Egypt
Africa · Northern Africa
Recreational spearfishing is heavily restricted and, in practice, off-limits across Egypt's main waters, above all the Red Sea. No retrieved primary statute names a categorical, permanent ban on spearfishing or spearguns by name; the restriction instead arises from the combination of general fisheries-gear controls, a missing permitted-gear listing for spearguns, marine-protected-area no-take zones, current multi-year recreational-fishing suspensions, and consistent dive-industry guidance. Egypt has no recreational spearfishing licence regime; underwater fishing falls under the general fisheries framework (Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries), whose Article 22 bans fishing with methods, materials and tools that are not permitted, Article 23 bans the mere presence on a vessel - or possession at a fishing site - of nets, machines or materials that are not licensed or not permitted for fishing, and Article 34 makes a boat licence and a personal fishing card mandatory; no statute lists spearguns/harpoons as permitted gear. Dive-industry guidance is consistent that nets, harpoons and spearguns are not allowed in the Red Sea and that it is strictly forbidden to fish for turtles, sharks, Napoleon wrasse and certain other reef fish. Spearfishing inside the network of Red Sea marine protected areas / national parks (Ras Mohammed, the Brothers / El Ikhwa Islands and other declared protectorates) is forbidden as these are no-take zones. Article 31 separately prohibits taking, collecting, transporting or possessing fish fry, sea turtles and marine mammals. On top of this, the Red Sea Governorate's Decision No. 339 of 2023 banned all forms of recreational fishing from pleasure or hired boats during the breeding window, and from 1 May 2024 a sweeping decree suspended ALL recreational fishing and competitions for five years across the Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba. Where any underwater fishing is tolerated, scuba spearfishing is illegal (freediving only). Penalties include heavy fines, gear confiscation, two-month (repeat: six-month) vessel suspension and, in Ras Mohammed National Park, possible imprisonment. Travellers and operators are advised not to spearfish.
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 22, 2026
Frèam riaghladh
- §Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries (64 articles, 5 chapters) - esp. Article 22 (prohibited methods/materials/tools), Article 23 (no unlicensed/non-permitted gear on vessel or at fishing site), Article 31 (protection of fish fry, sea turtles and marine mammals), Article 34 (boat licence + fishing card required)
- §Law No. 124 of 1983 on Fishing, Aquatic Life and the Regulation of Fish Farms (licensing; superseded by Law 146/2021, which repealed it in its Article 3)
- §Law No. 4 of 1994 on the Environment (Environmental Law), Article 28 (protection of wildlife and marine living organisms)
- §Decree No. 159 of 2009 (protection of dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea)
- §Resolution No. 1437 of 2021 (ban on fishing of marine mammals)
- §Red Sea Governorate Decision No. 339 of 2023 (seasonal ban on all recreational fishing from pleasure/hired boats and on trade of Red Sea fish)
- §Red Sea recreational and commercial fishing suspension decree, effective 1 May 2024 (five-year ban)
- Cead riatanach
- Riatanach
- Gunna-sleagha
- Toirmisgte
- Scuba
- Toirmisgte
- Coigrich
- Chan eil ceadaichte
An lagh, verbatim
Teacsaichean laghail
Na foillseachaidhean reachdail agus riaghailteach mionaideach a tha a' riaghladh slighe-biasd an seo, air an luaidh mar a chaidh am foillseachadh, le ceangal ri gach stòras oifigeil.
Protection of wildlife and marine living organisms
Environmental Law (Law No. 4 of 1994 on the Environment)
Hunting, killing, catching birds and wild animals or marine living organisms; as well as possessing, transporting, importing and exporting or offering to sell such birds and animals, either dead or alive, as a whole, in part or their derivatives, or practicing activities that tend to destroy their natural habitats or properties or damage their nests, eggs or their offspring. The Executive Regulation of this law shall determine species of these creatures and sites to which the provisions of the above mentioned paragraph shall apply.
Prohibition of dolphin fishing in the Mediterranean Sea
Decree No. 159 of 2009
Dolphin fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is strictly prohibited with any fishing gear or any means of aggregation during the period from 1 January to 14 August each year.
Prohibition of fishing in closed areas/periods or with non-permitted methods, materials and tools
Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries
يحظر الصيد فى المناطق والفترات الممنوع الصيد فيها أو الصيد بالطرق والمواد والأدوات غير المسموح بها.
Prohibition of unlicensed/non-permitted nets, machines or materials on the vessel and of possessing them at fishing sites
Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries
يحظر وجود شباك أو آلات أو مواد غير مرخص بها أو غير مسموح الصيد بها على المركب، كما يحظر حيازة هذه الآلات والأدوات والمواد فى مواقع الصيد.
Prohibition of catching, collecting, transporting or possessing fish fry, sea turtles and marine mammals without a permit
Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries
يحظر صيد أو جمع أو نقل أو حيازة زريعة الأسماك والسلاحف البحرية والثدييات البحرية من البحر أو البحيرات، أو المسطحات المائية الأخرى أو العبث بأماكن وجودها وتكاثرها بحسب الأحوال على امتداد الشواطئ المصرية أو فى المياه البحرية إلا بتصريح من الجهاز.
Requirement of a licence to use any boat for fishing and of a fishing card to practise fishing
Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries
يحظر بغير ترخيص من الجهاز استعمال أى مركب فى الصيد. ... كما يحظر على أى شخص مزاولة مهنة الصيد إلا إذا كان حاصلاً على بطاقة صيد.
Ban on all forms of recreational fishing from pleasure or hired boats in the Red Sea governorate (Decision No. 339 of 2023)
Red Sea Governor's Decision No. 339 of 2023
حظر الصيد الترفيهي بكل أنواعه من خلال مراكب النزهة أو الركوبة بأجر
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
- DùinteAll recreational fishing and fishing competitions in the Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Gulf of AqabaCèi 1 – Cèi 1
From 1 May 2024 all recreational fishing and competitions are suspended for five years across the Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Aqaba to reduce pressure on the ecosystem during fish reproduction. Commercial fishing using shanshula and trawl methods is likewise prohibited for five years.
- DùinteSale/trade of Red Sea fish in markets, restaurants and shops (breeding-season trade ban)Gib 15 – Iuc 15
All trade of Red Sea fish was prohibited in markets, restaurants and shops from 15 April to 15 July 2024 to reduce demand and protect breeding stocks; pleasure boats were restricted to day trips only during this peak breeding season (Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Aqaba). The HEPCA source states the specific 2024 window within the five-year program; whether the trade ban recurs annually in subsequent breeding seasons is not confirmed by a cited source. This is a commercial/market measure, not a geographic spearfishing zone.
- DùinteDolphins (Mediterranean Sea)Fao 1 – Lùn 14
Dolphin fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is strictly prohibited with any fishing gear or any means of aggregation from 1 January to 14 August each year (Decree No. 159 of 2009, Article 1).
- DùinteAll forms of recreational fishing from pleasure or hired boats in the Red Sea Governorate (Decision No. 339 of 2023)Cèi 15 – Lùn 1
Red Sea Governor's Decision No. 339 of 2023 banned recreational fishing of all kinds via pleasure or paid/hire boats (مراكب النزهة أو الركوبة بأجر) from 15 May to 1 August, alongside a ban on trading Red Sea fish in markets, restaurants and shops throughout the prohibition period, and area-specific bans on commercial trawl (15 May - 15 Sep) and shanshula (2 May - 4 Oct) methods. Penalties: a violating vessel/float is suspended for two months with confiscation of the offending fishing gear; on repeat, suspension for six months. This is the 2023 Red Sea Governorate breeding-season decree; the broader five-year suspension below began in 2024.
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
Fishing licences are granted by the Agency for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fish Resources (formerly via the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, GAFRD). Spearfishing is not licensed as a recreational activity and is effectively prohibited.
Faigh do cheadFosgailte am portal oifigeil · ecolex.org
- Seòrsa
- General fishing licence under the national fisheries law; no dedicated recreational spearfishing licence exists. Recreational fishing is currently suspended in the Red Sea (5-year ban from 1 May 2024).
- Cosgais
- unknown
- Dligheachd
- unknown
- Mar a gheibhear e
- Fishing licences are granted by the Agency for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fish Resources (formerly via the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, GAFRD). Spearfishing is not licensed as a recreational activity and is effectively prohibited.
- Ùghdarras
- Agency for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fish Resources (LPFWDA) / General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD)
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Spearfishing is generally prohibited; where any underwater fishing is tolerated, scuba spearfishing is illegal - freediving only
- Fishing nets, harpoons and spearguns are reported as never allowed in the Red Sea by dive-industry guidance ('Fishing nets, harpoons and spearguns are never allowed', marsaalam.com); statutorily, Law 146/2021 Article 23 bans any non-permitted gear on a vessel or possessed at a fishing site
- Use of explosives, toxic/chemical substances and other destructive/harmful fishing methods is prohibited under the fisheries and environmental laws
- A surface dive float with flag is reportedly required and checked by coast guard patrols where freediving is conducted
speargun_allowed and scuba_allowed are set to false because spearfishing is effectively prohibited across Egypt's main (Red Sea) waters and scuba spearfishing is explicitly illegal. Equipment specifics come from dive-industry/community sources rather than verbatim statute; treat as guidance, not codified text.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
Recreational fishing (incl. any catch) is suspended in the Red Sea/Gulf of Suez/Aqaba for five years from 1 May 2024. Outside that ban, dive-industry guidance reports informal bag limits of roughly 2-3 fish per person per day for most permitted species.
Gnèithean dìonta — na gabh
- DìontaAll sea turtles
- DìontaAll shark species
- DìontaMarine mammals (dolphins, whales) - banned under Resolution No. 1437 of 2021 and Environmental Law Article 28
- DìontaNapoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) - reported strictly protected by dive-industry guidance
- DìontaSea cucumber
- DìontaOrnamental / aquarium reef fish
- DìontaCorals
Protection of marine mammals and listed wildlife is codified: a verbatim (translated) provision is held for Article 28 of the Environmental Law and Decree 159/2009 (see law_texts). Marine-mammal fishing is additionally reported to be banned by Resolution No. 1437 of 2021, but only via a third-person summary in the NOAA report - no verbatim wording was retrievable, so that instrument is recorded in legal_status.legal_framework rather than as verbatim law_text. Protection of turtles, sharks and Napoleon wrasse for spearfishing purposes is consistently reported by dive-industry and conservation sources; exact size limits were not retrievable from official statute.
Cò a dh'fhaodar iasgach
Luchd-tadhail & luchd-còmhnaidh
Mar a tha na riaghailtean eadar-dhealaichte airson luchd-tadhail cèin agus luchd-còmhnaidh ionadail.
Luchd-tadhail cèin
Chan eil ceadaichteCuingeachaidhean
- Spearfishing is effectively prohibited for everyone, including tourists/foreigners, especially in the Red Sea and all marine protected areas
- Violations can lead to fines (reported from ~USD 500), equipment confiscation, and imprisonment in Ras Mohammed National Park
- Egypt has also moved to restrict foreign fishing boats in its territorial waters
There is no foreigner-specific recreational spearfishing permit; the general prohibition applies to all. Tourists are strongly advised not to spearfish.
Luchd-còmhnaidh
General fishing licence / fishing card under Law No. 146 of 2021 (no recreational spearfishing category)
Riatanasan
- Licensed fishing vessels and fishing cards are required for fishing generally; fishing without a licence is prohibited (Law 124, Article 8)
Residents are subject to the same prohibitions on spearfishing and the same five-year Red Sea recreational fishing suspension.
Càite air a' chladach
Sgìrean ceadaichte & toirmisgte
Sgìrean ainmichte a tha fosgailte no dùinte airson slighe-biasd. Faic an dealbh-iomlan air a' mhapa eadar-ghnìomhach.
Sgìrean toirmisgte
- Ras Mohammed National Parkmarine national park / no-take zone
No-take marine national park at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula near Sharm el-Sheikh, established as a marine reserve in 1983. Fishing, shell/coral collection and harming marine life are prohibited; spearfishing here can incur the heaviest penalties (large fines, confiscation, possible imprisonment).
- The Brothers Islands (El Ikhwa / El Akhawein)marine protectorate / marine park
Two uninhabited rocky islets in the offshore Red Sea, declared natural protectorates / marine park in 1983, about 60 km off El Quseir. Marine park status restricts activities; spearfishing around the islands is prohibited.
- Dolphin Reef (Sha'ab Samadai), Marsa Alammarine protected area
Protected dolphin habitat reef near Marsa Alam where spearfishing is prohibited.
- Red Sea coast marine protected area network (no-take zones)network of marine protected areas
Egypt established a network of marine protected areas along the Red Sea coast with no-take zones for the conservation of sensitive habitats; fishing including spearfishing is prohibited within them.
- Wadi El Gemal - Hamata National Park (marine area)marine national park / managed-resources protected area
National park established in 2003 on the Red Sea coast south of Marsa Alam, with an extensive marine component (reported marine area ~1,600 km2) including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and offshore islands (Wadi El Gemal Island, Hamata/Qulan islands). As a declared Egyptian protectorate it is a no-take protected area where fishing including spearfishing is prohibited. Coordinates are a representative coastal point of the park.
- Nabq Managed Resource Protected Areamarine managed-resources protected area
Protected area on the eastern Sinai coast on the Gulf of Aqaba north of Sharm el-Sheikh, declared in 1992. Includes mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass; reported marine area ~121.9 km2. As a declared Egyptian protectorate with no-take marine zones, fishing including spearfishing is prohibited. Coordinates are a representative point on the protected coast.
- Abu Galum Managed Resource Protected Areamarine managed-resources protected area
Protected area on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of South Sinai between Dahab and Nuweiba, declared in 1992 (~500 km2). It has coral reefs and a marine no-take component (reported marine area ~121 km2). As a declared Egyptian protectorate, fishing including spearfishing is prohibited. Coordinates are a representative coastal point.
- Giftun Islands National Parkmarine national park / protected area
Marine protected area off Hurghada (~11 km east) comprising Big and Small Giftun islands and surrounding reefs, one of Egypt's earliest declared Red Sea protected areas. Rich coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches; as a no-take protected area, fishing including spearfishing is prohibited. Coordinates are a representative point at the islands (Orange Bay area).
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Egypt, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Ras Mohammed National Park.
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Agency for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fish Resources (LPFWDA)
fisheries authority
ecolex.orgAffiliated with the Egyptian Cabinet; established under Law No. 146 of 2021General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD)
fisheries authority
seafoodsource.comMinistry of Agriculture and Land ReclamationEgyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) / Nature Conservation Sector
environment authority
en.wikipedia.orgManages Red Sea marine protected areas and national parks (Ras Mohammed, Brothers Islands)
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
NOAA NMFS - Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions Comparability Finding Application Final Report: Egypt (2025)
Oifigeilfisheries.noaa.govAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [02]
ECOLEX - Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries (FAOLEX LEX-FAOC206844)
Oifigeilecolex.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [03]
HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association) - Red Sea Scores Major Victory in Fight Against Overfishing
Dàrnahepca.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [04]
SeafoodSource - Egypt moves to ban foreign fishing boats in its territorial waters / enhancing fisheries protections
Dàrnaseafoodsource.comAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [05]
Egypt Independent - Sisi ratifies Law for Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries
Dàrnaegyptindependent.comAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [06]
Wikipedia - Ras Muhammad National Park (coordinates, establishment, no-take status)
Dàrnaen.wikipedia.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [07]
Wikipedia - El Ikhwa Islands (The Brothers) marine protectorate, coordinates
Dàrnaen.wikipedia.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [08]
harpune.info - Spearfishing Rules Worldwide (Egypt: strictly prohibited)
communityharpune.infoAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [09]
FAOLEX (FAO) - Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries - full Official Gazette Arabic text (PDF, Gazette No. 39 bis (a), 2 Oct 2021)
Oifigeilfaolex.fao.orgAir faighinn Ògm 22 - [10]
Alber Onsy law repository - Law No. 146 of 2021 (clean Arabic full text, used to confirm verbatim Article 22/23/31/34 wording)
Dàrnaalberonsy.comAir faighinn Ògm 22 - [11]
kenanaonline (leloi) - Executive Regulation of the Egyptian Fishing Law (Law 124/1983), Article 4: no unauthorized weapons/tools on a fishing vessel or possessed at fishing sites
Dàrnakenanaonline.comAir faighinn Ògm 22 - [12]
Masrawy - Red Sea Governor Decision No. 339 of 2023 banning recreational fishing from pleasure/hired boats and trade of Red Sea fish (with penalties)
Dàrnamasrawy.comAir faighinn Ògm 22 - [13]
marsaalam.com - Marsa Alam / Red Sea Fishing Guide (harpoons and spearguns never allowed; turtles, sharks, Napoleons strictly off-limits)
communitymarsaalam.comAir faighinn Ògm 22
Notaichean rannsachaidh
CONFIDENCE: medium (upgraded from low on 2026-06-22). Egypt has no spearfishing-specific statute; legality is inferred from the governing fisheries framework (Law 146/2021, which repealed Law 124/1983 per its Article 3), environmental law, marine protected area designations, and seasonal/multi-year recreational fishing suspensions in the Red Sea. The 2026-06-22 deepening added FOUR verbatim Arabic provisions from the actual operative law - Law No. 146 of 2021, Articles 22, 23, 31 and 34 - quoted from the official FAOLEX Official Gazette PDF (Gazette No. 39 bis (a), 2 Oct 2021) that was fetched and text-extracted, and independently confirmed against a clean legal-text repository (alberonsy.com) to correct pdftotext lam-alef/hamza ligature artifacts. Article 22 (prohibited methods/materials/tools), Article 23 (no unlicensed/non-permitted gear on a vessel or possessed at a fishing site - the catch-all that captures spearguns/harpoons), Article 31 (protection of fish fry, sea turtles and marine mammals) and Article 34 (boat licence + personal fishing card required). A FIFTH verbatim entry is the Red Sea Governorate's Decision No. 339 of 2023 (Arabic) banning all recreational fishing from pleasure/hired boats (Masrawy). These now sit alongside the pre-existing two NOAA-translated quotes (Environmental Law Article 28; Decree 159/2009 Article 1). spearfishing_allowed was moved from 'restricted' to 'no': there is no positive permission anywhere, the gear catch-all (Art. 23) plus the species/no-take prohibitions plus seasonal/5-year suspensions plus consistent dive-industry guidance ('harpoons and spearguns are never allowed' - marsaalam.com; 'strictly prohibited by law' - harpune.info) all point to an effective national prohibition. NOT verifiable / omitted: the verbatim Arabic of Resolution No. 1437 of 2021 and the original Article 8 of repealed Law 124/1983 still could not be retrieved (the Law 124/1983 executive-regulation Article 4, banning unauthorized weapons/tools on a vessel, was located on kenanaonline but Law 124 is now superseded, so it is recorded as a source rather than a primary law_text); no statute names spearguns/harpoons explicitly, so equipment specifics, ~2-3 fish bag limits, dive-float requirement and USD 500+ fine figures remain dive-industry/community guidance, not codified text. The five-year recreational fishing suspension (Red Sea/Gulf of Suez/Aqaba, from 1 May 2024) is sourced (HEPCA); the precise gazette text of that decree was not retrieved. No marine zone could be confirmed as a place where recreational spearfishing is positively permitted, hence zones.allowed is empty.
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Egypt
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Egypt ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.