Barbados
Americas · Caribbean
Recreational spearfishing is generally permitted in Barbados outside protected areas, but it is regulated and subject to important restrictions. The primary fisheries statute is now the Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 (enacted 12 May 2025), which repealed the Fisheries Act, Cap. 391 (1993). That Act bans destructive methods (firearms, electric-shock devices, explosives, poisons and other noxious substances) but does not prohibit spearguns outright; instead it empowers the Minister to make regulations on the 'use of underwater breathing apparatus, spear guns or other similar devices' (s.438(1)(k)). Under the still-relevant Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 it is illegal to use SCUBA to take sea eggs (sea urchins), and harvesting egg-bearing lobster, turtles, coral and ornamental fish is prohibited or requires written permission. All non-commercial fishing vessels require a recreational fishing licence (s.134). Spearfishing and all fishing/extraction are prohibited inside the Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve near Holetown - the country's only legislated marine protected area - where spear guns are expressly not permitted. The sea egg fishery has been closed by moratorium since 2005, and Caribbean spiny lobster is subject to an annual closed season.
Nuashonraithe go deireanach Meitheamh 14, 2026
Creat rialaitheach
- §Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 (enacted 12 May 2025; repealed Fisheries Act, Cap. 391)
- §Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
- §Fisheries Act, 1993 (Cap. 391) - repealed by the 2025 Act
- §Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1976 (governs marine reserves, incl. Folkestone)
- Ceadúnas riachtanach
- Riachtanach
- Gunna spéire
- Ceadaithe
- Coigríche
- Fáilte
An dlí, focal ar fhocal
Téacsanna dlíthiúla
Na forálacha reachtúla agus rialála beachta a rialaíonn spearfishing anseo, luaite mar a foilsíodh, le nasc le gach foinse oifigiúil.
Prohibited fishing gear and fishing methods
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025
23.(1) No person shall (a) use any prohibited fishing gear or fishing method; or (b) use, permit the use of or carry onboard for the purpose of fishing (i) any fish aggregating device unless authorized to do so; (ii) any firearm, electric shock device, explosive, poison, or other noxious substance; or (iii) any other object used for disabling or killing fish or rendering fish more easily caught.
Power to regulate spear guns and underwater breathing apparatus
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025
438.(1) The Minister may make regulations generally for the sustainable management and development of fisheries, aquaculture and mariculture in Barbados and in particular, for the following: ... (k) use of underwater breathing apparatus, spear guns or other similar devices;
Recreational fishing licence required
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025
134.(1) All Barbados registered and foreign registered fishing vessels to be used in non-commercial fishing activities in the waters of Barbados shall possess a valid recreational fishing licence. (2) No person shall engage in commercial fishing activities with a recreational fishing licence.
Repeal of the Fisheries Act, Cap. 391
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025
444. The Fisheries Act, Cap. 391, is hereby repealed.
Prohibition on taking sea eggs with SCUBA, in closed season or closed area
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
8. No person shall fish for any sea eggs (a) during the closed season; (b) with the assistance of SCUBA; or (c) in a closed area.
Definition of SCUBA and sea egg
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
In these Regulations, ... "SCUBA" means self-contained underwater breathing apparatus; "sea egg" means the white sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus; "turtle" means all species of marine turtle.
Prohibition on possession or harm of egg-bearing lobster
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
6. (1) No person shall (a) have in his possession; (b) sell; (c) purchase; or (d) harm any lobster which is carrying eggs. (2) No person shall remove eggs from a lobster.
Protection of turtles
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
7. (1) No person shall (a) have in his possession; (b) sell or expose for sale; or (c) purchase any turtle or part thereof or turtle eggs. (2) No person shall fish for or ensnare any turtle. (3) No person shall disturb or endanger any turtle nest or remove from a nest any turtle eggs.
Protection of coral
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
14. No person shall take, injure, destroy or fish for coral, except with the written permission of the Chief Fisheries Officer and in accordance with any conditions which he may specify.
Minimum landing weight for yellowfin and bigeye tuna
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
12. No person shall land a yellowfin tuna, or a bigeye tuna, less than 3.2 kilogrammes live weight.
Penalty for contravention of the 1998 Regulations
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 1998/102, Cap. 391)
15. Any person who contravenes these Regulations is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50 000 or to imprisonment for a term of 2 years or to both.
Prohibition on spear guns and fishing within the Folkestone Marine Reserve
Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve rules - National Conservation Commission
Do not touch or take any coral, fish or marine life. Do not fish in the reserve or use spear guns, hooks, lines, traps or explosives to catch fish.
Cathain is féidir leat tumadh
Séasúir & srianta ama
Tréimhsí dúnta, oscailte agus srianta ar fud na bliana. Deimhnigh i gcónaí dúnta speicis-shonraithe go háitiúil.
- DúntaSea egg (white sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus)
The sea egg fishery has been under an indefinite closure/moratorium since 2005; opening requires a Cabinet decision following a positive Fisheries Division stock survey. As of the latest official notice (2023) the sea egg season remains closed until further notice. Harvesting with SCUBA is separately prohibited under Regulation 8 of the Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998.
- DúntaCaribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)Beal 1 – Mei 30
Barbados operates an annual closed season for Caribbean spiny lobster (typically 1 May to 30 June; the 2025 lobster fishing season was reopened by public notice on 23 June 2025). During the closed season it is prohibited to catch, sell, purchase or possess lobster. Egg-bearing lobster are protected year-round under Regulation 6 of the 1998 Regulations. Dates are set annually by the Fisheries Division and should be confirmed each year.
Cead iascaireachta
Ceadúnas
Cad atá de dhíth ort le bheith ceadaithe san uisce, cad a chosnaíonn sé, agus conas é a fháil.
Apply to the Chief Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Division, in the form specified, with vessel particulars and the prescribed application fee (Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025, ss.134-136).
Faigh do cheadúnasOsclaíonn an tairseach oifigiúil · fisheries.gov.bb
- Cineál
- Recreational fishing licence (per vessel) for non-commercial fishing in Barbados waters
- Costas
- Prescribed application fee set by the Chief Fisheries Officer (specific amount not published in the Act; to be confirmed with the Fisheries Division)
- Bailíocht
- unknown
- Conas a fháil
- Apply to the Chief Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Division, in the form specified, with vessel particulars and the prescribed application fee (Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025, ss.134-136).
- Údarás
- Fisheries Division (Chief Fisheries Officer), Ministry responsible for fisheries
Trealamh & teicníc
Rialacha trealamh
Cén trealamh atá ceadaithe, conas is féidir é a úsáid, agus na coinníollacha ceangailte.
Srianta
- Spear guns and other fishing methods are prohibited inside the Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve.
- Firearms, electric-shock devices, explosives, poisons and other noxious substances are prohibited for fishing nationally (Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025, s.23).
- SCUBA must not be used to harvest sea eggs (sea urchins) (Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998, reg.8).
- The Minister may make regulations governing the use of underwater breathing apparatus, spear guns and similar devices (2025 Act, s.438(1)(k)); check current subsidiary regulations and any Official Gazette notices on prohibited methods before fishing.
Spear guns are not banned outright by national statute, but their use is regulated and prohibited in the marine reserve. The 2025 Act allows the Minister to issue specific regulations on speargun/underwater-breathing-apparatus use, so the rules can change by subsidiary instrument. The previous 1993 Fisheries Act regime did not impose a general speargun ban either.
Cad is féidir leat a ghlacadh
Teorainneacha gabháil & speicis chosanta
Cuótaí laethúla, méideanna íosta, agus speicis nach féidir a thógáil go deo.
Teorainn laethúil
unknown
Méideanna íosta
- Yellowfin tuna (minimum landing weight 3.2 kg live weight)
- Bigeye tuna (minimum landing weight 3.2 kg live weight)
Speicis chosanta — ná tóg
- CosantaMarine turtles (all species) - taking, possession and sale prohibited
- CosantaEgg-bearing (berried) lobster - possession, sale, purchase or harm prohibited
- CosantaCoral - taking/injuring prohibited without written permission of the Chief Fisheries Officer
- CosantaOrnamental fish and aquatic flora - fishing prohibited without written permission
- CosantaSea eggs / white sea urchin (Tripneustes ventricosus) - fishery under indefinite closure
- CosantaCetaceans, whale shark, manta and ray species and sawfishes - 'prohibited species' under the new fisheries regime
Minimum landing weight for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 3.2 kg live weight (1998 Regulations, reg.12). The size_limits field uses a notes-style species label because the limits are expressed by weight, not length. No general recreational daily bag limit is published in the located legislation; confirm species-specific measures and any Official Gazette notices with the Fisheries Division.
Cé is féidir iascaireacht
Cuairteoirí & cónaitheoirí
Conas a dhéanann na rialacha difear do chuairteoirí coigríche agus do chónaitheoirí áitiúla.
Cuairteoirí coigríche
CeadaitheCeadúnas speisialta de dhíth
Riachtanais
- Non-commercial fishing vessels (including foreign-registered) must hold a valid recreational fishing licence (2025 Act, s.134).
- Foreign vessels used solely for recreational fishing are exempt from the separate foreign fishing vessel licence (s.138), but still require the recreational fishing licence.
Srianta
- No spearfishing or any fishing inside the Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve.
- Same gear/method and protected-species rules apply as for residents.
Tourists are frequently told that no licence is needed for casual recreational fishing, but under the 2025 Act the licence requirement attaches to the fishing vessel used for non-commercial fishing. Visitors who spearfish should verify current requirements with the Fisheries Division, especially licence and any speargun regulations.
Cónaitheoirí
Recreational fishing licence (non-commercial) issued by the Chief Fisheries Officer
Riachtanais
- Apply to the Chief Fisheries Officer with vessel particulars and the prescribed fee (ss.134-136).
- Comply with prohibited-gear, protected-species and closed-season rules.
Commercial fishers require separate registration/licensing; a recreational licence may not be used for commercial fishing (s.134(2)).
Cá háit ar an gcósta
Criosanna ceadaithe & toirmiscthe
Ceantair ainmnithe atá oscailte nó dúnta do spearfishing. Féach an pictiúr iomlán ar an mapa idirghníomhach.
Ceantair thoirmiscthe
- Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reservemarine reserve
Barbados's only legislated marine protected area, established 1981 under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1976. It runs about 2.1-2.2 km along the west coast near Holetown (St. James), from just north of the Coral Reef Club Hotel to the southern edge of the Sandy Lane Hotel property, extending up to roughly 950 m offshore, and is divided into four zones (scientific research, northern and southern water sports, and recreational). All fishing and extraction are prohibited, and spear guns, hooks, lines, traps and explosives may not be used. Coordinates below are the approximate location of Holetown, the reserve's central point (approximate - the legal boundary is defined in the reserve order, not by these coordinates).
- Carlisle Bay Marine Parkmarine park
A marine conservation area on the southwest coast of Barbados, in the parish of Saint Michael, adjacent to Bridgetown between Brownes Beach/Bay Street Esplanade and Needham's Point. Established (alongside Folkestone) as one of Barbados's two marine conservation areas; managed by the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) and National Conservation Commission (NCC), with demarcation lines marking the northern and southern limits and mooring buoys within. Fishing within its designated boundaries is expressly prohibited (so spearfishing is not permitted). Note: management is administrative/voluntary via CZMU demarcation; reporting indicates the park has no specific legislative protection. The bay also contains the 'Underwater Museum' of six shipwrecks (e.g. the Berwyn, Bajan Queen) functioning as artificial reefs. Coordinates are the approximate centre of Carlisle Bay; the managed boundary is set by the CZMU demarcation lines, not by this point.
Coinníollacha ar an uisce
Coinníollacha beo
Grianghraf muirí agus aimsire beo in aice le pointe tagartha cósta in Barbados, ó Open-Meteo. Athraíonn coinníollacha feadh an chósta — caith leis mar tháscaire.
Muirí beo & aimsir in aice le Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve.
Cé le fiafraí
Údaráis
Na comhlachtaí oifigiúla atá freagrach as iascach agus ceadúnú.
Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.bbPrincess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, Barbados; Chief Fisheries OfficerNational Conservation Commission (NCC) - Folkestone Marine Reserve
marine protected area manager
nccbarbados.comFolkestone Marine Park & Visitor Centre, Holetown, St. JamesCoastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU)
coastal management authority
coastal.gov.bbBridgetown, Barbados
Cá as a dtagann sé seo
Foinsí
Rianaíonn gach éileamh ar an leathanach seo ar ais go ceann de na tagairtí seo.
- [01]
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 - full bill text (Barbados Parliament)
Oifigiúilbarbadosparliament.comRochtain Mei 14 - [02]
Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 - bill record
Oifigiúilbarbadosparliament.comRochtain Mei 14 - [03]
Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 (Cap. 391) - official subsidiary legislation PDF
Oifigiúilbarbadoslawcourts.gov.bbRochtain Mei 14 - [04]
Barbados Fisheries Division - Legal Framework
Oifigiúilfisheries.gov.bbRochtain Mei 14 - [05]
New Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Acts of 2025 enacted on 12 May 2025
Oifigiúilfisheries.gov.bbRochtain Mei 14 - [06]
Sea egg season remains closed (Barbados Fisheries Division)
Oifigiúilfisheries.gov.bbRochtain Mei 14 - [07]
Public Notice - Opening of the Lobster Fishing Season, 23 June 2025 (Government of Barbados Press Office)
Oifigiúilfacebook.comRochtain Mei 14 - [08]
About the Folkestone Marine Reserve - National Conservation Commission
Oifigiúilnccbarbados.comRochtain Mei 14 - [09]
Local Legislation - Coastal Zone Management Unit (lists Marine Areas Act 1976, Fisheries Act 1993, 1998 Regulations)
Oifigiúilcoastal.gov.bbRochtain Mei 14 - [10]
Folkstone Marine Reserve - CPAG (size and zones)
Tánaisteachthecpag.orgRochtain Mei 14
Nótaí taighdeora
Legal landscape changed materially in 2025: the Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 (in force 12 May 2025) repealed the Fisheries Act, Cap. 391 (1993). Verbatim provisions for the 2025 Act were taken from the official Parliament bill PDF; the Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 verbatim text was extracted from the official Barbados Law Courts subsidiary-legislation PDF. Neither the 2025 Act nor the 1998 Regulations imposes a general ban on spearguns/spearfishing; spearguns are regulated (and bannable) by ministerial regulation (2025 Act s.438(1)(k)) and are expressly prohibited inside the Folkestone Marine Reserve. CAUTION / open items: (1) the lobster closed-season dates (1 May - 30 June) are the regional/typical pattern and the Barbados 2025 reopening notice (23 June 2025), but the exact verbatim Barbados notice text could not be confirmed - verify the current year's dates with the Fisheries Division; (2) the Folkestone Reserve coordinates given are the approximate location of Holetown (the reserve centre), NOT surveyed legal boundary points; (3) recreational licence fees, validity, and current speargun-specific subsidiary regulations should be confirmed directly with the Fisheries Division. A government GIS page on the new regulations (gisbarbados.gov.bb) was inaccessible (HTTP 403) and could not be quoted. Confidence is 'medium': primary statutory text is well-sourced and official, but some operational details (fees, exact annual season dates, precise reserve coordinates) remain to be confirmed.
Cuir in iúl dom nuair a athraíonn rialacha Barbados
Seolfaimid ríomhphost chugat nuair a nuashonraítear séasúir nó rialacháin Barbados inár dtacar sonraí.