Nauru
Oceania · Micronesia
Recreational and subsistence spearfishing of reef fish is a widespread traditional practice in Nauru and is not prohibited as such. Coastal (reef and lagoon) fishing is governed by the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020), which recognises and protects artisanal and subsistence fishing (gleaning, small boats/canoes, spearing). Spearguns are not listed among prohibited methods: Section 62 prohibits only explosives, firearms, poison and other noxious substances. However, the Act gives the Minister broad powers to declare closed seasons (s.24), designate marine protected areas and fisheries management areas (s.8), set catch quotas/size limits and restrict particular gear or fishing methods (s.23), and to prohibit gear by regulation (s.63). Districts may also delineate Community Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs, Part 4) with enforceable plans. As of mid-2026 no nationally gazetted closed season, marine protected area, speargun ban, generally applicable size limit or recreational/spearfishing licence specific to spearfishing has been located in retrievable sources; the CFMA framework is still being implemented. Status is therefore 'restricted': allowed in practice but subject to a discretionary regulatory framework, with rules potentially varying by community area. The wider Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 18 of 1997) governs commercial and foreign fishing in Nauru's broader fisheries waters/EEZ rather than recreational reef spearfishing.
Ultimo aggiornamento Giugno 15, 2026
Quadro normativo di riferimento
- §Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020), certified 4 June 2020
- §Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 18 of 1997), certified 13 June 1997
- §Fisheries Regulations 1998
- Fucile subacqueo
- 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.
Definitions of artisanal and subsistence fishing, coastal fisheries and coastal fisheries waters
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
'artisanal fishing' means small-scale fishing whether subsistence or commercial providing for local consumption but does not include export, such as gleaning, use of small boats and canoes; ... 'coastal fisheries' means fishing activities targeting marine resources occurring within the coastal fisheries waters of the Republic; 'coastal fisheries waters' means the internal waters and the territorial sea of the Republic; ... 'subsistence fishing' means any fishing activity carried out primarily for personal consumption, excluding game fishing.
Authority of Minister to designate MPAs, declare closed seasons and control fishing effort
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
(2) The Minister shall: (a) determine national policies; (b) designate fisheries management areas; (c) designate marine protected areas; (d) declare closed seasons; (e) where necessary, impose control and management measures on fishing effort and catch; and (f) appoint one or more committees as he or she deems necessary to advise and make recommendations on any areas under his or her authority.
Determination of allowable catch, quotas, size limits and gear/method restrictions
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
23 Determination of allowable catch in coastal fisheries waters (1) The Minister shall determine the total allowable catch, the total applied effort or a combination of the same in coastal fisheries waters. (2) In determining the total allowable catch, the total applied effort or a combination thereof, the Minister shall apply necessary catch quotas or size limits: (a) in a particular area; (b) in respect of a particular species or a group of species of fish; or (c) in respect of the use of a particular gear, fishing methods or the type of fishing vessel.
Closed seasons
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
24 Closed seasons (1) Where necessary, the Minister may by notice in the Gazette declare a closed season. (2) A declaration by the Minister under subsection (1) may include the: (a) closed season period; (b) type of fish, fishery, fishing method or other parameters, as the case may be; and (c) specific area. (3) For the purpose of this Section, 'closed season' means the period of time during which fishing is not permitted in a specified area or areas in coastal fisheries waters. (4) A person who contravenes this Section commits an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Prohibited fishing methods and practices (explosives, firearms, poison)
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
62 Prohibited fishing methods and practices (1) No person shall: (a) permit to be used, use or attempt to use an explosive, firearm, poison or any other noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish or for any related purpose; or (b) carry or possess or control without lawful authority an explosive, firearm, poison or any other noxious substance in circumstances indicating an intention of using that substance for any of the purposes referred to in paragraph (a). (2) An explosive, firearm, poison or any other noxious substance found on board a fishing vessel shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be intended for the purposes referred to in subsection (1)(a). (3) No person shall land, sell, receive or possess fish taken by any means in contravention of any provision under this Section and who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the fish has been so taken. (4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (3) commits an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Possession of prohibited gear
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
63 Possession of prohibited gear (1) No person on board a fishing vessel shall use, possess or have control of: (a) any gear which does not conform to the standards that may be prescribed by Regulations for that type of gear; or (b) any gear which is prohibited as prescribed by Regulations. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Community fisheries management areas (CFMAs)
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020)
'Community fisheries management areas' means coastal fishing areas that have been declared by the Minister to be managed by district communities for the purpose of protecting the coastal fisheries and marine resources to ensure its long-term sustainability; ... 27 Community fisheries management area plans ... (2) A community fisheries management area plan shall: ... (f) specify conservation and management measures to be applied to the fishery; (g) specify the process for the allocation of any fishing rights or additional catch quotas by species ...
Definition of 'fishing' and licensing of fishing under the principal Act
Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 18 of 1997)
'fishing' means - (a) searching for, catching, taking or harvesting fish; or (b) attempting to search for, catch, take or harvest fish; or (c) engaging in any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, catching, taking or harvesting of fish; ... 'fisheries waters' means the internal waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and any other waters over which the Republic claims jurisdiction;
Prohibition on explosives and poison (principal fisheries regulations)
Fisheries Regulations 1998
A person who permits to be used, uses or attempts to use any explosive, poison or other noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish [commits an offence, with penalties up to $5,000]. Substances found aboard vessels are presumed intended for illegal fishing unless proven otherwise. [Reg 41(3): persons who land, sell, receive or possess fish taken using prohibited methods face fines up to $1,000 and/or two years imprisonment if done for commercial purposes.]
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.
- ChiusaDiscretionary; the Minister may declare a closed season for any type of fish, fishery, fishing method, parameter and specific area by notice in the Gazette (s.24). No specific spearfishing closed season has been located in retrievable sources as of June 2026.unknown – unknown
Section 24 of the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 empowers the Minister to declare closed seasons by Gazette notice. No currently gazetted closed season relevant to recreational/subsistence spearfishing was found in accessible sources.
Permesso di pescare
Licenza
Cosa ti serve per poter entrare in acqua, quanto costa e come ottenerla.
Contact the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA). Subsistence/artisanal reef fishing appears not to require an individual licence; commercial activity requires authorisation under s.64 of the 2020 Act.
Ottieni la tua licenzaApre il portale ufficiale · nauru-data.sprep.org
- Tipo
- No licence specific to recreational/subsistence spearfishing identified. Commercial fishing and fish processing require authorisation (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 s.64); broader fishing/fisheries activities are licensed by the Authority under the Fisheries Act 1997 s.12.
- Costo
- unknown
- Validità
- unknown
- Come ottenerla
- Contact the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA). Subsistence/artisanal reef fishing appears not to require an individual licence; commercial activity requires authorisation under s.64 of the 2020 Act.
- Autorità
- Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA)
Attrezzatura e tecnica
Regole sull'attrezzatura
Quale attrezzatura è consentita, come può essere usata e le condizioni associate.
Restrizioni
- Explosives, firearms, poison and other noxious substances are prohibited for catching fish (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 s.62; Fisheries Regulations 1998 reg.41).
- Gear that does not conform to prescribed standards, or that is prohibited by Regulations, may not be used or possessed on board a fishing vessel (2020 Act s.63). No regulation specifically banning spearguns/Hawaiian slings was located.
- The Minister may restrict particular gear or fishing methods when setting catch limits (2020 Act s.23(2)(c)).
Spearguns and hand spears are not among the methods prohibited by statute, and spearfishing is a recognised traditional/subsistence method. SCUBA-assisted spearfishing is not specifically addressed in retrievable sources (unknown).
Cosa puoi prelevare
Limiti di cattura e specie protette
Quote giornaliere, taglie minime e specie che non devono mai essere prelevate.
Limite giornaliero
unknown
No general daily bag limit, species-specific size limits, or list of protected species applicable to recreational/subsistence spearfishing was located in retrievable sources. The Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (s.23) empowers the Minister to set catch quotas and size limits by area, species or gear, but no specific spearfishing size limits have been confirmed as gazetted. As a CITES party and a Pacific Island nation, sea turtles and marine mammals are generally protected, but a Nauru-specific protected-species list for spearfishing could not be verified from accessible legal text.
Chi può pescare
Visitatori e residenti
Come le regole differiscono per i visitatori stranieri e i residenti locali.
Visitatori stranieri
Restrizioni
- Same statutory prohibitions apply to all persons (explosives/firearms/poison ban, gear standards, any closed seasons or MPAs).
- Commercial fishing by any person requires authorisation (2020 Act s.64); foreign fishing in the wider fisheries waters/EEZ is tightly regulated under the Fisheries Act 1997.
No rules specific to foreign visitors engaging in recreational reef spearfishing were located. Nauru has very limited tourism and no significant dive/spearfishing tourism industry. Visitors should contact NFMRA before fishing.
Residenti
No specific licence for resident subsistence/artisanal reef spearfishing identified.
Vantaggi
- Artisanal and subsistence fishers' rights, interests and needs are explicitly to be taken into account in coastal fisheries management (Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 ss.6(e), 21).
- District communities may apply to delineate Community Fisheries Management Areas and manage local reef resources (Part 4).
The reef and lagoon are State-owned; there is no customary marine tenure, so access to reef fishing is broadly open to Nauruan residents subject to the Act's discretionary controls.
Dove sulla costa
Zone consentite e vietate
Aree denominate aperte o chiuse alla pesca subacquea. Vedi il quadro completo sulla mappa interattiva.
Aree consentite
Reef-flat gleaning and spearfishing of reef fish (e.g. soldierfish/emon, surgeonfish/iubwiya), octopus and green snails are widespread traditional practices in Nauru's narrow fringing reef and internal/territorial waters. These are recognised as artisanal/subsistence fishing under the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020. The reef and lagoon are State-owned (no customary marine tenure), so no general permit is required for subsistence reef fishing, subject to the Act's discretionary controls.
Subject to Minister's powers to declare closed seasons, designate marine protected areas, set catch quotas/size limits and restrict gear or methods (ss.8, 23, 24), and to any community fisheries management area plan (Part 4). Explosives, firearms and poison are prohibited (s.62).
Aree vietate
- Marine protected areas / designated fisheries management areas (framework, none individually confirmed)marine protected area / community fisheries management area (framework under Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020)
Under Section 8 of the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 the Minister may designate marine protected areas and fisheries management areas, within which fishing (including spearfishing) may be restricted or prohibited. District Community Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs) may also impose enforceable restrictions. As of June 2026 more than half of Nauru's districts had identified candidate marine managed/protected areas, but no specific gazetted MPA with confirmed coordinates and a spearfishing prohibition has been located in retrievable sources.
Condizioni in acqua
Condizioni in tempo reale
Istantanea marina e meteo in tempo reale vicino a un punto di riferimento costiero in Nauru, da Open-Meteo. Le condizioni variano lungo la costa — considerale indicative.
Condizioni marine e meteo in tempo reale vicino a Nauru fringing reef and territorial sea (general coastal fisheries waters).
A chi rivolgersi
Autorità
Gli enti ufficiali responsabili della pesca e delle licenze.
Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA)
fisheries authority
nauru-data.sprep.orgAiwo District, Nauru; the Authority established under the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority Act 1997 administers the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 and the Fisheries Act 1997.Minister responsible for Fisheries, Republic of Nauru
government ministry
nauru.gov.nrEmpowered to designate marine protected areas, declare closed seasons and set management measures under the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020.Pacific Community (SPC) - Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme
regional technical agency
cbfm.spc.intProvides technical support for community-based coastal fisheries management in Nauru.
Da dove provengono
Fonti
Ogni affermazione su questa pagina risale a uno di questi riferimenti.
- [01]
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020) - full text (FAOLEX official PDF)
Ufficialefaolex.fao.orgConsultato il Giu 15 - [02]
Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 18 of 1997) - full text (FAOLEX official PDF)
Ufficialefaolex.fao.orgConsultato il Giu 15 - [03]
Fisheries Act (No. 18 of 1997) - FAOLEX record
Ufficialefao.orgConsultato il Giu 15 - [04]
Fisheries Regulations 1998 - Nauru (The Outlaw Ocean Global Fishing Legislative Database)
Secondariatheoutlawocean.comConsultato il Giu 15 - [05]
Nauru Fisheries Act 1997 - Nauru (The Outlaw Ocean Global Fishing Legislative Database)
Secondariatheoutlawocean.comConsultato il Giu 15 - [06]
Nauru's Community-Based Fisheries Journey: Building Trust, Knowledge, and Stewardship (Kiwa Initiative)
Secondariakiwainitiative.orgConsultato il Giu 15 - [07]
Nauru - SPC Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (CBFM)
Ufficialecbfm.spc.intConsultato il Giu 15 - [08]
Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA) - Nauru Environment Data Portal (SPREP)
Ufficialenauru-data.sprep.orgConsultato il Giu 15
Note dei ricercatori
Spearfishing in Nauru is best classified as 'restricted': it is a long-standing, lawful traditional/subsistence reef-fishing method (recognised as artisanal/subsistence fishing under the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020, No. 12 of 2020, certified 4 June 2020) and is not banned, but it sits within a discretionary regulatory framework. The Minister may declare closed seasons (s.24), designate marine protected areas and fisheries management areas (s.8), set catch quotas/size limits and restrict particular gear or methods (s.23), and prohibit gear by regulation (s.63); districts may also create Community Fisheries Management Areas with enforceable plans (Part 4). Section 62 prohibits only explosives, firearms, poison and noxious substances - spearguns are not statutorily prohibited. The reef and lagoon are State-owned (no customary marine tenure). As of June 2026 the CFMA/MPA framework was still being implemented and no nationally gazetted closed season, confirmed MPA with coordinates, generally applicable size limit, protected-species list specific to spearfishing, or recreational spearfishing licence regime could be retrieved from accessible sources - these fields are marked unknown/empty rather than guessed. Verbatim law texts were taken from the official FAOLEX PDFs of the 2020 Act and the 1997 Act. The official Nauru legal database (ronlaw.gov.nr) hosts the Act but is a JavaScript single-page application whose document endpoint could not be retrieved directly; FAOLEX was used as the authoritative full-text source instead. Confidence is 'medium': primary statute text is solid, but the absence of accessible subordinate regulations and any current gazette notices means the practical, on-the-ground rules (licences, limits, protected species, active closures) are incompletely documented. Users should contact NFMRA before spearfishing.
Avvisami quando cambiano le regole di Nauru
Ti invieremo un'email quando le stagioni o le normative di Nauru verranno aggiornate nel nostro dataset.