing in Guinea-Bissau 2026 (fishing-operator guide: spearfishing, licences, parks)
Undirkeldafishingworldguide.comFunnið Jun 14 - [06]
UNESCO World Heritage - Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago
Heimlígwhc.unesco.orgFunnið Jun 14 - [07]
Wikipedia - João Vieira and Poilão Marine National Park (coordinates, area, year)
Undirkeldaen.wikipedia.orgFunnið Jun 14 - [08]
Bio Guinea - Blue Bijagós (marine protected areas overview)
Undirkeldabioguinea.orgFunnið Jun 14
Kannaragreinagerð
Guinea-Bissau has no spearfishing-specific statute. Legal status is inferred from the general fisheries law (Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000), which recognises sport/leisure fishing (Art. 4(5)), requires licensing for non-subsistence fishing, bans explosives/poisons/electric-light/suction methods (Art. 26) and protects marine mammals, turtles and seabirds (Art. 27). VERBATIM statutory text retrieved does NOT mention spearguns, harpoons or SCUBA, so the widely-cited 'SCUBA spearfishing banned, breath-hold only' and 'recreational licence required' rules come from a secondary fishing-operator guide rather than confirmed law - hence data_confidence=low and equipment_rules.speargun_allowed=null. Coordinates for João Vieira/Poilão are park-level approximations from Wikipedia. The richest grounds sit inside the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve and its marine national parks (Orango, João Vieira e Poilão, Urok) where extra IBAP permits, guides and protected-species rules apply. The official Ministry law-text PDFs (Decreto-Lei nº 9/2011, Decreto nº 24/2011) on pescas.gw were not parsed in full; full verbatim articles on diving/spearfishing could not be located and may not exist. Confirm all field rules with the Ministério das Pescas and IBAP before any trip. Note: the political situation is volatile (transitional government as of 2026) and regulations may change.
Tilkynntu meg nær Guinea-Bissaus reglur broytast
Vit senda tær teldubræv nær Guinea-Bissaus tíðir ella reglugerðir eru dagfestur í okkara gagnasetti.