Benin
Africa · Western Africa
Benin's fisheries are governed by the Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture. The law does NOT contain any provision that specifically names spearfishing, speargun, harpoon, or underwater fishing (no occurrence of 'pêche sous-marine', 'chasse sous-marine', 'harpon' or 'fusil' in the text). However, recreational/sport fishing is regulated as 'pêche sportive', defined (Art. 2.s) as fishing for recreational, non-profit purposes, excluding only hand-line angling with a hook. Speargun-based recreational fishing therefore falls under 'pêche sportive', which requires a sport-fishing permit (Art. 62); practising sport fishing without authorization is an offence (Art. 113.a) punishable by a fine of 200,000–2,000,000 CFA francs and/or 3–9 months imprisonment. The minister in charge of fisheries may set closed periods/seasons and prohibited zones (Art. 83) and establish protected fishing zones (Art. 84); prohibited gear/methods are fixed by decree (Arts. 73–77). No spearfishing-specific equipment, season, catch or zone rules were found, so the precise practical status for a foreign or local spearfisher is uncertain — hence 'restricted' (permit required) with low confidence.
Ultimo aggiornamento Giugno 14, 2026
Quadro normativo di riferimento
- §Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture en République du Bénin
- Licenza obbligatoria
- Obbligatoria
La legge, integrale
Testi legali
Le esatte disposizioni di legge e regolamentari che disciplinano la pesca subacquea qui, citate come pubblicate, con un link a ogni fonte ufficiale.
Definition of sport fishing (pêche sportive)
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
pêche sportive : pêche pratiquée à des fins récréatives et à but non lucratif, à l'exclusion de la pêche à la ligne munie d'un hameçon
Sport fishing permit required
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Nul ne peut pratiquer la pêche sportive dans les eaux maritimes ou continentales sous juridiction béninoise s'il n'est titulaire d'un permis de pêche sportive obtenu, soit par l'intermédiaire d'un organisateur de pêche sportive public ou privé, soit directement auprès du représentant local de l'administration en charge de la pêche.
Sport fishing permit subject to a fee fixed by joint ministerial order
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
La délivrance du permis de pêche sportive est subordonnée au paiement d'une redevance dont le montant est fixé par arrêté conjoint des ministres en charge de la pêche et des finances.
Conditions and procedures of the sport fishing permit set by ministerial order
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Les conditions et modalités de demande, de délivrance, de renouvellement et d'utilisation du permis de pêche sportive sont fixées par arrêté du ministre en charge de la pêche.
Fishing in protected areas
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Dans les aires protégées, les activités de pêche maritime ou continentale s'exercent dans les conditions fixées par décret pris en Conseil des ministres.
Prohibited fishing gear, instruments and methods
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Article 76 : Tout filet, instrument, engin ou méthode de pêche utilisés en violation des conditions fixées par l'article précédent constitue un filet, un instrument ou un engin de pêche prohibé. Article 77 : La fabrication, la détention et l'utilisation de filets, instruments ou engins de pêche non conformes aux spécifications fixées par l'administration en charge de la pêche sont interdites.
Power to set closed periods, seasons and prohibited zones
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Sans préjudice des dispositions contenues dans les plans d'aménagement de la pêche, le ministre en charge de la pêche peut fixer pour l'ensemble des eaux maritimes ou continentales sous juridiction béninoise ou pour une partie de celles-ci seulement, des périodes, saisons et heures pendant lesquelles la pêche de toutes ou certaines espèces est interdite ainsi que les zones dans lesquelles la pêche est interdite à titre temporaire ou de manière permanente.
Establishment of protected fishing zones
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Le ministre en charge de la pêche, après avis de la structure nationale de recherche compétente et des organes de gestion concernés, établit dans les eaux continentales ou maritimes sous juridiction béninoise des zones de pêche protégées destinées à : a) protéger certains écosystèmes aquatiques ou une espèce d'organisme aquatique particulière ; b) protéger les frayères. Les conditions d'accès et d'exploitation de ces zones de pêche protégées sont définies par arrêté conjoint des ministres en charge de la pêche, des eaux et forêts.
Penalties for sport fishing without authorization
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture
Sont punis d'une amende de deux cent mille (200 000) francs CFA à deux millions (2 000 000) de francs CFA et/ou d'un emprisonnement de trois (03) mois à neuf (09) mois : a) la pratique de la pêche sportive ou de recherche scientifique dans les eaux maritimes ou continentales sous juridiction béninoise sans autorisation
Quando puoi immergerti
Stagioni e restrizioni temporali
Periodi di chiusura, apertura e restrizione nel corso dell'anno. Conferma sempre localmente le chiusure specifiche per specie.
- ChiusaAll species or specific species, as decided by the minister in charge of fisheriesunknown – unknown
No fixed national closed season for spearfishing/sport fishing was found in the law. Article 83 empowers the minister in charge of fisheries to set, by order, closed periods, seasons and hours during which fishing of all or certain species is prohibited, and zones where fishing is temporarily or permanently prohibited. Specific implementing orders/dates were not retrieved.
Permesso di pescare
Licenza
Cosa ti serve per poter entrare in acqua, quanto costa e come ottenerla.
Via a public or private sport-fishing organizer, or directly from the local representative of the fisheries administration (Art. 62). Conditions and procedures for application, issuance, renewal and use are set by order of the minister in charge of fisheries (Art. 64).
Ottieni la tua licenzaApre il portale ufficiale · sgg.gouv.bj
- Tipo
- Permis de pêche sportive (sport fishing permit)
- Costo
- Fee (redevance) set by joint order of the ministers in charge of fisheries and finance; exact amount not retrieved
- Validità
- unknown
- Come ottenerla
- Via a public or private sport-fishing organizer, or directly from the local representative of the fisheries administration (Art. 62). Conditions and procedures for application, issuance, renewal and use are set by order of the minister in charge of fisheries (Art. 64).
- Autorità
- Administration en charge de la pêche (Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Élevage et de la Pêche — MAEP)
Attrezzatura e tecnica
Regole sull'attrezzatura
Quale attrezzatura è consentita, come può essere usata e le condizioni associate.
Restrizioni
- The law does not specifically mention spearguns, harpoons or underwater fishing; no spearfishing-specific equipment rule was found.
- Prohibited gear and methods are fixed by decree of the Council of Ministers / ministerial order (Arts. 73-77); explosives, firearms and toxic substances/baits are prohibited for fishing (Art. 73).
No verbatim text was found permitting or prohibiting spearguns or scuba for spearfishing. General prohibited-gear provisions apply, and a sport-fishing permit is required for recreational fishing other than hand-line angling.
Cosa puoi prelevare
Limiti di cattura e specie protette
Quote giornaliere, taglie minime e specie che non devono mai essere prelevate.
Limite giornaliero
unknown
Specie protette — non prelevare
- ProtettaSea turtles (including leatherback) and African manatee are protected within the Bouche du Roy conservation area; species-specific national catch limits for spearfishing were not retrieved.
No spearfishing-specific daily limits or minimum sizes were found in the retrieved sources. Such limits may be set by ministerial order under the framework law but were not located.
Chi può pescare
Visitatori e residenti
Come le regole differiscono per i visitatori stranieri e i residenti locali.
Visitatori stranieri
Requisiti
- A sport-fishing permit (permis de pêche sportive) is required for anyone — including foreigners — practising recreational fishing in Beninese maritime or inland waters (Art. 62).
The law does not distinguish nationals from foreigners for sport fishing; the permit requirement of Article 62 applies to 'nul ne peut' (no one). No spearfishing-specific foreigner rule was found.
Residenti
Permis de pêche sportive (same sport-fishing permit applies)
No resident-specific spearfishing provisions were found; the general sport-fishing permit regime (Arts. 62-64) applies.
Dove sulla costa
Zone consentite e vietate
Aree denominate aperte o chiuse alla pesca subacquea. Vedi il quadro completo sulla mappa interattiva.
Aree vietate
- Aire Communautaire de Conservation de la Biodiversité de la Bouche du Roy (Réserve de biosphère du Mono)marine and coastal community conservation area / UNESCO MAB biosphere reserve
Marine and coastal community conservation area (about 9,678 ha) at the estuary where the Mono River, Grand-Popo lagoon and Lake Ahémé meet the Gulf of Guinea. Created in 2016 by separate decrees of the municipalities of Grand-Popo and Comè; UNESCO MAB Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. Hosts endangered species (African manatee, leatherback and other sea turtles). Fishing activity is regulated/restricted under the protected-area regime; spearfishing-specific rules were not retrieved. Fishing in protected areas is governed by Articles 65, 83 and 84 of Loi-cadre 2014-19.
Condizioni in acqua
Condizioni in tempo reale
Istantanea marina e meteo in tempo reale vicino a un punto di riferimento costiero in Benin, da Open-Meteo. Le condizioni variano lungo la costa — considerale indicative.
Condizioni marine e meteo in tempo reale vicino a Aire Communautaire de Conservation de la Biodiversité de la Bouche du Roy (Réserve de biosphère du Mono).
A chi rivolgersi
Autorità
Gli enti ufficiali responsabili della pesca e delle licenze.
Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Élevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) — Direction de la Production Halieutique
fisheries authority
agriculture.gouv.bjunknownRéserve de biosphère du Mono / Aire Communautaire de Conservation de la Biodiversité de la Bouche du Roy
marine protected area manager
boucheduroy.bjunknown
Da dove provengono
Fonti
Ogni affermazione su questa pagina risale a uno di questi riferimenti.
- [01]
Loi N° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture — Secrétariat général du Gouvernement du Bénin (official portal, full PDF)
Ufficialesgg.gouv.bjConsultato il Giu 14 - [02]
Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 — ECOLEX legislation record (FAO/IUCN/UNEP)
Ufficialeecolex.orgConsultato il Giu 14 - [03]
LOI-CADRE N° 2014-19 — full text reproduction (A.J.A.P.E.)
Secondariaajape-asso.over-blog.comConsultato il Giu 14 - [04]
Pêche au Bénin — Wikipédia (overview of marine and inland fisheries)
Secondariafr.wikipedia.orgConsultato il Giu 14 - [05]
Community Biodiversity Conservation Area of La Bouche du Roy — Wikipedia
Secondariaen.wikipedia.orgConsultato il Giu 14 - [06]
Réserve de biosphère du Mono / Bouche du Roy — official reserve site
Ufficialeboucheduroy.bjConsultato il Giu 14
Note dei ricercatori
Benin has a short Gulf of Guinea coastline (~121 km) and its fisheries (predominantly inland: Lake Nokoué, Lake Ahémé, Ouémé River) are governed by Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014. CRITICAL FINDING: the law contains NO provision specifically naming spearfishing, speargun, harpoon or underwater fishing — verified by full-text extraction of the official PDF from sgg.gouv.bj (no occurrence of 'pêche sous-marine', 'chasse sous-marine', 'harpon', 'fusil', 'chasse'). Recreational spearfishing is treated as 'pêche sportive', which requires a sport-fishing permit (Art. 62) and is penalized if practised without authorization (Art. 113.a). Status set to 'restricted' on that basis. Confidence is LOW because: (1) no spearfishing-specific equipment, season, catch-limit or zone rules exist or were located; (2) the practical fee, validity and issuing procedure for the sport-fishing permit are set by separate ministerial orders that were not retrieved; (3) verbatim French quotes were taken from the official SGG portal text and a secondary full-text reproduction (AJAPE), cross-checked against an OCR of the official PDF (sgg.gouv.bj/doc/loi-2014-19/download). NOTE: Loi n° 98-32 'portant Code de la pêche maritime' that appears in some searches is SENEGAL's law, not Benin's, and was excluded. Spearfishing is practised recreationally offshore Cotonou per dive/charter operators, but no specific regulatory text governing it was found.
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