Jordan
Asia · Western Asia
Jordan has a single short coastline (~27 km) on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), administered by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). Recreational/amateur fishing from shore and by tourist boats is prohibited, and spearfishing (harpoon hunting by divers) is not permitted along the Aqaba coast. Fishing of all resident species is governed by Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing of fish and aquatic life in the Gulf of Aqaba, which lists permitted gear (bait nets, lines and hooks) and bans metal traps (sakhawi) and gill nets (shawarat); spearguns/harpoons are not among the permitted gear. The Aqaba Marine Reserve (Jordan's first marine protected area) bans fishing in all forms within its boundaries. A four-month total closed season (1 January to 30 April) applies each year. There is no marine spearfishing fishery and no recognised recreational spearfishing regime; the dead Sea and inland freshwater bodies have no spearfishing provision either.
Dernière mise à jour janvier 1, 2026
Cadre réglementaire
- §Instructions No. (Z/1) for the Regulation of Fishing of Fish and Aquatic Life in the Gulf of Aqaba, 2020 (published in the Official Gazette, April 2020; replaced Instructions No. (G/5) of 2006)
- §Agriculture Law of Jordan (Law No. 13 of 2015, as amended)
- §Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Law (ASEZA mandate over the Aqaba coast and marine environment)
- §Aqaba Marine Reserve regulatory framework and Management Plan 2022-2026 (Jordan National Protected Areas network)
- Licence requise
- Requise
- Fusil harpon
- Interdit
- Plongée bouteille
- Interdit
- Étrangers
- Non autorisé
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.
Prohibition of metal traps and gill nets on licensed fishing boats (Aqaba)
ASEZA official announcement applying Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba
يمنع حمل الأفخاخ المعدنية ( السخاوي ) والشباك الخيشومية ( الشوارات )
Prohibition of all fishing by tourist and glass-bottom boats (Aqaba)
ASEZA official announcement applying Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba
يمنع ممارسة الصيد اطلاقاً من قبل القوارب السياحية وذات القاع الزجاجي
Prohibition of amateur and visitor fishing from the shore (Aqaba)
ASEZA official announcement applying Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba
يمنع الصيد إطلاقاً من قبل الهواة والزوار عن طريق الشاطئ
Annual four-month suspension of all forms of fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba (2026 season)
ASEZA decision based on Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing of fish and aquatic life in the Gulf of Aqaba
أعلنت سلطة منطقة العقبة الاقتصادية الخاصة عن وقف الصيد بمختلف أشكاله، الاحترافي والترفيهي، اعتباراً من صباح اليوم الخميس الموافق 1 كانون الثاني 2026، ولغاية مساء يوم الخميس الموافق 30 نيسان 2026 ... ويستند وقف الصيد إلى تعليمات تنظيم صيد الأسماك والأحياء المائية في خليج العقبة رقم (ز/1) لسنة 2020. ويمنع القرار صيد كافة أنواع الأسماك المتوطنة سواء من المياه الشاطئية أو العميقة، بينما يُسمح للصيادين المرخصين بصيد الأسماك المهاجرة فقط مثل التونا والفرس.
Definition of 'fishing' under Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020
Instructions No. (Z/1) for the Regulation of Fishing of Fish and Aquatic Life in the Gulf of Aqaba, 2020
الصيد: عملية جمع الأسماك بمختلف أنواعها وأحجامها من البحر
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.
- FerméeAll resident (non-migratory) fish species in the Gulf of Aqaba; all forms of fishing (professional and recreational), from shore and deep waterjanv. 1 – avr. 30
Annual four-month total fishing ban applied by ASEZA each year (in force for the 2026 season for the 4th consecutive year, 1 January to 30 April 2026) under Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020, to protect resident fish stocks during their spawning and egg-laying period. During the closure only licensed fishers may catch migratory species (tuna varieties and horse mackerel/kingfish, 'al-faras').
Autorisation de pêcher
Licence
Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.
Through the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) under Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020; licences authorise boat operation and/or fishing with permitted gear only. Spearfishing is not a licensable activity.
Obtenez votre licenceOuvre le portail officiel · aseza.jo
- Type
- Fishing licence issued by ASEZA / Ministry of Agriculture for the Gulf of Aqaba (professional and recreational categories); no recreational spearfishing licence exists.
- Coût
- unknown
- Validité
- unknown
- Comment l'obtenir
- Through the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) under Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020; licences authorise boat operation and/or fishing with permitted gear only. Spearfishing is not a licensable activity.
- Autorité
- Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)
Matériel et technique
Règles d'équipement
Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.
Restrictions
- Harpoon/speargun hunting by divers is not a permitted fishing method in the Gulf of Aqaba
- Metal traps (sakhawi) prohibited on licensed boats
- Gill nets (shawarat) prohibited on licensed boats
- Only nets designated for bait collection, plus lines and hooks, are permitted gear
- Net fishing on/over coral reefs is banned
Permitted fishing is limited to lines, hooks and bait-collection nets for licensed fishers targeting migratory species; spearguns and harpoons are not listed among permitted gear. Within the Aqaba Marine Reserve all fishing is prohibited regardless of gear.
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
- ProtégéeAll resident (endemic) Gulf of Aqaba fish species during the 1 January - 30 April closed season
- ProtégéeCorals and reef-associated organisms (protected within the Aqaba Marine Reserve)
During the annual closed season only migratory species (tuna varieties such as skipjack/yellowfin/bigeye and horse mackerel / kingfish 'al-faras') may be taken by licensed fishers. No published numeric daily bag or minimum-size limits were retrievable from official sources.
Qui peut pêcher
Visiteurs et résidents
Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.
Visiteurs étrangers
Non autoriséeRestrictions
- Amateur/visitor (tourist) fishing from shore is prohibited for everyone, including foreigners
- Spearfishing/harpoon hunting by divers is not permitted for visitors
Tourists and visitors cannot fish from the shore or from tourist/glass-bottom boats, and spearfishing is not an allowed activity. Dive tourism is reef-conservation oriented; operators state harpoon hunting is not done in Aqaba.
Résidents
ASEZA professional or recreational fishing licence (Gulf of Aqaba)
Exigences
- Hold a valid ASEZA/Ministry of Agriculture fishing licence
- Use only permitted gear (lines, hooks, bait-collection nets)
- Observe the annual 1 January - 30 April closure (only migratory species permitted)
Avantages
- Licensed fishers who comply with the closed-season suspension receive monthly compensation of 400 Jordanian Dinars during the closure period (announced for the 2026 season)
Recreational and professional categories exist for residents; spearfishing is not a licensable category for residents either.
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
- Aqaba Marine Reserve (Aqaba Marine Park)marine reserve
Jordan's first marine protected area, managed by ASEZA. Runs along roughly 7 km of the eastern shore near the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, from the southern boundary of the Passenger Port (north) to the southern boundary of the Royal Diving Club (south); marine boundary extends ~350 m west of the shoreline and the land boundary ~50 m east. Fishing is prohibited in all forms within its boundaries: 'Do not fish in any form.' Spearfishing/harpoon hunting by divers is not permitted.
- Gulf of Aqaba (entire Jordanian coast)regulated coastal fishing zone
Across the whole Jordanian Aqaba coast, amateur/visitor shore fishing and fishing by tourist and glass-bottom boats are prohibited, and harpoon/spearfishing by divers is not an allowed method; only licensed line-and-hook and bait-net fishing for migratory species is permitted outside the protected reserve, subject to the annual closed season.
Conditions sur l'eau
Conditions en direct
Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en Jordan, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.
Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Aqaba Marine Reserve (Aqaba Marine Park).
À qui s'adresser
Autorités
Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) - Commissioner of Environment and Public Safety
maritime/coastal regulatory authority; manager of the Aqaba Marine Reserve
aseza.joAqaba, JordanMinistry of Agriculture of Jordan
fisheries authority (issued Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 under the Agriculture Law)
moa.gov.joAmman, JordanRoyal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS)
marine conservation NGO (consultative partner on Aqaba fishing regulations)
jreds.orgJordan
D'où cela provient
Sources
Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.
- [01]
Aqaba Marine Reserve - ASEZA official page (prohibited activities, boundaries)
Officielleaseza.joConsulté le juin 14 - [02]
ASEZA official announcement - four-month fishing ban in the Gulf of Aqaba (gear prohibitions, shore/tourist-boat fishing ban)
Officielleaseza.joConsulté le juin 14 - [03]
ASEZA official announcement - application of the 2020 fishing regulation instructions
Officielleaseza.joConsulté le juin 14 - [04]
Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing of fish and aquatic life in the Gulf of Aqaba (Qistas legal database)
Officielleqistas.comConsulté le juin 14 - [05]
Al-Mamlaka TV - ASEZA suspends fishing in the Gulf of Aqaba until end of April 2026 (2026 closed season, legal basis, compensation)
Secondairealmamlakatv.comConsulté le juin 14 - [06]
Hanns Seidel Foundation Jordan - New Fishing Regulations for the Gulf of Aqaba (2020 instructions replacing 2006, Official Gazette April 2020)
Secondairejordan.hss.deConsulté le juin 14 - [07]
Arab Divers - Deep Fishing in Aqaba (states harpoon/diver spearfishing not done; fishing forbidden in Aqaba Marine Park)
communityarabdivers.joConsulté le juin 14 - [08]
Wikipedia - Aqaba Marine Reserve (coordinates, managing authority, area)
Secondaireen.wikipedia.orgConsulté le juin 14 - [09]
Jordan Times - ASEZA implements four-month fishing suspension for environmental conservation
Secondairejordantimes.comConsulté le juin 14
Notes du chercheur
Jordan's only marine coast is ~27 km on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), governed by ASEZA. No recreational spearfishing regime exists: amateur/visitor shore fishing and tourist/glass-bottom-boat fishing are banned, harpoon hunting by divers is not a permitted method, and all fishing is banned inside the Aqaba Marine Reserve. The primary instrument is Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 (Official Gazette, April 2020), issued under the Agriculture Law and replacing Instructions No. (G/5) of 2006; an annual 1 Jan - 30 Apr total closure applies (in force for 2026, the 4th consecutive year). Verbatim Arabic provisions on banned gear (metal traps 'sakhawi', gill nets 'shawarat'), the shore/tourist-boat fishing ban, and the closure were captured from the official ASEZA announcement. The full article-by-article text of Instructions No. (Z/1) (e.g. an explicit named spearfishing prohibition) is paywalled on the Qistas legal database; only the title, definitions (Article 2) and committee article (Article 3) were publicly retrievable, so the 'no spearfishing' conclusion rests on (a) only lines/hooks/bait-nets being permitted gear, (b) the total amateur/shore fishing ban, (c) the all-forms fishing ban in the marine reserve, and (d) dive-operator confirmation - rather than on a single verbatim 'spearfishing prohibited' clause. data_confidence set to medium for this reason. Freshwater/inland (e.g. Dead Sea, dams) has no spearfishing provision and no fishery of relevance. Numeric bag/size limits and licence cost were not retrievable from official sources and are marked unknown.
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