Lebanon
Asia · Western Asia
Recreational/sport underwater fishing (freediving spearfishing) is permitted in Lebanon but is regulated. Lebanese fisheries law explicitly recognises 'sport fishing while under water' and sets restrictions on it: it is prohibited to take sponges, to catch lobsters with spear guns, or to fish during night hours (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999). Crucially, fishing using scuba diving equipment is banned (Decision 346/1 of 2010), so spearfishing is in practice limited to breath-hold/freediving. No spearfishing or any fishing is allowed inside the two declared marine nature reserves (Palm Islands and Tyre Coast). Protected species (turtles, monk seals, whales/cetaceans) may not be taken. Fisheries fall under the Ministry of Agriculture; enforcement at sea is by the Ministry of Defense (navy/coast guard). Enforcement of these rules is widely reported to be weak.
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 14, 2026
Frèam riaghladh
- §Resolution/Decision No. 2775 of 28 September 1929 (and amendments) - base law on marine and coastal fishing
- §Law No. 121 of 9 March 1992 - creation of Palm Islands (Rabbit Islands) Nature Reserve
- §Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999 - rules on underwater (sport) fishing
- §Resolution No. 279/1 and No. 281/1 of 19 November 1998; Decision/Resolution No. 125/1 of 1997/1999 - protected species (turtles, seals, whales, sponges)
- §Law No. 708 of 5 November 1998 - creation of Tyre Coast Nature Reserve
- §Decision 346/1 of 2010 - banning small mesh sizes/trawling nets and fishing using scuba diving equipment
- §Law No. 130/2019 - Protected Areas Framework Law
- Gunna-sleagha
- Ceadaichte
- Scuba
- Toirmisgte
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.
Underwater (sport) fishing restrictions
Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999 (Lebanese Ministry responsible for marine fisheries; Official Gazette No. 16 of 1 April 1999, p. 905)
While fishing under water, no person is allowed to (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999): take sponges; catch lobsters with spear guns; fish during night hours.
Ban on fishing using scuba diving equipment
Decision 346/1 of 2010 (Fishing types and equipment)
Decision 346/1 of 2010 (Fishing types and equipment): Banning the use of small mesh sizes and trawling nets; Banning fishing using scuba diving equipment.
Protected species - turtles, whales and seals
Resolution No. 279/1 of 19 November 1998 and Resolution No. 125/1 of 23 September 1999 (Official Gazette No. 54 of 3 December 1998, p. 4956; Official Gazette No. 46 of 30 September 1999, p. 2724)
The catching of turtles, whales and seals is strictly prohibited throughout Lebanese territorial waters (Resolution No. 279/1 of 19 November 1998 and Resolution No. 125/1 of 23 September 1999).
Protected species - ban on taking sponges
Resolution No. 281/1 of 19 November 1998 (Official Gazette No. 54 of 3 December 1998, p. 4957)
Recognizing that sponges were threatened with extinction and thus needed adequate protection, the Minister responsible for marine fisheries issued Resolution No. 281/1 of 19 November 1998 prohibiting the taking of sponges within Lebanese territorial waters for a 5-year period.
Marine protected areas - Palm Islands and Tyre Coast nature reserves
Law No. 121 of 9 March 1992 (Palm/Rabbit Islands); Law No. 708 of 5 November 1998 (Tyre Coast, zone Jeftlik Ras Alain), Official Gazette No. 151 of 12 November 1998, p. 4521
At least two protected areas that included marine areas have been established in Lebanon. Law No. 121 of 9 March 1992 designated the Rabbit Islands as a nature reserve. This comprises three main islands, i.e. Palm Island, Sanani Island and Ramkin Island, and the surrounding marine areas. On 5 November 1998, Law No. 708 was enacted, creating a protected area in the zone Jeftlik Ras Alain. It includes a band of marine water.
Ban on all methods of fishing in estuaries
Decision 1/385 of 1997 (Estuaries)
Decision 1/385 of 1997 (Estuaries): Banning of all methods of fishing in estuaries; The ban extends to 500 m from each side of the estuary, 500 m inside the river and 2 km seawards; Banning of all human activities except those of scientists and the Coast Guard.
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
Chan eil dùnaidhean ràitheil air an clàradh — dearbhaich gu h-ionadail mus tum thu.
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
Fosgailte am portal oifigeil · agriculture.gov.lb
- Ùghdarras
- Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife)
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Fishing using scuba diving equipment is banned (Decision 346/1 of 2010); spearfishing must therefore be done on breath-hold/freediving.
- Spear guns may not be used to catch lobsters (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999).
- Underwater fishing during night hours is prohibited (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999).
- Taking sponges is prohibited (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999; Resolution No. 281/1 of 19 November 1998).
Harpoons are listed among lawful fishing gear in the regional fisheries-gear context; Lebanese law explicitly permits 'fishing under water' but bans the use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) for fishing, effectively restricting spearfishing to freediving.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
unknown
Gnèithean dìonta — na gabh
- DìontaSea turtles
- DìontaMonk seals
- DìontaWhales / cetaceans
- DìontaSponges
- DìontaLobsters (may not be taken with spear guns)
Catching of turtles, whales and seals is strictly prohibited in Lebanese territorial waters; taking of sponges is prohibited; lobsters may not be caught with spear guns. Minimum legal sizes per species could not be reliably retrieved from an authoritative source and are marked unknown.
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
No authoritative source was found specifying separate rules for foreign/non-resident spearfishers. National restrictions (scuba ban, protected species, marine reserve no-take zones, no night fishing) apply to everyone. Treat as unknown for foreigner-specific licensing.
Luchd-còmhnaidh
No authoritative source was found specifying resident-specific spearfishing licensing or benefits. National fisheries rules apply.
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
- Palm Islands Nature Reserve (Rabbit Islands)marine nature reserve
Marine and island nature reserve off Tripoli (Mina), North Governorate. Comprises Palm/Rabbit Island, Sanani Island and Ramkin Island and surrounding marine waters. Established by Law No. 121 of 9 March 1992; Ramsar Site (2001) and SPAMI (2012). Fishing (including underwater/spearfishing) is prohibited within the reserve.
- Tyre Coast Nature Reservemarine nature reserve
Coastal and marine nature reserve southeast of Tyre (Sour), South Governorate, in the zone Jeftlik Ras Alain. Established by Law No. 708 of 5 November 1998; Ramsar Site (1999) and SPAMI (2012). Fishing (including underwater/spearfishing) is prohibited within the reserve.
- River estuaries (national, all estuaries)estuary no-fishing zone
All methods of fishing are banned in river estuaries: the ban extends to 500 m from each side of the estuary, 500 m inside the river and 2 km seawards (Decision 1/385 of 1997). Named proposed/relevant estuaries include Litani, Awally, Damour, Nahr Ibrahim and Areeda.
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Lebanon, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Palm Islands Nature Reserve (Rabbit Islands).
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife)
fisheries authority
agriculture.gov.lbResponsible for implementing legislation related to fisheries and fishing activities (per Decree 31/1995).Ministry of the Environment
environment ministry
moe.gov.lbResponsible for establishment and management of protected areas including marine nature reserves (per Law 690/2005 and Law 130/2019).Ministry of National Defense (Lebanese Navy / Coast Guard)
maritime authority
Responsible for patrolling the sea (per Decree 22/1981).Ministry of Public Works and Transport
maritime authority
Controls implementation of legislation related to transport and marine public properties (per Law 214/1993).
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
Legal Analysis of the Measures Adopted by Mediterranean Coastal States to Minimize the Impact of Fishing Activities on Marine Ecosystems and Non-Target Species (RAC/SPA - UNEP, SAP BIO, 2003) - Chapter 12: Lebanon
Oifigeilrac-spa.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [02]
The Legal Framework for Marine Protected Areas in Lebanon - Fact Sheets (SPA/RAC and MedPAN, 2019)
Oifigeilrac-spa.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [03]
National fisheries fish spawning calendar for Lebanon (IUCN, 2022-011-En)
Oifigeilportals.iucn.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [04]
Palm Islands Nature Reserve (Wikipedia) - coordinates and status
Dàrnaen.wikipedia.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [05]
Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (Wikipedia) - coordinates and status
Dàrnaen.wikipedia.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [06]
Lebanon's spearfishers fight to preserve stocks (AFP via Phys.org, 2018)
Dàrnaphys.orgAir faighinn Ògm 14
Notaichean rannsachaidh
Spearfishing in Lebanon is best classified as RESTRICTED rather than freely allowed. Freediving (breath-hold) underwater fishing is legally recognised and practised, but a 2010 decision (346/1) bans fishing with scuba equipment, and Resolution 42/1 of 1999 forbids taking sponges, catching lobsters with spear guns, and underwater fishing at night. No fishing is permitted inside the two declared marine nature reserves (Palm Islands, Tyre Coast) or in river estuaries. Confidence is MEDIUM: the core spearfishing-specific provisions come from the RAC/SPA-UNEP 'Legal Analysis' (2003) and the SPA/RAC-MedPAN MPA fact sheets (2019), both authoritative, but these are secondary compilations citing the Lebanese Official Gazette; the original Arabic decrees were not directly retrieved, and the documents themselves note the Lebanese legislation was 'incomplete/not made available' to the original authors. Minimum legal catch sizes, exact license cost/requirements, closed seasons for spearfishing specifically, and foreigner-specific rules could not be confirmed from an authoritative source and are left as unknown/empty rather than guessed. Enforcement of fisheries law is widely reported as weak.
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Lebanon
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Lebanon ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.