Jamaica
Americas · Caribbean
Recreational spearfishing is legal in Jamaica but heavily restricted. A valid fishing licence/registration from the National Fisheries Authority is required (the Fisheries Act, 2018 mandates licences for recreational fishing). Spearfishing with impaling devices (spearguns, Hawaiian slings) is prohibited at night, between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010 (government-funded replacement with Hawaiian slings) and night diving for spearfishing was banned from the same date; a special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical underwater-breathing devices used for fishing. All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited inside designated Special Fishery Conservation Areas (fish sanctuaries) and marine parks (e.g. Montego Bay Marine Park) except under licence/permission. Closed seasons apply to spiny lobster (Apr 1 – Jun 30) and queen conch (declared annually). Spearfishing is widely cited as the single greatest threat to Jamaica's marine biodiversity.
Zadnje ažurirano travanj 22, 2026
Mjerodavni okvir
- §The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018)
- §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)
- §The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
- §The Fisheries (Spiny Lobster) Regulations and amendments (2009, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2026)
- §The Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023
- Potrebna dozvola
- Obavezno
- Podvodna puška
- Dopušteno
Zakon, doslovno
Pravni tekstovi
Točne zakonske i podzakonske odredbe koje uređuju podvodni ribolov ovdje, citirane onako kako su objavljene, s poveznicom na svaki službeni izvor.
Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
No person shall fish in a special fishery conservation area except in accordance with a license issued by the Licensing Authority.
Ban on use of impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling) at night
Fishing Industry Act amendment (2011) / Fishing Industry Regulations
A person shall not, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. use for the purpose of harvesting fish, any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device.
Kada možete roniti
Sezone i vremenska ograničenja
Zatvorena, otvorena i ograničena razdoblja tijekom godine. Uvijek lokalno potvrdite lovostaje specifične za vrste.
- ZatvorenoSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobstertra 1 – lip 30
Annual closed season for spiny lobster. Fishing for any species of spiny lobster during the closed season is illegal; possession without special permission is also illegal during this period.
- ZatvorenoQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)kol 30 – velj 28
Annual queen conch closed season (dates as cited for the 2023 regulations; declared/varied annually by the National Fisheries Authority). During the closed season it is illegal to possess, sell, process or trade any conch products or by-products, under the Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023.
Dopuštenje za ribolov
Dozvola
Što vam je potrebno da biste smjeli u vodu, koliko košta i kako je nabaviti.
Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
Nabavi dozvoluOtvara službeni portal · fisheries.gov.jm
- Vrsta
- Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
- Cijena
- unknown
- Valjanost
- Renewed annually
- Kako nabaviti
- Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
- Nadležno tijelo
- National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Oprema i tehnika
Pravila o opremi
Koja je oprema dopuštena, kako se smije koristiti i koji uvjeti uz nju vrijede.
Ograničenja
- Impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling or any other impaling device) may not be used to harvest fish between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (night spearfishing ban).
- Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010, with a government programme replacing them with Hawaiian slings.
- Night diving for spearfishing was banned effective 31 March 2010.
- A special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical devices used for underwater-breathing purposes for fishing (effective 31 March 2010).
- Zero tolerance for fishing with dynamite, bleach or other toxic substances.
Spearfishing remains legal by day under licence using permitted gear (notably Hawaiian slings). The legal status of mechanical/band spearguns is restrictive: the government ran a buy-back/replacement programme favouring Hawaiian slings, and night use of any impaling device is prohibited.
Što smijete uzeti
Ograničenja ulova i zaštićene vrste
Dnevne kvote, najmanje veličine i vrste koje se nikad ne smiju uzeti.
Dnevno ograničenje
unknown
Zaštićene vrste — ne uzimati
- ZaštićenoSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
- ZaštićenoQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
- ZaštićenoMarine turtles and corals are protected under wildlife/environmental law
Parrotfish are heavily advocated for protection and are key reef grazers, but as of the cited reporting they are not nationally banned. Targeting lobster or conch out of season, or undersized, is illegal regardless of method.
Tko smije loviti
Posjetitelji i rezidenti
Kako se pravila razlikuju za strane posjetitelje i lokalne rezidente.
Strani posjetitelji
Uvjeti
- Same licensing/registration framework applies; a valid fishing licence from the National Fisheries Authority is required to spearfish.
- Permission/letter required to fish within marine parks such as Montego Bay Marine Park.
Ograničenja
- All national restrictions apply equally: no night spearfishing with impaling devices, no fishing in Special Fishery Conservation Areas/marine parks without a licence, closed seasons for lobster and conch.
No specific foreigner/tourist spearfishing regime was confirmed in authoritative sources. Tourists are generally expected to fish via licensed charters and are barred from sanctuaries and marine parks; independent confirmation from the NFA is recommended before spearfishing as a visitor.
Rezidenti
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational or commercial) via the National Fisheries Authority
Uvjeti
- Register as a fisher and licence the vessel (commercial or recreational) with the Fisheries Division / NFA.
- Hold a valid annually-renewed fishing licence to spearfish.
The Fisheries Act, 2018 exempts persons fishing from a pond on private property and persons using a fishing line from the seashore from licensing - this exemption does not cover spearfishing.
Gdje na obali
Dopuštene i zabranjene zone
Imenovana područja otvorena ili zatvorena za podvodni ribolov. Pogledajte cijelu sliku na interaktivnoj karti.
Zabranjena područja
- Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; all fishing including spearfishing prohibited except under licence (Reg. 4(1)).
- Bogue Island Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. James; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Montego Bay Point Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / marine park
Fish sanctuary in St. James near Montego Bay; fishing prohibited except under licence. Spearfishing is also prohibited within the Montego Bay Marine Park; a permission letter from the authorities is required to fish there.
- Oracabessa Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Boscobel Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Discovery Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Ann (Discovery Bay Lagoon); fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon (St. Elizabeth) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Elizabeth; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Three Bays Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Salt Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Clarendon; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Orange Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Whitehouse Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Port Morant Harbour Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Thomas; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- South West Cay (Pedro Bank) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary at the Pedro Bank/Cays offshore; fishing prohibited except under licence.
Uvjeti na vodi
Uvjeti uživo
Snimka mora i vremena uživo u blizini obalne referentne točke u Jamaica, iz Open-Meteo. Uvjeti se mijenjaju duž obale — uzmite kao okvirne.
More i vrijeme uživo u blizini Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area.
Koga pitati
Nadležna tijela
Službena tijela odgovorna za ribarstvo i izdavanje dozvola.
National Fisheries Authority (NFA)
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.jm+1 876 948 9014; fisheries@nfa.gov.jmMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
government ministry
Maritime Authority of Jamaica
maritime authority
Odakle ovo dolazi
Izvori
Svaka tvrdnja na ovoj stranici vodi do jednog od ovih izvora.
- [01]
The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018) - full text PDF (scanned)
Službenofisheries.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [02]
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012 - Jamaica Trade Information Portal
Službenojamaicatradeportal.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [03]
Legislation - National Fisheries Authority
Službenofisheries.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [04]
Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service
Službenojis.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [05]
Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO
Službenofao.orgPristupljeno lip 14 - [06]
Annual Lobster Closed Season April 1 - June 30 - Jamaica Information Service
Službenojis.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [07]
No Changes to Existing Conch Close Season Regulations - Jamaica Information Service
Službenojis.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [08]
Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority
Službenofisheries.gov.jmPristupljeno lip 14 - [09]
Hold the spear - Government pushed to implement new Fisheries Act - Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14)
Sekundarnojamaica-gleaner.comPristupljeno lip 14
Napomene istraživača
Spearfishing in Jamaica is legal but restricted, governed primarily by the Fisheries Act, 2018 (which replaced the Fishing Industry Act, 1975 in October 2018) and subsidiary regulations. Confidence is MEDIUM rather than high because the official Fisheries Act 2018 PDF on the NFA site is a scanned/image-only document (JBIG2) that could not be machine-read to extract verbatim spearfishing/equipment sections; the verbatim night-impaling-device clause ('between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. ... any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device') is sourced from the Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14) which reported the Fishing Industry Act amendment, and the direct article URL returned HTTP 404 on access (text retrieved via search index); it should be re-verified against the consolidated statute. The verbatim Special Fishery Conservation Area Regulations 2012 Reg. 4(1) text and the 14 named conservation areas were retrieved from the official Jamaica Trade Information Portal. Coordinates for sanctuaries are approximate (town/bay level) and should be treated as indicative. The 2012 regulations list 14 Special Fishery Conservation Areas; media report a higher figure (18) including later additions - 13 named prohibited zones are listed here from the official regulation (Galleon appears twice in the source - as St. Elizabeth and as Galleon Harbour). License cost and daily/size catch limits specific to spearfishing were not confirmed in authoritative sources and are marked unknown.
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