Panama
Americas · Central America
Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Panama as a form of sport fishing (pesca deportiva). Law 204 of 2021 explicitly defines sport fishing as an activity that may be carried out by breath-hold diving ('inmersion por apnea') and expressly recognizes underwater (spearfishing) tournaments ('torneo de pesca... submarina'). A sport-fishing licence/authorization issued by the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP) is required, catches may not be sold, and activity is restricted in marine protected areas such as Coiba National Park (no-take zones). Since Executive Decree No. 10 of 10 June 2026, billfish (marlins and spearfish/sailfish group) may only be taken under sport/tourist sport fishing or authorized scientific research, on a catch-and-release basis, and not commercialized. Spearfishing is breath-hold only under the sport-fishing definition; scuba-assisted underwater fishing is not contemplated as recreational sport fishing under the law.
Акыркы жаңыртуу Июнь 15, 2026
Башкаруучу чарчы
- §Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021 (Que regula la pesca y la acuicultura en la Republica de Panama y dicta otras disposiciones)
- §Decreto Ejecutivo No. 13 de 2023 (Reglamenta la Ley 204 de 2021)
- §Decreto Ejecutivo No. 10 de 10 de junio de 2026 (Proteccion de peces pico/picudos - marlin y pez vela, captura limitada a pesca deportiva)
- Лицензия талап кылынат
- Талап кылынат
- Найзамылтык
- Уруксат берилген
- Скуба
- Тыюу салынган
- Чет элдиктер
- Кош келиңиз
Мыйзам, дал тексти менен
Укуктук тексттер
Бул жерде балык октоону башкарган так мыйзамдык жана ченемдик жоболор, жарыяланган бойдон цитаталанган, ар бир расмий булакка шилтеме менен.
Definition of sport fishing (includes breath-hold diving)
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
28. Pesca deportiva. Actividad de pesca autorizada por la Autoridad en aguas continentales o aguas bajo soberania o jurisdiccion de la Republica de Panama, que realizan personas naturales o juridicas, nacionales o extranjeras, con proposito de deporte, esparcimiento, recreo, turismo o pasatiempo, pero no para la venta del pescado. La misma se realiza con un aparejo de pesca personal, con o sin buque, o a traves de inmersion por apnea.
Definition of sport fishing tournament (includes underwater/spearfishing)
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
48. Torneo de pesca deportivo. Actividad de competencia deportiva sea de pesca de cana o submarina. Es organizado por personas naturales o juridicas. Los torneos tienen protocolos y reglamentos que se rigen por normas nacionales o internacionales.
Sport fishing - general definition and prohibition on commercialization
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
Articulo 65. Para efectos de la presente Ley, se considera pesca deportiva la realizada por personas naturales, nacionales o extranjeras, con proposito de deporte, esparcimiento, recreo, turismo o pasatiempo. Esta se realizara con un aparejo de pesca personal, con o sin buque, o a traves de inmersion por apnea. Las capturas no podran ser comercializadas.
Licence requirement and regulatory powers for sport fishing
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
Articulo 66. Solo se podran realizar actividades de pesca deportiva en aguas continentales o aguas bajo soberania o jurisdiccion de la Republica de Panama y se debera portar una licencia otorgada por la Autoridad. La Autoridad, sin perjuicio de las competencias que puedan ejercer otras instituciones nacionales, reglamentara la pesca deportiva, incluyendo la licencia que la autorice, la determinacion de las caracteristicas del buque, las especies, artes o aparejos de pesca, temporada de pesca, zona donde se realizara la actividad, limites de captura y otros aspectos que disponga la Autoridad, asi como los canones correspondientes.
Billfish (peces pico/picudos) to be regulated by the Authority
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
Articulo 69. La pesca de los denominados peces pico o picudos en aguas bajo jurisdiccion de la Republica de Panama sera reglamentada por la Autoridad.
Operators and persons engaged in sport fishing must hold a licence
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021
Articulo 70. Los buques, personas naturales y juridicas, asi como operadores turisticos que se dediquen a la pesca deportiva, deberan contar con una licencia emitida por la Autoridad.
Качан сүзсө болот
Мезгилдер жана убакыт чектөөлөрү
Жыл ичиндеги жабык, ачык жана чектелген мезгилдер. Жергиликтүү деңгээлде ар бир түргө тиешелүү жабуулар менен дайыма ырастаңыз.
- ЧектелгенBillfish / peces pico (Makaira nigricans, Kajikia albida, Istiompax indica, Kajikia audax, Tetrapturus angustirostris) and sailfishИюн 10
Since Executive Decree No. 10 of 10 June 2026, capture of billfish/marlins is limited to sport fishing, tourist sport fishing and authorized scientific research, on a catch-and-release basis; commercialization, retention, possession, transport and commercial/artisanal use for sale are prohibited. Applies year-round (no fixed end date).
Балык уулоого уруксат
Лицензия
Сууда болуу үчүн эмне керек, баасы канча жана кантип алуу керек.
Apply to the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP); operators, vessels and captains must additionally register and be authorized. Guided/charter operators typically arrange the required authorizations.
Лицензия алыңызРасмий порталды ачат · arap.gob.pa
- Түрү
- Sport-fishing licence / authorization (licencia de pesca deportiva); spearfishing falls under pesca deportiva. A 'carne' (ID card) is required for persons who practice sport fishing (age 12+) per ARAP rules.
- Баасы
- unknown
- Жарактуулук мөөнөтү
- unknown
- Кантип алуу керек
- Apply to the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP); operators, vessels and captains must additionally register and be authorized. Guided/charter operators typically arrange the required authorizations.
- Орган
- Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP)
Жабдуулар жана ыкма
Жабдуулар эрежелери
Кандай жабдуулар уруксат берилген, аларды кантип колдонуу керек жана тиркелген шарттар.
Чектөөлөр
- Sport fishing (including spearfishing) is defined as carried out by breath-hold diving ('inmersion por apnea'); scuba-assisted spearfishing is not contemplated as recreational sport fishing under Ley 204.
- Catch from sport fishing/spearfishing may not be commercialized (Ley 204, Art. 65).
- Fishing gear/'artes o aparejos', species, seasons, zones and catch limits are to be regulated by ARAP (Ley 204, Art. 66).
Ley 204 explicitly recognizes underwater (spearfishing) tournaments and breath-hold diving as part of sport fishing, which establishes spear/speargun fishing as a lawful method when authorized. Specific gear limits are set by ARAP regulation.
Эмнени алса болот
Кармоо чектери жана корукталган түрлөр
Күнүмдүк квоталар, минималдык өлчөмдөр жана эч качан алууга болбоочу түрлөр.
Күнүмдүк чек
Set by ARAP regulation per Ley 204 Art. 66 (specific recreational daily limits not retrieved).
Корукталган түрлөр — алууга болбойт
- КорукталганBlue marlin (Makaira nigricans) - catch-and-release sport fishing only (Decreto Ejecutivo 10/2026)
- КорукталганWhite marlin (Kajikia albida) - catch-and-release sport fishing only
- КорукталганBlack marlin (Istiompax indica) - catch-and-release sport fishing only
- КорукталганStriped marlin (Kajikia audax) - catch-and-release sport fishing only
- КорукталганShortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris) - catch-and-release sport fishing only
- КорукталганSailfish / pez vela (billfish group) - protected, sport fishing catch-and-release
Billfish/marlins and sailfish (peces pico/picudos) may only be taken under sport/tourist sport fishing or authorized scientific research, with catch-and-release, since Executive Decree No. 10 of 10 June 2026. Commercialization, retention, possession and transport for sale are prohibited. Other species-specific size/bag limits are determined by ARAP regulation and were not retrieved verbatim.
Ким балык уулай алат
Келгиндер жана туруктуу жашоочулар
Чет элдик келгиндер жана жергиликтүү туруктуу жашоочулар үчүн эрежелердин айырмасы.
Чет элдик келгиндер
Уруксат берилгенАтайын лицензия талап кылынат
Талаптар
- Foreign nationals may engage in sport fishing/spearfishing (Ley 204, Art. 65 expressly includes 'nacionales o extranjeras').
- A licence/authorization from ARAP is required; persons over 12 must hold the ARAP-issued ID (carne).
- Tourists commonly fish under licensed charter/guide operators who hold the required authorizations.
Чектөөлөр
- Catch may not be sold/commercialized.
- Must respect marine protected areas (e.g. Coiba no-take zones) and the billfish catch-and-release rules.
Some tourism/charter sources state 'no licence required for tourists', but this conflicts with the primary law (Ley 204, Arts. 66 and 70), which requires a licence for all sport-fishing activity and for operators. In practice the authorization is usually held by the charter/guide operator.
Туруктуу жашоочулар
Licencia/carne de pesca deportiva issued by ARAP
Талаптар
- ARAP-issued sport-fishing ID (carne) for persons aged 12 and over who practice sport fishing.
- Comply with reporting obligations (participants, captures, releases) where applicable to organized/charter activity.
Same sport-fishing framework applies to nationals and foreigners under Ley 204; spearfishing is treated as sport fishing by breath-hold diving.
Жээктин кайсы жеринде
Уруксат берилген жана тыюу салынган аймактар
Балык октоо үчүн ачык же жабык болгон аталган аймактар. Интерактивдүү картада толук сүрөттү караңыз.
Уруксат берилген аймактар
Pacific Chiriqui province waters used for guided spearfishing/freediving trips; activity must respect Coiba marine protected area boundaries and requires a sport-fishing authorization.
Sport-fishing licence/authorization from ARAP; no commercialization of catch; must stay outside Coiba no-take zones.
Offshore Pacific island in Chiriqui used as a base for guided spearfishing/camping trips; lies within the broader marine area but is referenced as a destination for legal guided spearfishing.
Guided trips recommended; subject to Coiba Special Zone of Marine Protection rules and ARAP authorization.
Veraguas/Chiriqui Pacific coast surf and reef area referenced as an accessible guided spearfishing location.
Guided trips recommended; ARAP sport-fishing authorization.
Тыюу салынган аймактар
- Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection (Parque Nacional Coiba)national park / marine protected area (UNESCO World Heritage no-take zones)
UNESCO World Heritage marine protected area in the Pacific. Establishes no-take zones within 1.8 nautical miles of island coastlines and restricts/prohibits fishing, shell and coral collection across much of the park. Recreational spearfishing is restricted or prohibited inside no-take zones; fishing is regulated by the park management plan.
- Panama Canal watersrestricted navigational/administrative zone
The waters comprising the Panama Canal are expressly excluded from the scope of the fisheries law (Ley 204, Articulo 1) and are not open to fishing/spearfishing under this regime.
- Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos)national marine park / marine protected area
Panama's first marine national park (created 1988), 13,226 ha (11,598 ha marine) in the Bocas del Toro archipelago on the Caribbean coast, protecting Caribbean mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs. Managed by the national environment authority (MiAmbiente, formerly ANAM); MiAmbiente confirms hunting, fishing and collecting are prohibited inside the park without authorization.
- Cayos Zapatillas (Bastimentos National Marine Park)marine protected area / no-take sub-zone (coral cays)
Two uninhabited coral cays east of Isla Bastimentos within Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Zapatillas Cays sector), surrounded by protected coral reefs where extractive fishing/spearfishing is not permitted as part of the park.
- Portobelo National Park (Parque Nacional Portobelo)national park / marine protected area (coral reefs, mangroves)
Coastal national park (established 1976, ~35,929 ha) on the Caribbean coast of Colon Province, encompassing rainforest, mangroves, beaches, seagrass and coral reefs. Managed by the national environment authority; as a protected area its marine waters are regulated and extractive fishing/spearfishing is restricted/requires authorization.
Сулардагы шарттар
Тирүү шарттар
Open-Meteo маалыматтары боюнча Panama жагындагы жээк референс чекитинин жанындагы тирүү деңиз жана аба ырайы абалы. Шарттар жээк боюнча өзгөрөт — маалымдама катары кабыл алыңыз.
Gulf of Chiriqui (Golfo de Chiriqui) - outside protected no-take zones жанындагы тирүү деңиз жана аба ырайы.
Кимден сурасаңыз болот
Органдар
Балыкчылык жана лицензиялоо жагынан жооптуу расмий органдар.
Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP)
fisheries authority
arap.gob.paEdificio La Riviera, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 45, Bella Vista, Panama CityMinisterio de Ambiente (MiAmbiente)
environment ministry
miambiente.gob.paManages protected areas including Coiba National Park
Маалымат кайдан алынган
Булактар
Бул беттеги ар бир маалымат ушул шилтемелердин биринен алынган.
- [01]
Ley 204 de 18 de marzo de 2021 - Que regula la pesca y la acuicultura en la Republica de Panama (full text, FAOLEX)
Расмийfaolex.fao.orgИюн 15 кирилди - [02]
Ley No. 204 - ECOLEX record
Расмийecolex.orgИюн 15 кирилди - [03]
Panama protege al marlin y al pez vela al limitar su captura a la pesca deportiva (Decreto Ejecutivo No. 10 de 2026) - Infobae
Кошумчаinfobae.comИюн 15 кирилди - [04]
Decreto Ejecutivo N 13 que reglamenta la Ley 204 de 2021 - vLex Panama
Расмийvlex.com.paИюн 15 кирилди - [05]
ARAP - Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (official site, Direccion de Ordenacion)
Расмийarap.gob.paИюн 15 кирилди - [06]
La pesca submarina en Panama con guia - Spearfishing Panama
communityspearfishingpanama.comИюн 15 кирилди - [07]
Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Расмийwhc.unesco.orgИюн 15 кирилди - [08]
Coiba National Park & its Special Zone of Marine Protection - World Heritage Datasheet (UNEP-WCMC)
Кошумчаworld-heritage-datasheets.unep-wcmc.orgИюн 15 кирилди - [09]
Pesca Deportiva en Panama: Epocas, Lugares y Especies - PescaYa (seasons and zones)
communitypescaya.comИюн 15 кирилди
Изилдөөчүнүн эскертмелери
Spearfishing in Panama is lawful as a form of recreational sport fishing (pesca deportiva). The primary instrument, Ley 204 de 2021, defines sport fishing to include breath-hold diving ('inmersion por apnea') and expressly recognizes underwater/spearfishing tournaments, while requiring an ARAP licence/authorization and prohibiting commercialization of catch (Arts. 4(28), 4(48), 65, 66, 70). Verbatim Spanish provisions were extracted from the official FAOLEX PDF (text layer of the Gaceta Oficial No. 29244-A). The detailed implementing regulation (Decreto Ejecutivo No. 13 de 2023) sets specific gear, season, zone and catch-limit rules; its full carne fee/validity details could not be retrieved verbatim from accessible sources, so license cost/validity are marked unknown. Executive Decree No. 10 of 10 June 2026 added strong protection for billfish/marlins and sailfish (catch-and-release sport fishing only), confirmed via a secondary news source (Infobae); the verbatim Gaceta text of Decree 10 could not be fetched (gazette PDF host returned a TLS/cert error). Coiba National Park imposes no-take zones (within 1.8 nm of island coasts) restricting or prohibiting fishing/spearfishing; coordinates are approximate park centroid values. Note a conflict in secondary tourism sources claiming 'no licence required for tourists', which contradicts Ley 204; the primary law was treated as authoritative. Confidence is medium: primary law text is verified verbatim, but the implementing-decree fee/limit specifics and the verbatim text of the 2026 decree were not directly retrieved.
Panama эрежелери өзгөргөндө мага кабар бер
Маалымат топтомубузда Panama мезгилдери же ченемдери жаңыртылганда email жөнөтөбүз.