SpearfishingMap

Bhutan

Asia · Southern Asia

Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan country, so there is no marine spearfishing. For inland (freshwater) waters, all fishing requires a valid government permit/licence issued by the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS). The only authorised recreational capture method is rod-and-line angling, strictly catch-and-immediate-release, using a single barbless hook with artificial flies/lures; live bait is banned. The Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017 (Rule 392(7)) prohibit destructive/harvesting fishing methods such as poisoning, dynamite/explosives, electrical devices, firearms, large/closed nets, splashing or laving of water, traps, snares and live bait. Spearing / underwater fishing is not an authorised method and no permit is issued for it; spearfishing is therefore effectively prohibited as a recreational activity in Bhutan.

Prohibited
Kapercayan dataKapercayan sedhengan

Pungkasan diperbarui Juni 14, 2026

Kerangka hukum

  • §Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017
  • §Forest and Nature Conservation (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022 (high-end recreational fishing)
  • §Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995
  • §Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974 (earlier instrument)
Lisensi diwajibake
Diwajibake
Senapan panah
Dilarang
Wong manca
Sugeng rawuh

Hukum, verbatim

Teks hukum

Ketentuan undang-undang lan regulasi sing tepat sing ngatur mancing silem ing kene, dikutip kaya sing diterbitake, kanthi tautan menyang saben sumber resmi.

01Chapter XII, Rule 392(6) and 392(7) (Prohibited Activity in State Reserved Forest Land)Bhutan · national

Prohibited fishing methods and seasons (offence list)

Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017

ENAsli

392. The following activities are strictly prohibited: ... (6) fishing shall be strictly prohibited: (a) during the month of October, November and December every year. (b) during Yar-ngo and Mar-ngo Dhuezang falling on 8th, 10th, 15th, 25th and 30th of each Bhutanese calendar month; (c) on Parinirvana, First Sermon and Descending Day of Lord Buddha; (d) on Zhabdrung Kuchhoe; (e) on Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche; (f) during Chhothhruel Dawa or the first month of Bhutanese Calendar; (g) during Saga Dawa or the fourth month of Bhutanese Calendar; (h) fishing within 500 meters of Monastery and Dzong. (7) Fishing by the following means: (a) by poisoning, using dynamite, explosive, electrical device in river, stream, pond, and lake; (b) by building dam for diverting river/stream to trap the fish; (c) by using firearm, large net or splashing or laving of water; (d) by using closed net except for research; (e) by use of live bait, trap and snare.

02Rules 271-282 (Fishing)Bhutan · national

Fishing governed by the Rule; permit/licence requirement

Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017

ENAsli

271. Fishing in any stream, river, lake or other water bodies shall be governed by this Rule. 272. The Department shall declare and designate restricted areas for fishing. Fishing in non-restricted area shall be permitted with a valid permit/license, and any breach of this Rule shall be treated as an offence. 273. Any interested person shall apply for the fishing permit to the nearest Range office or the Division/Park. 274. The concerned Range Office shall issue fishing permit with a validity not exceeding one week in Annexure XX. 275. The Permittee shall carry the valid fishing permit at the time of fishing and produce on demand by any forest officer. 276. The fishing permit is non-transferable. ... 281. The Department shall levy fishing license and permit fee as prescribed under: [1 day - Nu. 500 nationals / Nu. 1000 foreigners; 1 week - Nu. 1500 / Nu. 3000; 1 month - Nu. 3000 / Nu. 6000; 6 months - Nu. 6000 / Nu. 12000; 1 year - Nu. 10000 / Nu. 20000].

03Rule 251Bhutan · national

Fishing within a protected area requires a valid permit

Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017

ENAsli

251. Fishing within a protected area shall be permitted with a valid permit obtained in accordance with Technical Regulations.

04Rules 2, 4, 5, 6, 7Bhutan · national

Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974 - licence requirement and prohibited means (earlier instrument)

Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974 (Notification dated 1st January 1974)

ENAsli

2. Catching of fish in any stream, river, pond or lakes in Bhutan is strictly prohibited without possession of a valid Fishing Licence. ... 4. Fishing shall be prohibited during the following periods ...: 1) During the months of October, November and December every year for fishing trout, 2) Fishing on 8th, 15th and 30th of each Bhutanese month is prohibited. 5. Fishing by the following means is strictly prohibited- 1) Fishing by poisoning or dynamiting rivers, streams, ponds or lakes. 2) Erection of weirs, dams for diverting rivers/streams to trap the fish. 3) Fishing by fire-arms, closed nets, large nets, puglep, Phen-Phen or splashing or laving of waters. 6. The Licence holder shall not catch fish which are less than eight inch in length. 7. Fishing within one mile of a Gompa, Temple, Dzong or Lama School and within twenty yards of the main road is strictly prohibited.

Kapan sampeyan bisa nyilem

Musim & watesan wektu

Periode tutup, buka, lan diwatesi sajrone setaun. Tansah konfirmasikake penutupan spesifik spesies sacara lokal.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Mei
Jun
Jul
Agu
Sep
Okt
Nov
Des
TutupDiwatesiBuka
  • TutupTrout waters (snow trout, brown trout)Nov 1 – Des 31

    Angling/fishing closed in all trout waters during the spawning season (November and December). Note: the FNCRR 2017 offence list states October, November and December; the 2022 amendment / recreational programme references November and December.

    icsf.net
  • TutupMahseer waters (golden mahseer, chocolate mahseer)Jun 1 – Agu 31

    Angling/fishing closed in all mahseer waters during the spawning season (June, July and August).

    icsf.net
  • TutupAll waters - Buddhist holy days

    Fishing strictly prohibited on auspicious Buddhist days: Yar-ngo and Mar-ngo Dhuezang (8th, 10th, 15th, 25th and 30th of each Bhutanese calendar month), Parinirvana / First Sermon / Descending Day of Lord Buddha, Zhabdrung Kuchhoe, Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche, throughout Chhothhruel Dawa (1st month) and Saga Dawa (4th month) of the Bhutanese calendar.

    bhutan.eregulations.org

Izin kanggo mancing

Lisensi

Apa sing dibutuhake supaya diidini ana ing banyu, biayane, lan cara entuke.

Lisensi diwajibakeliwat Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources

Apply to the nearest Range Office or Division/Park; recreational/tourist permits are issued online via the Online Forestry Services and, for tourists, arranged through licensed Bhutanese tour operators with a certified fishing guide.

Entuk lisensi sampeyan

Mbukak portal resmi · dofps.gov.bt

Lisensi diwajibake
Jenis
Fishing permit (up to 1 week) or fishing licence (longer, multiple waters); issued by the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS). Foreign anglers must be accompanied by a nationally certified fishing guide and arrange permits through licensed Bhutanese tour operators.
Biaya
Permit/licence fee per FNCRR 2017 Rule 281: nationals - Nu. 500/day, Nu. 1500/week, Nu. 3000/month; licence Nu. 6000/6 months, Nu. 10000/year. Foreigners - Nu. 1000/day, Nu. 3000/week, Nu. 6000/month; Nu. 12000/6 months, Nu. 20000/year.
Masa berlaku
Permit not exceeding one week (Rule 274); licence more than one month, for multiple waters/areas (Rule 277).
Cara entuke
Apply to the nearest Range Office or Division/Park; recreational/tourist permits are issued online via the Online Forestry Services and, for tourists, arranged through licensed Bhutanese tour operators with a certified fishing guide.
Otoritas
Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
Portal lisensi resmi · dofps.gov.bt

Piranti & teknik

Aturan piranti

Piranti apa sing diidini, cara panggunaane, lan syarat sing ditempelake.

Senapan panahDilarang

Watesan

  • Spearguns / spears / underwater fishing are not an authorised capture method; no permit is issued for spearfishing.
  • Only rod-and-line angling is permitted for recreational fishing (fly-fishing or spin-fishing rods and reels).
  • Single barbless hook only.
  • Only artificial flies or lures; live bait of any kind is strictly prohibited.
  • Prohibited methods (Rule 392(7), FNCRR 2017): poison, dynamite/explosives, electrical devices, firearms, large nets, closed nets (except for research), splashing/laving of water, dams to trap fish, traps and snares.

Recreational fishing is strictly catch-and-immediate-release. Possessing a golden mahseer dead or alive is an offence. There is no provision for spearfishing/underwater fishing anywhere in Bhutan's fishing rules.

Apa sing boleh dijaluk

Watesan tangkapan & spesies lindung

Kuota harian, ukuran minimal, lan spesies sing ora boleh ditangkap.

Watesan harian

Catch-and-immediate-release only; no fish may be retained for recreational fishing. (Traditional 1974 minimum size was 8 inches; current recreational regime is fully catch-and-release.)

Spesies lindung — aja ditangkap

  • DilindungiGolden mahseer (Tor putitora) - catch-and-release only; possession dead or alive is an offence

Recreational fishing is authorised only for four species (golden mahseer, chocolate mahseer, snow trout, brown trout) and all are catch-and-release. Commercial/customary capture fishery exists separately under community customary rights (Rule 283) and a trade licence (Rule 282).

Sapa sing boleh mancing

Pengunjung & penduduk

Kepiye aturane beda kanggo pengunjung manca lan penduduk lokal.

Pengunjung manca

Diidini

Lisensi khusus diwajibake

Syarat

  • Obtain a fishing permit/licence from DoFPS (higher foreigner fee schedule under Rule 281).
  • Be accompanied by a nationally certified fishing guide.
  • Arrange the fishing trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
  • Comply with general visa/tourism entry requirements for Bhutan.

Watesan

  • Catch-and-release angling only; no spearfishing.
  • Same closed seasons, holy days, buffer zones and method prohibitions apply as for nationals.

Foreigners pay roughly double the national permit/licence fees. Spearfishing is not available to foreigners or nationals.

Penduduk

Fishing permit (<=1 week) or fishing licence (longer), DoFPS national fee schedule.

Syarat

  • Apply to nearest Range Office or Division/Park for a permit, or to the CFO/Division for a licence.
  • Carry the valid permit/licence while fishing and produce on demand by a forest officer.

Keuntungan

  • Lower national fee schedule than foreigners (e.g. Nu. 500/day vs Nu. 1000/day).
  • Communities with customary rights may harvest fish from designated water bodies under an approved management plan (Rule 283).

Spearfishing is not permitted for residents; only catch-and-release rod-and-line angling under permit.

Ngendi ing pesisir

Zona diidini & dilarang

Area sing diberi jeneng sing terbuka utawa tertutup kanggo mancing silem. Deleng gambaran lengkap ing peta interaktif.

Area diidini

  • Designated recreational fishing rivers/streams (non-restricted SRF waters)

    Fishing in non-restricted areas is permitted with a valid permit/license. Since 2022 a high-end recreational (catch-and-release) fly-fishing programme operates on designated mahseer and trout zones (reported as several mahseer high-end zones and around eleven trout zones), only for four species: golden mahseer, chocolate mahseer, snow trout and brown trout. No spearfishing is permitted in any of these zones.

    Valid DoFPS permit/licence required; rod-and-line angling only; single barbless hook; artificial flies/lures only; strictly catch-and-immediate-release; no live bait; closed seasons and Buddhist holy days apply.

    icsf.net

Area dilarang

Deleng ing peta

Sapa sing kudu ditakoni

Otoritas

Badan resmi sing tanggung jawab kanggo perikanan lan lisensi.

  • Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS)

    forestry / nature conservation authority (regulates inland fishing)

    dofps.gov.btMinistry of Energy and Natural Resources, Thimphu, Bhutan

  • Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (formerly Ministry of Agriculture and Forests)

    environment / natural resources ministry

    moenr.gov.btThimphu, Bhutan

  • National Centre for Riverine and Lake Fisheries (Department of Livestock)

    fisheries research / aquaculture authority

    Haa, Bhutan

Asale saka ngendi

Sumber

Saben klaim ing kaca iki bisa dilacak bali menyang salah siji referensi iki.

  1. [01]

    Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017 (full text PDF, Royal Government of Bhutan)

    Resmi
    bhutan.eregulations.orgDiakses Jun 14
  2. [02]

    Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974 (FAOLEX archived text, FAO)

    Resmi
    faolex.fao.orgDiakses Jun 14
  3. [03]

    Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974 - ECOLEX metadata record

    Resmi
    ecolex.orgDiakses Jun 14
  4. [04]

    Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995 (AsianLII)

    Resmi
    asianlii.orgDiakses Jun 14
  5. [05]

    Bhutan: Getting popular for leisure fishing (ICSF) - recreational species, methods, seasons

    Sekunder
    icsf.netDiakses Jun 14
  6. [06]

    Fishing Rules & Regulations in Bhutan - VisitBhutan.com

    Sekunder
    visitbhutan.comDiakses Jun 14
  7. [07]

    Fly-fishing, a prospective eco-tourism service - Kuensel (national newspaper)

    Sekunder
    kuenselonline.comDiakses Jun 14

Cathetan peneliti

Bhutan is landlocked (no sea coastline), so there is no marine spearfishing. The relevant law is freshwater (inland) fishing law. Spearfishing / underwater fishing is NOT a recognised or permitted method anywhere in Bhutan: the only authorised recreational capture method is rod-and-line angling, strictly catch-and-immediate-release, with a single barbless hook and artificial lures, and live bait is banned. Destructive methods (poison, dynamite, electric devices, firearms, large/closed nets, traps, snares) are explicitly prohibited by Rule 392(7) of the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017; spearing is not listed by name but is excluded because only rod-and-line angling is authorised and no permit exists for spearfishing. spearfishing_allowed is therefore set to 'no'. Verbatim legal text was extracted from the official FNCRR 2017 PDF (Royal Government of Bhutan) and the FAOLEX-archived 1974 rules; minor OCR artefacts in the 1974 text were silently corrected for readability without changing meaning. The high-end recreational fly-fishing programme (4 species, designated zones) was introduced via the 2022 amendment to the FNCRR 2017; the full verbatim text of the 2022 amendment was not retrievable, so the 2022-specific species list and zone counts rely on secondary (reputable) sources. Confidence is medium: national legal framework and method/season/zone prohibitions are well-sourced from official text; some 2022 amendment specifics and exact zone coordinates are from secondary sources or unavailable.

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