Bangladesh
Asia · Southern Asia
Bangladesh has no dedicated recreational spearfishing regime, and the practice is effectively prohibited by general fisheries law. The Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (as amended) empowers the Government to prohibit the destruction of fish by 'explosives, electrofishing device, gun, bow and arrow' in inland water, coastal territorial waters and Bangladesh marine fisheries waters — wording that covers spearguns, harpoons and similar projectile gear. The Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 (which repealed the Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983) regulates commercial and artisanal fishing through licences and permits and contains no provision authorising recreational or sport spearfishing; legal scholars note recreational fishing is simply not covered by the marine law. Large Marine Protected Areas (St Martin's Island, Swatch of No Ground) and Ecologically Critical Areas further restrict or ban fishing activity. There is no licence pathway under which a recreational diver could lawfully spearfish, so the activity is treated as not allowed.
Ultimo aggiornamento Giugno 14, 2026
Quadro normativo di riferimento
- §Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (East Bengal Act No. XVIII of 1950), as amended (esp. amendment empowering prohibition of destruction of fish by gun, bow and arrow in marine fisheries waters)
- §Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 (Act No. XIX of 2020)
- §Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 (repealed by the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020) — historical sport-fishing rule-making power
- §Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 (basis for Marine Protected Area declarations)
- Fucile subacqueo
- Vietato
- Stranieri
- Non consentito
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.
Power to prohibit destruction of fish by gun, bow and arrow, explosives and electrofishing
Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (East Bengal Act No. XVIII of 1950), as amended
[(b) prohibit the destruction of, or any attempt to destroy, fishes by explosives, electrofishing device, gun, bow and arrow in inland water or within coastal territorial waters or Bangladesh marine fisheries waters; Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, “Bangladesh marine fisheries waters” means “Bangladesh marine fisheries waters” defined by clause (10) of section 2 of the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 (Act No XIX of 2020).]
Penalties for breach of fisheries prohibitions
Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (East Bengal Act No. XVIII of 1950), as amended
[5. (1) The breach of any rule made under section 3 or of any prohibition notified under section 4 shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which [may extend to 2 (two) years, or with fine which may extend to 5 (five) lakh] Taka, or with both.]
Prohibited fishing methods — use of explosives, poison and prohibited gear (repealed 1983 Ordinance, indicative of marine regime)
Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 (repealed by Marine Fisheries Act, 2020)
Use of explosives, etc. 26. (1) Any person, other than a person authorised in writing by the Director, who in the Bangladesh fisheries waters,- (a) uses, or attempts to use, any explosive, poison or other noxious substances for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish, or in any other way rendering such fish more easily caught; or (b) carries, or has in his possession or control, any explosive, poison or other noxious substances with the intention of using such explosive, poison or other noxious substance for any of the purposes referred to in clause (a); or (c) uses, or attempts to use, any prohibited methods of fishing as may be prescribed, or carries, or has in his possession or control, on board any vessel, any fishing gear prohibited under any rule made under this Ordinance; ... shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Taka one lakh or fifteen times the value of the fish, whichever is greater.
Rule-making power to organise and regulate sport fishing (never implemented; not carried into the 2020 Act)
Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 (repealed by Marine Fisheries Act, 2020)
(k) organising and regulating sport fishing in the Bangladesh fisheries waters;
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 marine fishing in the Bay of Bengal (commercial and artisanal); enforced annually by the Department of FisheriesMag 20 – Lug 23
Annual 65-day marine fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal to protect spawning fish stocks. Dates are set by Government notification and vary slightly year to year; the 2024 ban ran 20 May to 23 July. While framed for commercial/artisanal fishing, it reflects a general prohibition on extracting marine fish during this period.
Permesso di pescare
Licenza
Cosa ti serve per poter entrare in acqua, quanto costa e come ottenerla.
There is no licensing pathway for recreational spearfishing. Marine fishing licences and permits under the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 are for commercial industrial vessels and artisanal fishing vessels, not for recreational divers. Killing fish with a gun, bow and arrow (covering spearguns/harpoons) may be prohibited under section 3(b) of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950.
Ottieni la tua licenzaApre il portale ufficiale · fisheries.portal.gov.bd
- Tipo
- No recreational spearfishing licence exists
- Costo
- unknown
- Validità
- unknown
- Come ottenerla
- There is no licensing pathway for recreational spearfishing. Marine fishing licences and permits under the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 are for commercial industrial vessels and artisanal fishing vessels, not for recreational divers. Killing fish with a gun, bow and arrow (covering spearguns/harpoons) may be prohibited under section 3(b) of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950.
- Autorità
- Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
Attrezzatura e tecnica
Regole sull'attrezzatura
Quale attrezzatura è consentita, come può essere usata e le condizioni associate.
Restrizioni
- Destruction of fish by 'gun, bow and arrow' (covering spearguns and harpoons) may be prohibited in inland, coastal and marine waters under section 3(b) of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (as amended)
- Destruction of fish by explosives, electrofishing devices and poison is prohibited under fisheries law (Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 s.3; Marine Fisheries regime)
No statute or rule positively authorises spearguns for recreational use. The 'gun, bow and arrow' prohibition is read to encompass projectile underwater hunting gear, so speargun use is treated as not allowed.
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
- ProtettaSharks (protected in Marine Protected Areas; whale sharks)
- ProtettaMarine mammals — Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, porpoises, whales (Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012; MPA protections)
- ProtettaMarine turtles — olive ridley, green, loggerhead
- ProtettaCorals (St Martin's Island)
- ProtettaRays — white-spotted whipray, long-tailed butterfly ray
No recreational spearfishing catch limits exist because the activity is not provided for. Many high-value reef and pelagic species in the accessible St Martin's / coral-reef area are protected under MPA and wildlife law.
Chi può pescare
Visitatori e residenti
Come le regole differiscono per i visitatori stranieri e i residenti locali.
Visitatori stranieri
Non consentitoRestrizioni
- No recreational spearfishing licence is available to anyone, resident or foreign
- Marine Protected Areas (St Martin's Island, Swatch of No Ground) restrict fishing activity
- St Martin's Island access for tourists is itself increasingly restricted by the Government for conservation reasons
Foreign visitors have no lawful route to recreational spearfishing; the general prohibitions and lack of any permit regime apply equally to them.
Residenti
No recreational spearfishing licence type exists
Residents likewise have no recreational spearfishing licence pathway. Commercial/artisanal marine fishing requires a licence or permit under the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020, which is unrelated to recreational underwater hunting.
Dove sulla costa
Zone consentite e vietate
Aree denominate aperte o chiuse alla pesca subacquea. Vedi il quadro completo sulla mappa interattiva.
Aree vietate
- St Martin's Island Marine Protected Areamarine protected area
Approximately 1,743 km2 of the Bay of Bengal around St Martin's Island, declared a Marine Protected Area in 2022 under sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012. Bangladesh's only coral reef and ~230 finfish species. Coral destruction and uncontrolled/overfishing are restricted; the area is the prime location any diver might attempt spearfishing, and it is protected. A 590-hectare part of the island was also declared an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999.
- Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Areamarine protected area
Bangladesh's first Marine Protected Area (declared 2014), a submarine canyon in the Bay of Bengal south of Dublar Char, roughly 1,738 km2, declared under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012. A hotspot for cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, whales) and sharks; fishing and unauthorised activities are restricted.
Condizioni in acqua
Condizioni in tempo reale
Istantanea marina e meteo in tempo reale vicino a un punto di riferimento costiero in Bangladesh, da Open-Meteo. Le condizioni variano lungo la costa — considerale indicative.
Condizioni marine e meteo in tempo reale vicino a St Martin's Island Marine Protected Area.
A chi rivolgersi
Autorità
Gli enti ufficiali responsabili della pesca e delle licenze.
Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
fisheries authority
fisheries.portal.gov.bdMatshya Bhaban, Ramna, Dhaka, BangladeshMarine Fisheries Office / Marine Fisheries Department, Chattogram
marine fisheries authority
marine.fisheries.gov.bdChattogram (Chittagong), BangladeshDepartment of Environment (Ecologically Critical Areas) / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Marine Protected Areas under Wildlife Act 2012)
environment ministry
doe.gov.bdDhaka, Bangladesh
Da dove provengono
Fonti
Ogni affermazione su questa pagina risale a uno di questi riferimenti.
- [01]
Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (Act No. XVIII of 1950) — full text, Laws of Bangladesh
Ufficialebdlaws.minlaw.gov.bdConsultato il Giu 14 - [02]
Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 (repealed) — full text including Part VII prohibited methods and sport-fishing rule-making power, Laws of Bangladesh
Ufficialebdlaws.minlaw.gov.bdConsultato il Giu 14 - [03]
The Marine Fisheries Act 2020: An Appraisal (notes that marine fisheries law does not cover recreational fishing)
Secondariabsmrmu.edu.bdConsultato il Giu 14 - [04]
Marine Fisheries Act 2020 of Bangladesh: A Missed Opportunity — The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (Brill)
Secondariabrill.comConsultato il Giu 14 - [05]
Conservation and Protection of Fisheries Resources of Bangladesh — BdFISH Feature
Secondariaen.bdfish.orgConsultato il Giu 14 - [06]
St Martin's Island declared marine protected area — The Daily Star
Secondariathedailystar.netConsultato il Giu 14 - [07]
Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area — Wikipedia
Secondariaen.wikipedia.orgConsultato il Giu 14 - [08]
Overfishing leads to decline in Bangladesh marine fish stocks & diversity (65-day marine fishing ban) — Mongabay
Secondarianews.mongabay.comConsultato il Giu 14
Note dei ricercatori
Bangladesh has no specific spearfishing or recreational-fishing legislation. The operative restriction is section 3(b) of the Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (as amended), which empowers prohibition of destroying fish by 'gun, bow and arrow' (covering spearguns/harpoons), plus explosives and electrofishing, in inland, coastal and marine fisheries waters, with penalties up to 2 years imprisonment and/or a 5 lakh Taka fine under section 5(1). The Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 (Act No. XIX of 2020) repealed the Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 and governs commercial/artisanal fishing via licences and permits; legal scholarship confirms it does not cover recreational fishing. The earlier 1983 Ordinance contained an unused rule-making power to 'organise and regulate sport fishing', but no sport-fishing rules were ever made and the power was not retained in the 2020 Act. Verbatim provisions for the Marine Fisheries Act 2020 itself could not be retrieved in clean text (the bdlaws act-print-646 page serves the predecessor 1983 Ordinance, and the official 2020 Act PDF was not machine-readable), so the 1983 Ordinance text is included as indicative of the marine prohibited-methods regime rather than as currently-in-force marine law. Confidence is medium: the inland/coastal prohibition (PCFA 1950 s.3(b)) is verbatim from the official portal and clearly covers spear-type gear, but the absence of an explicit, named 'spearfishing' ban means the 'no' status is an interpretation of general gear prohibitions plus the absence of any authorising licence regime. Coordinates for the two MPAs are approximate (St Martin's from island location ~20.63N 92.32E; Swatch of No Ground from Wikipedia ~21.25N 89.47E).
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