SpearfishingMap

Guam

Oceania · Micronesia

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Guam but only by breath-hold (freediving / snorkeling). Fishing with SCUBA or any other self-contained or surface-supplied underwater breathing apparatus (including Nitrox, surface-supplied air and rebreathers) was banned territory-wide by Public Law 35-78 (signed 20 March 2020), which added 5 GCA Article 1 Chapter 63 provisions; SCUBA-assisted fishing is a felony. All forms of fishing, including spearfishing, are prohibited inside Guam's five marine preserves (Tumon Bay, Piti Bomb Holes, Sasa Bay, Achang Reef Flat, Pati Point) except as specifically permitted by regulation (5 GCA § 63116.2). No general recreational fishing license is required for residents or visitors. Several species (sea turtles, marine mammals, humphead/Napoleon wrasse) are fully protected under territorial and U.S. federal law.

Restricted
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Última actualización Xuño 15, 2026

Marco normativo

  • §Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63 (Fish, Game, Forestry and Conservation), Article 1
  • §Public Law 24-21 (1997) - establishment of marine preserves
  • §Public Law 28-107 (2006) - Marine Preserves provisions (5 GCA §§ 63116.1, 63116.2)
  • §Public Law 35-78 (signed 20 March 2020) - prohibition of fishing with SCUBA / underwater breathing apparatus (added 5 GCA §§ 63101(dd), 63116.3)
  • §Guam Administrative Rules, Title 9, Chapter 12 - Fishing Regulations (marine preserve take rules)
Licenza obrigatoria
Non obrigatoria
Arpón
Permitido
Escafandra
Prohibido
Estranxeiros
Benvido

A lei, literalmente

Textos legais

As disposicións estatutarias e regulamentarias exactas que rexen a pesca submarina aquí, citadas tal como se publicaron, con ligazón a cada fonte oficial.

01§ 63116.2Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Activities within Marine Preserves

Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63, Article 1

ENOrixinal

All forms of fishing, and the taking or altering of aquatic life, living or dead coral and any resources to include, but not limited to, mangroves, seagrass, sand, and rocks within a preserve, is unlawful except as specifically permitted by the Director of Agriculture through regulations. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 28-107:4 (April 14, 2006).

02§ 63116.1Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Purpose of Marine Preserves

Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63, Article 1

ENOrixinal

The purpose of the marine preserve is to protect, preserve, manage, and conserve aquatic life, habitat, and marine communities and ecosystems, and to ensure the health, welfare and integrity of marine resources for current and future generations by managing, regulating, restricting, or prohibiting activities to include, but not limited to, fishing, development, human uses. SOURCE: Added by P.L. 28-107:3 (April 14, 2006).

03§ 63116Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Taking of Fish

Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63, Article 1

ENOrixinal

Fish may be taken by lawful means at any time except as prohibited by regulation made under § 63127; provided, however, that it shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain a drag net (Chenchulu or tekin) within Agana Boat Basin proper; and further provided that angling and cast net (talaya) fishing are the only approved methods of fishing within the Agana Boat Basin proper and within fifty feet of the western edge of the Agana Boat Basin channel ...

04§ 63101 (i), (j), (k)Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Definitions - juvenile size limits (Goatfish, Jacks, Rabbitfish)

Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63, Article 1

ENOrixinal

(i) Juvenile Goatfish (Ti'ao) - is defined as fish within the family Mullidae (Goatfishes) that are four (4) inches (100 mm) or smaller when measured from the tip of the snout or jaw to the rear center edge or fork of the tail (fork length); (j) Juvenile Jacks (I'e') - is defined as fish within the family Carangidae (Jacks) that are four (4) inches (100 mm) or smaller when measured from the tip of the snout or jaw to the rear center edge or fork of the tail (fork length); (k) Juvenile Rabbitfish (Manahak) - is defined as fish within the family Siganidae (Rabbitfishes) that are three (3) inches (76 mm) or smaller when measured from the tip of the snout or jaw to the rear center edge or fork of the tail (fork length);

05§ 63129Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Penalty (general Chapter 63 violations)

Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63, Article 1

ENOrixinal

Any person violating § 63104, § 63105, § 63106, § 63107, or § 63108 of this Article is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500), nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), or by both. ... A violation of any other provision of this Article or its supporting regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500), or by imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days, or by both fine and imprisonment.

06§ 63116.3 (and § 63101(dd) definition)Guam (U.S. unincorporated territory) · other

Prohibition of fishing with SCUBA / underwater breathing apparatus (paraphrase from secondary sources - not a verbatim statutory quote)

Public Law 35-78 (signed 20 March 2020); added 5 GCA Article 1, Chapter 63 §§ 63101(dd), 63116.3; amended §§ 63128, 63129

ENOrixinal

PARAPHRASE (full statutory text of § 63116.3 was not retrievable from an official source; this summarizes the bill as reported): It is unlawful to take any fish with a spear or any other device used for the purpose of taking fish while using SCUBA, as defined in § 63101(dd). The definition of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus covers compressed air or a mixture of air and gas (including Nitrox), and surface-supplied air and rebreathers. Violators are guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, or a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000, or a combination of imprisonment and fines. The bill was Bill 53-35 (Sen. Sabina Perez), signed into law 20 March 2020.

Cando podes mergullarte

Tempadas e restricións horarias

Períodos pechados, abertos e restrinxidos ao longo do ano. Confirma sempre localmente os peches específicos por especie.

Xan
Feb
Mar
Abr
Mai
Xuñ
Xul
Ago
Set
Out
Nov
Dec
PechadoRestrinxidoAberto
  • AbertoRecreational breath-hold (freediving) spearfishing outside marine preservesXan 1 – Dec 31

    Breath-hold spearfishing is permitted year-round in open waters outside the five marine preserves and outside other closed areas. No general closed season is defined for recreational spearfishing in Guam.

Permiso para pescar

Licenza

O que necesitas para poder estar na auga, o seu custo e como obtela.

Non se require licenzaa través de Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR)
Non se require licenza
Tipo
No general recreational fishing/spearfishing license required
Custo
None for general recreational fishing; permits are required only for regulated take inside marine preserves
Validez
unknown
Como obter
No license needed for recreational breath-hold spearfishing in open waters. Special take permits inside marine preserves are issued by the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), Guam Department of Agriculture.
Autoridade
Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR)

Equipamento e técnica

Normas de equipamento

Que equipamento está permitido, como se pode usar e as condicións aplicables.

ArpónPermitido
EscafandraProhibido

Restricións

  • Fishing with SCUBA / self-contained underwater breathing apparatus is prohibited territory-wide (P.L. 35-78, 2020) - breath-hold (freedive/snorkel) only
  • Prohibition extends to compressed air or air/gas mixtures including Nitrox, surface-supplied air, and rebreathers
  • Spearfishing (and all fishing) is prohibited inside the five marine preserves except as permitted by regulation
  • Explosives, poisons/intoxicating substances and electrical devices for taking fish are prohibited (5 GCA §§ 63104-63108)

Speargun / breath-hold spearfishing is legal and culturally significant (CHamoru tradition). The defining restriction is the SCUBA fishing ban, making Guam a freedive-only spearfishing jurisdiction.

O que podes capturar

Límites de captura e especies protexidas

Cotas diarias, tamaños mínimos e especies que nunca se poden capturar.

Límite diario

unknown

Tamaños mínimos

  • Goatfish (Mullidae) - 'ti'ao' juvenile thresholdmín. 10 cm
  • Jacks (Carangidae) - 'i'e'' juvenile thresholdmín. 10 cm
  • Rabbitfish (Siganidae) - 'manahak' juvenile thresholdmín. 7.6 cm

Especies protexidas — non capturar

  • ProtexidaAll sea turtles (e.g. green turtle, hawksbill) - protected under Guam's Endangered Species Act and U.S. federal law
  • ProtexidaAll marine mammals - protected under U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act
  • ProtexidaHumphead / Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

The cited statutory size figures are the juvenile definitions in 5 GCA § 63101 (goatfish/jacks 4 in / 100 mm, rabbitfish 3 in / 76 mm) used to govern permitted take of juveniles within marine preserves; they are not minimum-keep sizes for general spearfishing. General per-species daily bag and minimum-keep limits for recreational spearfishing in open waters were not retrieved from an official source and are marked unknown. Protected-species list is corroborated by secondary sources; verify against DAWR before fishing.

Quen pode pescar

Visitantes e residentes

Como difiren as normas para os visitantes estranxeiros e os residentes locais.

Visitantes estranxeiros

Permitido

Restricións

  • Same rules as residents: no SCUBA fishing, no spearfishing in marine preserves, protected species may not be taken

Visitors/tourists may spearfish (breath-hold) without a license, subject to the same territorial rules as residents. Guam is a U.S. unincorporated territory; U.S. federal protected-species law also applies.

Residentes

No license required for recreational fishing

Beneficios

  • Traditional/cultural fishing methods recognized under 5 GCA § 63101 and § 63133 (Indigenous Fishing Rights); limited cultural take permitted inside some marine preserves under permit

Breath-hold spearfishing is a recognized CHamoru cultural and subsistence activity.

Onde na costa

Zonas permitidas e prohibidas

Áreas nomeadas que están abertas ou pechadas para a pesca submarina. Ve o panorama completo no mapa interactivo.

Áreas permitidas

  • Coastal reef and nearshore waters of Guam outside the five marine preserves and outside other federal/military closed areas. Breath-hold spearfishing is permitted; fishing with SCUBA or any underwater breathing apparatus is prohibited territory-wide.

    No SCUBA / underwater breathing apparatus (P.L. 35-78); protected species (sea turtles, marine mammals, humphead wrasse) may not be taken; juvenile size definitions apply to goatfish, jacks and rabbitfish.

Áreas prohibidas

  • From Two Lovers Point to the northeast tip of Hospital Point, Tumon/Tamuning. Spearfishing and all fishing methods prohibited; limited shore-based hook & line and cast net (talaya) take of certain juvenile/rabbitfish species permitted under regulation.

  • Asan/Piti, from southwest end of Piti Channel mark to Camel Rock to Asan Point. All fishing/harvest prohibited except trolling for pelagics from the reef margin outward and seasonal permitted take of atulai, manahak and achemson. Spearfishing prohibited.

  • Apra Harbor, from west corner of Polaris Point to southernmost point of Drydock Island, including all water, shoreline and mangroves eastward. No-take zone: all forms of fishing and collection prohibited.

  • Merizo, from the southern side of Manell Channel to the northern side of Ajayan Channel. All fishing/harvest prohibited except trolling for pelagics from the reef margin and seasonal permitted take of atulai, manahak and achemson. Spearfishing prohibited.

  • Andersen Air Force Base, Yigo; coastline to Pati Point and southerly to Anao Point. Spearfishing and all fishing prohibited except shore-based hook & line and trolling for pelagics from the reef margin outward. Access also restricted as it lies within a military installation.

  • Federal restricted area in Apra Inner Harbor, Naval Base Guam. Under 33 CFR 334.1430 all swimmers and all vessels and craft (except U.S. public vessels) are prohibited from entering without prior permission of the Commander, Naval Forces Marianas. Because swimmers and craft are barred outright, breath-hold spearfishing is effectively prohibited throughout this area. Boundary runs between the NE corner of the pier (13deg26'32.1"N 144deg39'02.8"E), the northern tip of a small island (13deg26'40.2"N 144deg39'28.1"E) and the NW corner of a point of land (13deg26'28.1"N 144deg39'52.5"E).

  • Federal danger zone in the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Finegayan Small Arms Range, Naval Base Guam Telecommunication Site on the northwestern coast of Guam (33 CFR 334.1415). When the range is active, vessels or persons must expeditiously transit and may not anchor or loiter; a red flag (day) or strobe (night) is displayed. Spearfishing access is barred while the range is in use. Danger zone (NAD-83) is bounded by: 13deg34'57"N 144deg49'53"E; 13deg35'49"N 144deg47'59"E; 13deg34'57"N 144deg47'45"E; 13deg34'48"N 144deg49'50"E.

Condicións na auga

Condicións en directo

Instantánea mariña e meteorolóxica en directo preto dun punto de referencia costeiro en Guam, de Open-Meteo. As condicións varían ao longo da costa — úsaas como indicativas.

Condicións mariñas e meteorolóxicas en directo preto de Tumon Bay Marine Preserve.

Condicións

A quen preguntar

Autoridades

Os organismos oficiais responsables da pesca e das licenzas.

  • Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR)

    fisheries / wildlife authority

    doag.guam.gov163 Dairy Road, Mangilao, Guam 96913; tel +1 671-735-0294 / 0281; violations hotline +1 671-688-DAWR (3297)
  • Guam Compiler of Laws (Guam Judiciary)

    official legislation portal

De onde vén esta información

Fontes

Cada afirmación desta páxina remite a unha destas referencias.

  1. [01]

    Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63 (Fish, Game, Forestry & Conservation) - full text (FAO FAOLEX mirror)

    Oficial
    faolex.fao.orgConsultado o Xuñ 15
  2. [02]

    Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 63 - DOAG-hosted copy

    Oficial
    doag.guam.govConsultado o Xuñ 15
  3. [03]

    DAWR Aquatic Resources - Guam Department of Agriculture

    Oficial
    doag.guam.govConsultado o Xuñ 15
  4. [04]

    Guam Administrative Rules, Title 9, Chapter 12 - Fishing Regulations (Guam Compiler of Laws)

    Oficial
    guamcourts.govConsultado o Xuñ 15
  5. [05]

    New bill proposes banning fishing with the use of SCUBA gear (Bill 53-35 / P.L. 35-78) - Pacific Daily News / Post Guam

    Secundaria
    postguam.comConsultado o Xuñ 15
  6. [06]

    Guam's Marine Preserves - Guam Coral Reef Initiative

    Secundaria
    guamcoralreefs.infoConsultado o Xuñ 15
  7. [07]

    Underwater diving in Guam (SCUBA spearfishing ban; breath-hold spearfishing) - Wikipedia

    Secundaria
    en.wikipedia.orgConsultado o Xuñ 15

Notas do investigador

Guam is a U.S. unincorporated territory; spearfishing is governed by territorial law (5 GCA Chapter 63 and Guam Administrative Rules Title 9 Chapter 12) plus applicable U.S. federal protections. Key facts: (1) breath-hold spearfishing is legal year-round in open waters and is a recognized CHamoru cultural practice; (2) fishing with SCUBA/underwater breathing apparatus is banned territory-wide and is a felony (P.L. 35-78, 20 March 2020); (3) all fishing including spearfishing is prohibited in the five marine preserves (5 GCA § 63116.2) except permitted take; (4) no general recreational fishing license is required. ANTI-FABRICATION FLAGS: Verbatim §§ 63116, 63116.1, 63116.2, 63101 definitions and 63129 are quoted from an official-text mirror (FAOLEX) that predates P.L. 35-78, so it does NOT contain § 63116.3; the full statutory text of § 63116.3 (the SCUBA ban) could NOT be retrieved from an official source - the law_texts entry for it is an explicitly-labelled paraphrase from secondary news reporting of the bill, not a verbatim quote. Marine-preserve coordinates are approximate centroid estimates derived from the named geographic boundaries (not surveyed legal boundary points). Daily bag limits and general minimum-keep sizes for open-water spearfishing were not located in an official source and are marked unknown. Confidence is medium: legality and structure are well-corroborated, but exact SCUBA-ban wording and quantitative catch limits need confirmation against the current Guam Compiler of Laws and DAWR. The official current Chapter 63 PDF and the GAR Chapter 12 PDF on guamcourts.gov returned HTTP errors during automated retrieval.

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