India
Asia · Southern Asia
India has no dedicated national law that defines or expressly licenses recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing / подводная охота). It is not a recognised, regulated sport at the national level and there is no national recreational-fishing permit system. Practice is governed indirectly by a patchwork of laws: the Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (bans destruction of fish by explosives, poison and noxious substances), the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (prohibits hunting/taking of scheduled marine species such as corals, sea cucumbers, seahorses, certain sharks and rays, sea turtles, and bans destruction/exploitation/removal of any wildlife inside Sanctuaries and Marine National Parks without a permit), and state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (which license fishing vessels and ban destructive methods and the take of WLPA-protected species). Fishing is a State subject within territorial waters (up to 12 nm), so rules vary by coastal state and Union Territory. Inside Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the Andamans) any spearing/removal of marine life is prohibited. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and is not formally sanctioned in Lakshadweep. Where no MPA and no protected species are involved, recreational spearfishing is not specifically prohibited by name, but it is legally grey rather than clearly permitted.
Dernière mise à jour juin 14, 2026
Cadre réglementaire
- §Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
- §Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
- §State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (e.g. Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983)
- §Marine Fishing Regulation / Marine Protected Area notifications by coastal States and Union Territories
La loi, verbatim
Textes juridiques
Les dispositions législatives et réglementaires exactes qui régissent la chasse sous-marine ici, citées telles que publiées, avec un lien vers chaque source officielle.
Destruction of fish by explosives in inland waters and on coasts
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
If any person uses any dynamite or other explosive substance in any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any of the fish that may be therein he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. In this section the word "water" includes the sea within a distance of one marine league of the sea-coast; and an offence committed under this section in such sea may be tried, punished and in all respects dealt with as if it had been committed on the land abutting on such coast.
Destruction of fish by poisoning waters
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (Act No. 4 of 1897)
If any person puts any poison, lime or noxious material into any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, suspend the operation of this section in any specified area.
Definition of hunting
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
"hunting", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, includes,— (a) capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, and trapping or any wild animal and every attempt to do so; (b) driving any wild animal for any of the purposes specified in sub-clause (a); (c) injuring or destroying or taking any part of the body of any such animal, or in the case of wild birds or reptiles, damaging the eggs of such birds or reptiles, or disturbing the eggs or nests of such birds or reptiles.
Prohibition of hunting of scheduled wild animals
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
No person shall hunt any wild animal specified in Schedule I, II, III and IV except as provided under section 11 and section 12.
Destruction, exploitation or removal of wildlife from a Sanctuary prohibited
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972)
No person shall destroy, exploit or remove any wild life including forest produce from a sanctuary or destroy or damage or divert the habitat of any wild animal by any act whatsoever or divert, stop or enhance the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary, except under and in accordance with a permit granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden, and no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government, being satisfied in consultation with the Board that such removal of wild life from the sanctuary or the change in the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life therein, authorises the issue of such permit.
Prohibited fishing methods and take of protected species (state Marine Fishing Regulation Act)
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (Act No. 8 of 1983) and Rules 2020
No owner or master of any fishing vessel shall carry on fishing by using dynamites or other form of explosive substances, poison or noxious materials. No owner or master of any fishing vessel shall carry on fishing of any fish species declared as protected fish species or living organisms under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
Quand vous pouvez plonger
Saisons et restrictions temporelles
Périodes de fermeture, d'ouverture et de restriction tout au long de l'année. Confirmez toujours localement les fermetures propres à chaque espèce.
- FerméeMechanised marine fishing (east coast States / Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar)avr. 15 – juin 14
Annual monsoon/spawning fishing ban for mechanised vessels on the east coast and Andaman & Nicobar waters (commonly 61 days, mid-April to mid-June). Dates and duration vary slightly by State notification each year. Primarily targets mechanised commercial vessels rather than recreational divers, but indicates the closed-season regime in Indian marine waters.
- FerméeMechanised marine fishing (west coast States / Union Territories, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep)juin 1 – juil. 31
Annual monsoon/spawning fishing ban for mechanised vessels on the west coast (commonly 61 days, June to July). Exact dates set by each State/UT notification annually.
Autorisation de pêcher
Licence
Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.
There is no dedicated national recreational spearfishing or angling licence in India. General fishing permits, where required, are issued by State Fisheries Departments and vary by State; marine fishing vessels are registered/licensed under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts. Any activity inside a Sanctuary or Marine National Park requires a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Obtenez votre licenceOuvre le portail officiel · dof.gov.in
- Type
- No national recreational spearfishing licence exists
- Coût
- unknown
- Validité
- unknown
- Comment l'obtenir
- There is no dedicated national recreational spearfishing or angling licence in India. General fishing permits, where required, are issued by State Fisheries Departments and vary by State; marine fishing vessels are registered/licensed under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts. Any activity inside a Sanctuary or Marine National Park requires a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Autorité
- State Fisheries Departments; State Forest/Wildlife Departments (for protected areas)
Matériel et technique
Règles d'équipement
Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.
Restrictions
- No national rule specifically permits or restricts spearguns for recreational use; spearguns are not a regulated/recognised category in Indian fisheries law.
- Use of explosives, dynamite, poison, lime and noxious substances to catch or destroy fish is prohibited (Indian Fisheries Act, 1897, ss. 4-5; mirrored in state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts).
- Inside Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries, taking, spearing or removing any marine life is prohibited without a permit from the Chief Wild Life Warden (Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, ss. 29 & 35).
- Scuba diving operators in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands must not damage marine flora or fauna; touching/feeding corals and fish is prohibited.
No verifiable national provision sets a maximum number of spears or expressly authorises/bans spearguns or scuba-assisted spearfishing for recreation. Equipment legality is inferred from general fisheries and wildlife law plus protected-area codes. Treat speargun_allowed and scuba_allowed as unknown.
Ce que vous pouvez prélever
Limites de capture et espèces protégées
Quotas journaliers, tailles minimales et espèces qui ne doivent jamais être prélevées.
Limite journalière
unknown
Espèces protégées — ne pas prélever
- ProtégéeSea turtles (all species, e.g. Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill)
- ProtégéeSea cucumbers (Holothuroidea)
- ProtégéeSeahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
- ProtégéeHard and soft corals / sea fans (Scleractinia, Gorgonians)
- ProtégéeCertain sharks (e.g. whale shark) and rays (e.g. sawfishes, some mobulid/manta rays)
- ProtégéeGiant clams and certain protected molluscs
- ProtégéeDugong (sea cow)
No national recreational daily bag or minimum-size limits specific to spearfishing were located. Numerous marine species are protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (around 41 marine species, most in Schedule I, which carries the highest protection); hunting/taking them is prohibited. Minimum legal sizes for some food fishes are set by individual State Fisheries Departments and were not retrieved here. Protected species list is indicative, not exhaustive — verify the current WLPA Schedules before any take.
Qui peut pêcher
Visiteurs et résidents
Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.
Visiteurs étrangers
Exigences
- Foreign nationals must comply with the same fisheries and wildlife laws as residents.
- Some island and border areas (parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) historically required or require special entry permits (Restricted/Protected Area Permit and, for Lakshadweep, an entry permit), separate from any fishing rules.
Restrictions
- No clear legal basis was found that permits recreational spearfishing by foreigners; in practice it is not an offered/regulated activity for tourists outside of supervised demonstrations.
- Any take of marine life inside Marine Protected Areas is prohibited for everyone, residents and foreigners alike.
No India-specific rule expressly addressing spearfishing by foreigners was found. Status is unknown; assume the activity is at best legally grey and prohibited inside all marine protected areas.
Résidents
unknown
Exigences
- Traditional and small-scale fishers operate under State Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (vessel registration/licensing).
- No dedicated recreational spearfishing licence category exists for residents.
Marine fisheries within territorial waters (up to 12 nm) are regulated by individual coastal States and Union Territories, so resident rules vary by State. No resident-specific recreational spearfishing regime was identified at the national level.
Où sur la côte
Zones autorisées et interdites
Zones nommées ouvertes ou fermées à la chasse sous-marine. Voir l'image complète sur la carte interactive.
Zones interdites
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Parkmarine national park
Marine National Park covering 21 islands and surrounding waters off Tamil Nadu (Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts). Extractive activities including unregulated fishing, coral and seashell collection, and any spearing/removal of marine life are prohibited under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Section 29 / Section 35).
- Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutchmarine national park
India's first marine national park, in the Gulf of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat; core area of about 110 km2 declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Removal or exploitation of marine wildlife (including by spearing) is prohibited.
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandoor)marine national park
Marine National Park near Wandoor, South Andaman, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Touching, feeding or damaging corals and fish and any removal of marine life is prohibited; violations of the National Marine Park Code are penalised by the A&N Islands Administration. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Conditions sur l'eau
Conditions en direct
Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en India, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.
Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
À qui s'adresser
Autorités
Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India
national fisheries authority
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
environment ministry (administers Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and Marine Protected Areas)
State Fisheries Departments (e.g. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka)
state fisheries authority
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Administration (Department of Tourism / Forest Department)
union territory authority (marine national park and diving regulation)
D'où cela provient
Sources
Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.
- [01]
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — Bare Act (Sections 4-6)
Secondairelatestlaws.comConsulté le juin 14 - [02]
Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — full text (FAOLEX, FAO)
Officiellefaolex.fao.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [03]
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — full statute (Animal Legal & Historical Center)
Secondaireanimallaw.infoConsulté le juin 14 - [04]
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Act No. 53 of 1972) — official text (India Code)
Officielleindiacode.nic.inConsulté le juin 14 - [05]
Commentary: Conserving marine ecosystems through the Wild Life Protection Act (Mongabay India)
Secondaireindia.mongabay.comConsulté le juin 14 - [06]
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (ICSF / Small Scale Fish Workers)
Secondairesmallscalefishworkers.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [07]
Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 (India Code)
Officielleindiacode.nic.inConsulté le juin 14 - [08]
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (Wikipedia)
Secondaireen.wikipedia.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [09]
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch (Wikipedia)
Secondaireen.wikipedia.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [10]
Guidelines for Scuba Diving Centres in Andaman Nicobar Islands (A&N Tourism)
Officielleandamantourism.gov.inConsulté le juin 14 - [11]
Monsoon trawl ban (Wikipedia)
Secondaireen.wikipedia.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [12]
How State Fisheries Provisions Complement Wildlife Law in Protecting Listed Marine Species (Conservation India)
Secondaireconservationindia.orgConsulté le juin 14
Notes du chercheur
India has NO dedicated national law that names, defines, or licenses recreational spearfishing (подводная охота); it is not a recognised regulated sport. Legality is therefore inferred from: (1) Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 — bans explosives/poison fishing nationally (verbatim text captured); (2) Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — bans hunting/taking of ~41 scheduled marine species and any take inside Sanctuaries/Marine National Parks (verbatim ss. 2(16), 9, 29 captured); (3) state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts — license vessels and ban destructive methods + take of WLPA species (TN excerpt captured). Fishing within 12 nm is a State subject, so rules vary by coastal State/UT and detailed state-by-state recreational rules were not all retrievable. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and not formally sanctioned in Lakshadweep; inside any MPA it is prohibited. Confidence is LOW because no source expressly states the legal status of recreational spearfishing per se — the assessment ('restricted') is a reasoned inference from adjacent statutes, not a direct citation. Several law texts come from reputable secondary/aggregator transcriptions of bare acts (latestlaws, animallaw.info); official India Code / FAOLEX PDFs were JBIG2-scanned or returned HTTP 403 and could not be transcribed verbatim, but are listed as official sources for cross-checking. Equipment, catch limits, and foreigner/resident specifics for spearfishing remain largely unknown and are marked accordingly. Verify current WLPA Schedules and the specific coastal State's Marine Fishing Regulation Act/Rules before any activity.
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