Zimbabwe
Africa · Eastern Africa
Zimbabwe is landlocked, so all spearfishing is freshwater (rivers, dams and lakes such as Lake Kariba). Fishing is governed nationally by the Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]. Section 93 of the Act expressly lists 'a spear' and 'a spear gun' among the authorized fishing gear that may be used in any waters, so spearfishing/underwater hunting of fish is legal in principle. However, it is restricted: under section 85 a person generally must hold a fishing permit issued by the appropriate authority for the waters concerned, and under section 93(2) that authority may, when issuing a permit, restrict which of the listed gear types (rod and line, hand line, spear, spear gun, basket trap) may be used. Section 87 separately prohibits killing fish with explosives, firearms, chemicals, poisons, jigs or electrical devices except under a special permit. No national statutory provision was found that imposes a blanket prohibition on the spear or spear gun, nor specific rules on use of breathing apparatus (scuba) for fishing; such conditions, where they exist, are set per-water by the appropriate authority and/or by Statutory Instruments and were not retrievable in full.
Dernière mise à jour juin 15, 2026
Cadre réglementaire
- §Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14], Acts 14/1975 as amended through Act 19/2001 and Act 22/2001 (sections 85-96 on fishing)
- §Parks and Wild Life (General) Regulations, 1990 (Statutory Instrument 362 of 1990)
- Licence requise
- Requise
- Fusil harpon
- Autorisé
- Étrangers
- Bienvenus
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.
Authorized fishing gear (spear and spear gun expressly permitted)
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]
93 Authorized fishing gear (1) No person shall, in any waters, use any fishing gear other than— (a) a rod and line or hand line to which— (i) not more than three single hooks are attached; or (ii) not more than one conventional lure, having not more than three single, double or treble hooks, is attached; or (b) a spear; or (c) a spear gun; or (d) a basket trap; except in terms of a permit issued in terms of section ninety-four: Provided that an appropriate authority for any waters may use a fishing net in the waters for which it is the appropriate authority. (2) The appropriate authority for any waters may, when issuing a permit to any person to fish, restrict the gear by which such fishing may be undertaken to one or more of the gear specified in subsection (1). (3) Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to prohibit the use of— (a) any gaff or landing net to remove from the water any fish lawfully taken; or (b) any form of keep-net to retain any fish lawfully taken; or (c) any throw-net or trap designed to catch bait. (4) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Control of fishing – permit generally required to fish
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]
85 Control of fishing (1) Subject to section eighty-six, no person shall fish in any waters, other than those specified in a notice made in terms of subsection (2), except in terms of a permit issued in terms of section eighty-six by the appropriate authority for the waters. (2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of, or after consultation with, the Authority, by notice in a statutory instrument, specify any waters for which a permit to fish, issued in terms of section eighty-six, shall not be required and may in like manner amend or revoke any such notice. (3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Permission to fish (appropriate authority issues fishing permits)
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]
86 Permission to fish Subject to this Act, the appropriate authority for any waters may— (a) fish at any time in the waters; or (b) issue a permit to any person allowing him or any other person or any class of persons to fish in the waters.
Use of explosives, firearms, chemicals, jigs and electrical devices for fishing prohibited
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]
87 Use of explosives, etc., for fishing prohibited (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall in any waters— (a) without reasonable excuse, the proof whereof lies on him, kill any fish by means of an explosive charge, the discharge of a firearm or the introduction into the waters of any chemical, poison or intoxicating substance; or (b) fish by jigging or by means of any jig or an electrical device; or (c) wilfully injure or disturb the spawn of any fish or any spawning bed, bank or shallow whereon or wherein such spawn is deposited; except in terms of a permit issued in terms of section ninety-four.
Definition of 'waters' (freshwater scope of the Act)
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]
“waters” means any river, stream, watercourse, lake, swamp, pond, dam, reservoir, pan, furrow or other collection of water, whether natural or artificial, together with the foreshores or banks thereof, but does not include— (a) water in aquaria or ornamental ponds unconnected with any natural water; or (b) water the sole and exclusive use of which under any law belongs to any person.
Fishing subject to possession of permit within the Parks and Wild Life Estate
Parks and Wild Life (General) Regulations, 1990 (S.I. 362 of 1990)
28. (1) No person shall fish in any waters, except— (a) in terms of a fishing permit issued to him; or (b) in terms of a block fishing permit issued in terms of [subsection (4) of this section]. ... (3) A fishing permit may limit the number and species of fish which may be taken, and shall be subject to such terms [and conditions as may be specified]. ... 29. (Restrictions on fishing-gear) [No person shall, within the Parks and Wild Life Estate, use fishing-gear other than a rod and line or hand line to which not more than the prescribed number of hooks are attached, except as authorized by permit.]
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.
- RéglementéeTigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) and certain other species on Lake Karibaunknown – unknown
Secondary angling and tourism sources report that some Zimbabwean waters (notably Lake Kariba) observe a closed/restricted period for tigerfish and that fishing is restricted in some waters roughly October-January. Exact statutory dates were not retrievable from an official source and must be confirmed with the appropriate authority / Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute (LKFRI) before relying on them. Treat dates as unverified.
Autorisation de pêcher
Licence
Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.
Apply to the appropriate authority for the waters – the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) for State waters and the Parks and Wild Life Estate, or the relevant local/appropriate authority; for Lake Kariba via ZimParks / Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute (LKFRI). Permits may also be obtained at national park offices and designated fishing hubs.
Obtenez votre licenceOuvre le portail officiel · zimparks.org.zw
- Type
- Fishing permit issued by the appropriate authority for the waters (e.g. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for State waters / the Parks and Wild Life Estate). Recreational/sport fishing permit covers fishing by authorized gear, which includes spear and spear gun under s.93.
- Coût
- Varies by water and permit class. Secondary tourism sources cite recreational fishing permits roughly US$10-20 for general waters; official tariff schedules (e.g. S.I. 108 of 2019, Tariff of Fees By-laws) list much higher fees for commercial/sport categories (e.g. Kariba shoreline sport fishing permits historically reported in the thousands of USD per year). Exact current spear/recreational fees not verified from an official machine-readable source.
- Validité
- unknown
- Comment l'obtenir
- Apply to the appropriate authority for the waters – the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) for State waters and the Parks and Wild Life Estate, or the relevant local/appropriate authority; for Lake Kariba via ZimParks / Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute (LKFRI). Permits may also be obtained at national park offices and designated fishing hubs.
- Autorité
- Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)
Matériel et technique
Règles d'équipement
Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.
Restrictions
- Spear and spear gun are expressly listed as authorized fishing gear in any waters under section 93(1)(b)-(c) of the Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14].
- The appropriate authority may, when issuing a fishing permit, restrict the gear to one or more of the listed types (s.93(2)) – so a given water/permit may exclude spearfishing.
- Explosives, firearm discharge, chemicals/poisons/intoxicating substances, jigs and electrical devices for killing fish are prohibited except under special permit (s.87).
- No national rule found permitting or prohibiting the use of underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) for spearfishing; confirm with the appropriate authority.
Use of fishing nets is separately controlled (ss.91-92) and generally reserved to the appropriate authority or registered dealers. Gaffs, landing nets, keep-nets and bait throw-nets/traps to handle lawfully taken fish are not prohibited (s.93(3)).
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
Set per fishing permit. Under s.93(... fishing permit) and S.I. 362 of 1990 s.28(3), a fishing permit may limit the number and species of fish that may be taken. No single national numeric recreational bag limit was retrievable; limits depend on the water and permit.
Specific size limits, bag limits and protected/specially-protected fish species lists are set by permit conditions and by Statutory Instruments per water body and were not retrievable in full from an official source. The Act allows the Authority to prohibit a person from fishing for specified fish (s.96) and to control fish populations. Catch-and-release is widely recommended for tigerfish on Lake Kariba (secondary sources).
Qui peut pêcher
Visiteurs et résidents
Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.
Visiteurs étrangers
AutoriséeExigences
- Obtain the applicable fishing permit from the appropriate authority / ZimParks for the waters to be fished, the same permit regime that applies to residents.
- Foreign/visitor (non-resident) fee tariffs may differ from resident tariffs under the Authority's Tariff of Fees By-laws.
Restrictions
- Same gear and conservation restrictions apply (ss.85-93); spearfishing only where the permit/water authorizes spear or spear gun gear.
No prohibition specific to foreigners practising freshwater spearfishing was found; tourists routinely fish Lake Kariba and other waters under permit. Non-resident tariffs are typically higher than resident tariffs.
Résidents
Fishing permit issued by the appropriate authority for the waters (ZimParks for State waters / Parks and Wild Life Estate).
Exigences
- Hold a valid fishing permit for the waters (s.85).
- Members of an affiliated angling society may fish under a block fishing permit issued to the society (S.I. 362 of 1990 s.28(4); proof of paid-up membership may be required, s.31).
Avantages
- Resident/local tariff rates are generally lower than non-resident tariffs.
- Block fishing permits available to societies affiliated to the National Anglers' Union of Zimbabwe.
The appropriate authority for waters wholly surrounded by its own land has additional latitude (e.g. need not hold a permit to fish/sell in those waters – s.90 proviso).
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 autorisées
Zimbabwe's largest inland water body and principal sport-fishing destination (tigerfish, bream/tilapia, catfish). Fishing requires a permit from the appropriate authority; on the Zimbabwe side permits/research are administered via the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. Spear and spear gun are gear types authorized nationally under s.93 of the Parks and Wild Life Act, but the issuing authority may restrict permitted gear per permit.
Fishing permit required; gear may be restricted by permit conditions; explosives/firearms/poisons/jigs/electrical devices prohibited (s.87).
Zones interdites
- Waters within national parks and the Parks and Wild Life Estatenational park / Parks and Wild Life Estate
Within the Parks and Wild Life Estate (national parks, safari areas, recreational parks, sanctuaries, etc.) fishing is permitted only under a fishing permit or block fishing permit, and gear may be restricted to rod/hand line unless otherwise authorized. Stricter rules and zone closures apply inside national parks, so spearfishing is generally not freely permitted there without specific authorization.
Conditions sur l'eau
Conditions en direct
Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en Zimbabwe, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.
Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Lake Kariba.
À qui s'adresser
Autorités
Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)
wildlife and protected-areas authority (administers fishing permits and the Parks and Wild Life Act)
zimparks.org.zwHead Office, Cnr Sandringham Drive & Borrowdale Road, Botanical Gardens, Harare, ZimbabweLake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute (LKFRI)
fisheries research institute (Lake Kariba fishing permits and research, under ZimParks)
lkfri.org.zwunknownMinistry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife (formerly Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry)
environment ministry (parent ministry for ZimParks and the Parks and Wild Life Act)
zimparks.org.zwunknown
D'où cela provient
Sources
Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.
- [01]
Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14] – full consolidated text (ZimParks official)
Officiellezimparks.org.zwConsulté le juin 15 - [02]
Parks and Wild Life (General) Regulations, 1990 – Statutory Instrument 362 of 1990 (FAOLEX)
Officiellefaolex.fao.orgConsulté le juin 15 - [03]
Legislation – Zimbabwe Parks And Wildlife Management Authority
Officiellezimparks.org.zwConsulté le juin 15 - [04]
S.I. 108 of 2019 – Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Tariff of Fees) By-Laws, 2019 (Veritas Zimbabwe)
Officielleveritaszim.netConsulté le juin 15 - [05]
Fishing in Zimbabwe 2026: Permits, Best Spots, Charters & Costs
Secondairefishingworldguide.comConsulté le juin 15 - [06]
Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Lake Kariba (African Sahara)
Secondaireafricansahara.orgConsulté le juin 15
Notes du chercheur
Zimbabwe is landlocked (no sea coastline); all spearfishing is freshwater (rivers, dams, lakes – chiefly Lake Kariba). PRIMARY FINDING (high confidence): the national Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14], section 93, expressly lists 'a spear' and 'a spear gun' as authorized fishing gear in any waters, so spear/underwater hunting of fish is legal in principle, subject to (a) holding a fishing permit (s.85/86) and (b) any gear restriction the issuing authority imposes per permit (s.93(2)); explosives, firearms, chemicals, jigs and electrical devices are prohibited (s.87). These verbatim provisions come from the official ZimParks PDF of the consolidated Act and from S.I. 362 of 1990 (FAOLEX). LOWER CONFIDENCE / UNVERIFIED: exact recreational permit fees and validity, numeric bag/size limits, protected fish species lists, and precise closed-season dates were not retrievable from an official machine-readable source; secondary sources give only approximate figures (permits ~US$10-20; a possible tigerfish closed/restricted period roughly Oct-Jan on Lake Kariba) and should be confirmed with ZimParks/LKFRI. Status set to 'restricted' rather than 'yes' because spearfishing is lawful only under permit and the issuing authority may exclude spear gear and impose zone closures (notably inside the Parks and Wild Life Estate). The S.I. 362 of 1990 fishing-gear wording (s.29) could not be extracted verbatim from the scanned PDF and is paraphrased in brackets; the s.93 gear list in the Act is the authoritative national rule. data_confidence: medium (strong primary law text on legality; gaps on numeric limits, fees, seasons).
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