Seychelles
Africa · Eastern Africa
Spearfishing is effectively banned in Seychelles. The sale and possession-for-fishing of spear guns has been prohibited since 1972 (Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations 1972), and the current Fisheries Act 2014 (s.32(1)) prohibits using a spear gun for fishing or possessing one in circumstances raising a reasonable inference it is used or intended for fishing in Seychelles. The Seychelles Fishing Authority confirms that 'the use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited across all fisheries in Seychelles, including the recreational fishery.' The prohibition applies to residents and foreigners alike. Use for approved scientific research may be authorised under regulation/permit.
Seinast dagfest Juni 15, 2026
Stjórnandaslag
- §Fisheries Act, 2014 (Act No. 20 of 2014) - section 32
- §Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972
- §Fisheries (Amendment) Ordinance, 1971 (defines 'spear-gun', s.2A)
- §Fisheries Regulations, 1987
- Leyfi kravt
- Ikki kravt
- Sperrpistol
- Forboðið
- Útlendingar
- Ikki loyft
Lógin, orðrætt
Løgligar tekstar
Nøgustu løgligar og reglugerðarligar fyrimæli sum stjórna skotfiskiskap her, tikin sum útgávnar, við tilvísning til hvørja heimlígu keldu.
Prohibition against use of spear guns
Fisheries Act, 2014 (Act No. 20 of 2014)
32.(1) Subject to the regulations, a person shall not use any spear gun for fishing or be in possession of a spear gun in circumstances which raise a reasonable inference that the spear gun has been used or is intended for fishing in Seychelles.
Sale of spear-guns prohibited
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972
Article 4. - Sale of spear-guns prohibited. - The sale or offering for sale of any spear-gun is hereby prohibited with effect from the 1st day of May, 1972.
Circumstances in which possession of spear-gun is prohibited
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972
Article 5. - Circumstances in which possession of spear-gun is prohibited. The possession of any spear-gun in circumstances which raise a reasonable presumption that the spear-gun has recently been used, or is intended to be used, for fishing in Seychelles is hereby prohibited.
Offences and penalties for spear-guns
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972
Article 6. - Offences. - Any person who: (a) on or after the 1st day of May 1972 sells or offers for sale any spear-gun; or (b) is found in possession of any spear-gun in such circumstances as are mentioned in regulation 5, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Rs. 500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Application of spear-gun regulations
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972
Article 2. - Application. - These regulations and all the provisions of the Ordinance relating to spear-guns shall apply to the whole Colony, including all the islands listed in the First Schedule to the Outlying Islands (Employment of Servants) Ordinance.
Recreational fishing gear - spearguns prohibited (SFA guidance)
Seychelles Fishing Authority - Types of fisheries and fishing rights in Seychelles (FiTI FAQ)
The use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited across all fisheries in Seychelles, including the recreational fishery. The Fisheries Act also bans the use of unauthorised fish aggregating devices. As [large] net fishing is a licensable activity, the use of large nets is not allowed as part of recreational fishing. The use of demersal trawl nets is also prohibited under the Fisheries Regulations (1987).
Recreational fishing licence exemption
Seychelles Fishing Authority - Types of fisheries and fishing rights in Seychelles (FiTI FAQ)
A licence is not required for recreational fishing. Paragraph 21 of the Fisheries Act exempt a vessel used for recreational fishing in Seychelles waters from the requirement of having a licence or permit unless otherwise prescribed.
Nær tú kanst kafa
Tíðir & tíðarútilokanir
Lokuðar, opnar og avmarkaðar tíðir um árið. Staðfest alltíð artsligar lokunanir staðbundið.
- OpiðRecreational fishing (general)Jan 1 – Des 31
Per the SFA, there are currently no seasonal restrictions on recreational fishing; it may be conducted year-round. Note: spearfishing itself remains prohibited year-round regardless of season.
- LokaðKordonnyen (rabbitfish) spawning sites - fish trapsSep 1 – Apr 30
Under the Fisheries (Mahe Plateau Trap and Line Fishery) Regulations 2021, leaving fish traps overnight on Kordonnyen (rabbitfish) spawning sites is banned during the spawning season (September to April inclusive); around each full moon in that season trap numbers are further limited. Relates to trap fishing, not spearfishing (which is banned anyway), included for completeness.
Loyvi til at fiska
Leyfi
Hvat tú tørvar til at vera loyft í vatninum, hvat tað kostar, og hvussu tú fært tað.
- Slag
- No recreational fishing licence required; however spearfishing/speargun use is prohibited entirely
- Kostnaður
- N/A
- Gildistíð
- N/A
- Hvussu tú fært tað
- Recreational rod-and-line/hand-line fishing from a vessel under 10 m needs no licence (Fisheries Act s.21). Spearfishing cannot be licensed for recreation; only approved scientific research may be authorised by the Seychelles Fishing Authority.
- Myndugleiki
- Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA)
Tøki & teknikk
Tøknireglur
Hvat tøki er loyft, hvussu tað má brúkast, og undir hvønum skilyrðum.
Avmarkanir
- Spear guns prohibited: cannot be used for fishing, possessed for fishing, or sold/offered for sale
- Explosives, poisons and other noxious substances prohibited for fishing
- Unauthorised fish aggregating devices (FADs) prohibited
- Large nets are a licensable activity and not allowed for recreational fishing; demersal trawl nets prohibited (Fisheries Regulations 1987)
Hawaiian sling / pole spear status is not separately addressed in the located sources, but the SFA states spearguns are prohibited across all fisheries and the 1972 Regulations target 'spear-guns' as defined in s.2A of the Fisheries (Amendment) Ordinance 1971. Spearfishing for sport/recreation is not permitted in Seychelles.
Hvat tú má taka
Fongstmarkir & friðlýstar artar
Dagligar kvotur, lágmarksstørðir, og artar sum aldri má takast.
Daglig mark
No general daily limit on recreational fishing currently; the Fisheries (Mahe Plateau Trap and Line Fishery) Regulations 2021 set, for recreational fishers, 5 Bourzwa (Emperor red snapper, Lutjanus sebae) per day, 5 Zob gris (Green jobfish, Aprion virescens) per day, and a maximum of 20 demersal fish per fisher per day.
Lágmarksstørðir
- Bourzwa (Emperor red snapper, Lutjanus sebae)min 32 cm
- Zob gris (Green jobfish, Aprion virescens)min 32 cm
Friðlýstar artar — tak ikki
- FriðlýstGreen turtle (Chelonia mydas) - protected (Fisheries Regulations 1987, reg.12)
- FriðlýstHawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) - protected (Fisheries Regulations 1987, reg.13)
- FriðlýstTriton conch (Charonia tritonis) - collection prohibited (Fisheries Regulations 1987, reg.11)
- FriðlýstMarine mammals - taking prohibited (Fisheries Act 2014, s.32)
- FriðlýstSharks - fishing for sharks using nets prohibited (Fisheries Regulations 1987, reg.16C)
Minimum fork length of 32 cm (tip of jaw/snout to centre of tail fork) applies to Bourzwa and Zob gris under the Mahe Plateau Trap and Line Fishery Regulations. Limits apply to permitted gear (line/trap) - spearfishing is not a permitted method.
Hvør má fiska
Gæstur & búsetufólk
Hvussu reglurnar eru munandi fyri útlendigar gæstur og heimlígt búsetufólk.
Útlendigar gæstur
Ikki loyftAvmarkanir
- Spearfishing/speargun use is prohibited for everyone in Seychelles waters, including tourists and foreign visitors
- Possession of a spear gun in circumstances raising a reasonable inference of intended fishing use is an offence
Tourists may fish recreationally by rod/hand-line (often via licensed charter/sport-fishing operators) but may not spearfish. The speargun prohibition draws no distinction between residents and foreigners.
Búsetufólk
No licence required for recreational (non-spear) fishing
Residents are subject to the same speargun prohibition as foreigners. Traditional artisanal fishers are also barred from using spearguns across all fisheries.
Hvar á ströndini
Loyft & forboðin søvnir
Nevnd øki sum eru opin fyri ella lokuð fyri skotfiskiskap. Vís heilt mynstrið á gagnvirka kortinum.
Forboðin øki
- Sainte Anne Marine National Parkmarine national park
First marine protected area in the Indian Ocean, established 1973; comprises Sainte Anne, Cerf, Moyenne, Round (Ile Ronde), Long (Ile Longue) and other islets near Mahe. Fishing and water-skiing are forbidden within the marine park area.
- Curieuse Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park about 2 km from Praslin; protected marine area where extractive fishing is not permitted.
- Port Launay Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park on the north-west coast of Mahe; a protected/no-take marine area.
- Baie Ternay Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park on the north-west of Mahe; a protected/no-take marine area.
- Silhouette Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park around Silhouette Island; a protected marine area.
- Ile Coco Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine national park near Praslin/La Digue; a protected marine area.
Veðurástand á havinum
Livandi veðurástand
Livandi sjógongdar- og veðursnapshotur nær einum strandlegum tilvísnarstaði í Seychelles, úr Open-Meteo. Veðurástand broytist við ströndina — brúka sum vísingarlig.
Livandi sjógongd & veður nær Sainte Anne Marine National Park.
Hvørjum at spyrja
Myndugleikar
Heimlígu stovnarnar ábyrgar fyri fiskiskap og leyfi.
Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA)
fisheries authority
sfa.scP.O. Box 449, Fishing Port, Mahe, SeychellesSeychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA)
protected areas authority
spga.gov.scManages marine national parks (e.g. Sainte Anne) where fishing is forbidden
Hvaðan hetta kemur
Keldar
Hvørt krav á hesum síðu kemur frá einari av hesum tilvísningunum.
- [01]
Fisheries Act, 2014 (Act No. 20 of 2014) - full text PDF (FAO FAOLEX)
Heimlígfaolex.fao.orgFunnið Jun 15 - [02]
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972 - full text PDF (FAO FAOLEX)
Heimlígfaolex.fao.orgFunnið Jun 15 - [03]
Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations, 1972 - ECOLEX record
Heimlígecolex.orgFunnið Jun 15 - [04]
Fisheries Act (No. 20 of 2014) - ECOLEX record
Heimlígecolex.orgFunnið Jun 15 - [05]
Seychelles Fishing Authority - Types of fisheries and fishing rights in Seychelles: Recreational fisheries FAQ (FiTI)
Heimlígsfa.scFunnið Jun 15 - [06]
Sainte Anne Marine National Park - Wikipedia
Undirkeldaen.wikipedia.orgFunnið Jun 15 - [07]
National Parks of Seychelles (marine national parks overview) - GVI
Undirkeldagviusa.comFunnið Jun 15
Kannaragreinagerð
Spearfishing is not permitted in Seychelles. Two distinct legal layers ban it: (1) the Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations 1972 prohibit selling spear-guns and possessing them in circumstances inferring fishing use (max penalty Rs.500 fine and/or 3 months imprisonment under the 1972 text); and (2) section 32(1) of the Fisheries Act 2014 prohibits using a spear gun for fishing or possessing one with reasonable inference of fishing use. The Seychelles Fishing Authority's own recreational-fisheries guidance states spearguns are prohibited across all fisheries including the recreational fishery. Recreational line/rod fishing remains legal and licence-free (Fisheries Act s.21). Marine national parks (e.g. Sainte Anne) are no-take zones where fishing of any kind is forbidden. Verbatim law texts were extracted via OCR/pdftotext from the official FAO FAOLEX PDFs of the 1972 Regulations and the 2014 Act; minor OCR artefacts in the 2014 Act PDF were corrected against the consistent wording reported by ECOLEX and the SFA. Confidence is high because the core prohibition is corroborated by the primary legislation and the national fisheries authority. Pole-spear / Hawaiian-sling status is not separately spelled out in located sources but is covered by the general prohibition on spearguns across all fisheries.
Tilkynntu meg nær Seychelless reglur broytast
Vit senda tær teldubræv nær Seychelless tíðir ella reglugerðir eru dagfestur í okkara gagnasetti.