Honduras
Americas · Central America
Recreational/sport fishing (pesca deportiva) is legally recognised in Honduras under the Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto No. 106-2015). The national law does not specifically name 'pesca submarina' (spearfishing); it classifies non-commercial fishing as scientific, sporting (recreation) and subsistence, and the only methods it expressly prohibits are explosives and poisons (Art. 45). However, most of the country's prime reef diving lies inside marine protected areas, above all the Bay Islands National Marine Park (Roatan, Utila, Guanaja). Inside these protected areas spearfishing is prohibited, with one practical exception: hunting the invasive lionfish (pez leon) under a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License issued by the Roatan Marine Park, using only a Hawaiian sling or pole spear of up to ~3 feet (no spearguns). Closed seasons (vedas) protect lobster, queen conch and other high-value species. Overall: restricted - allowed in principle for sport but heavily constrained in practice by protected-area rules; spearguns are effectively not used and only lionfish may be speared in the main dive areas.
Zuletzt aktualiséiert Juni 14, 2026
Gouvernéierende Kader
- §Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015 (published in La Gaceta No. 34,409, 5 August 2017)
- §Ley Especial de las Areas Protegidas de las Islas de la Bahia (Bay Islands protected-area law)
- §Reglamento del Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas de Honduras (SINAPH)
- §Acuerdo Ministerial 117-2024 / 67-2024 (SAG) - vedas for lobster, queen conch and other marine species
- §Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License program (Roatan Marine Park, administrative permit)
- Lizenz erfuerdert
- Erfuerdert
- Spiergewier
- Verboten
- Auslänner
- Wëllkomm
- Max. Spieren
- 1
D'Gesetz, verbatim
Gesetzestexte
Déi exakt gesetzlech a regulatoresch Bestëmmungen, déi d'Speerfëscherei hei gouvernéieren, esou wéi publizéiert zitéiert, mat engem Link op all offiziell Quell.
Classification of fishing activities - sport (recreational) fishing as a non-commercial category
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
2) No Comercial, que puede ser: a) De investigacion cientifica; b) Deportiva, es decir la realizada con fines de recreacion personal o familiar; y, c) De subsistencia, es decir realizada con fines de consumo domestico. [...] La realizacion de toda actividad pesquera requiere de licencia o permiso.
Definition of sport fishing
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
Pesca Deportiva: Es la pesca que se realiza sin fines de lucro, con proposito de esparcimiento y recreacion, con o sin embarcaciones.
Vessels carrying out tourist and sport fishing
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
ARTICULO 41.- EMBARCACIONES QUE DESARROLLAN PESCA TURISTICA Y DEPORTIVA. Comprende actividades de pesca con fines de entretenimiento, utilizando metodos de pesca individualizada, usualmente realizada por empresas dedicadas al turismo, clubes de pesca y marinas, en embarcaciones con capacidad de autonomia de desplazamiento y navegacion. Su operacion esta sujeta a planes de manejo, licenciamiento de pesca y abanderamiento de las embarcaciones [...] La pesca turistica y deportiva debe respetar las disposiciones del ordenamiento pesquero sobre especies protegidas y practicas de pesca responsable. Las especies conocidas como 'picudos' estan sometidas a la tecnica de 'captura y liberacion'.
Sport fishing by foreign vessels
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
ARTICULO 42.- PESCA DEPORTIVA POR EMBARCACIONES EXTRANJERAS. Se puede conceder licencia de pesca deportiva para el desarrollo de la actividad en aguas jurisdiccionales hondurenas a embarcaciones extranjeras, una vez inspeccionadas por la Direccion General de la Marina Mercante y demas autoridades competentes, siempre que no realicen actividades lucrativas como consecuencia del acto autorizado, se garantice que la actividad se desarrolle por un periodo determinado de tiempo y bajo un plan de ordenamiento vigente.
Subsistence and individual sport fishing; prohibited methods (explosives and poisons)
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
ARTICULO 45.- PESCA DE SUBSISTENCIA Y DEPORTIVA INDIVIDUAL. La pesca de subsistencia y deportiva en rios, lagunas y riachuelos esta sujeta a vigilancia y control de las municipalidades. La Unidad Municipal Ambiental (UMA) de cada Municipio debe establecer planes para la proteccion y conservacion de recursos pesqueros, observando practicas de pesca responsable. Las municipalidades deben realizar inspecciones para sancionar a los pescadores y otras personas que utilicen metodos y artes de pesca no permitidos, tales como: explosivos y venenos, entre otros, que perjudique la repoblacion de peces y otras especies.
General prohibition of unauthorised harvesting
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015
ARTICULO 59.- PROHIBICION GENERAL. Se prohibe toda actividad de aprovechamiento no autorizada o el incumplimiento de las condiciones, bajo las cuales se autorize la actividad conforme a esta Ley. Igualmente se prohibe cualquier actividad tipificada como falta en esta Ley. El Servicio de Guardacostas debe detener las naves con las que se realicen faenas de pesca prohibidas por esta Ley, trasladandolas a los puertos habilitados [...]
Wann Dir dauche kënnt
Saisons & Zäitbeschränkungen
Geschlossen, geöffent a ageschränkt Perioden iwwer d'Joer. Bestätegt ëmmer artenspezifisch Schliesszäiten lokal.
- ZouCaribbean spiny lobster (langosta espinosa, Panulirus argus)Mär 1 – Jun 30
Annual closed season (veda) for spiny lobster in the Honduran Caribbean, harmonised with the regional OSPESCA/SICA closure. Fishing season opens 1 July. Set annually by SAG/DIGEPESCA Acuerdo Ministerial.
- ZouQueen / giant Caribbean conch (caracol gigante del Caribe, Strombus / Lobatus gigas)Mär 1 – Jul 31
Closed season for giant Caribbean conch under the Plan de Manejo de Pesqueria (Acuerdo Ministerial 117-2024, SAG). The open season runs 1 August to the last day of February; the species is therefore closed roughly March-July.
- ZouHigh-value marine-coastal species (shrimp, lobster, giant conch, queen conch, sea cucumber and certain fish)Mär 1 – Jun 30
General veda for high-commercial-value marine-coastal species established each year by SAG/DIGEPESCA (e.g. Acuerdo Ministerial 67-2024), running 1 March to 30 June.
Erlaabnis zum Fëschen
Lizenz
Wat Dir braucht fir am Waasser erlaabt ze sinn, wat et kascht a wéi Dir et kritt.
Sport/tourist fishing: licence/permit from DIGEPESCA (and Marina Mercante inspection for foreign vessels). Lionfish license: attend a workshop at the Roatan Marine Park Eco Store (West End) covering spear usage, hunting regulations and an in-water skills assessment.
Är Lizenz kréienÖffnet dat offiziellt Portal · roatandivers.com
- Typ
- For sport fishing generally: a pesca deportiva license/permit under Decreto 106-2015 (vessel-based tourist/sport fishing). For spearing in the Bay Islands: a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License issued by the Roatan Marine Park (lionfish only).
- Käschten
- Lionfish spearing course/license: approx. USD 30 (with own Hawaiian sling) to USD 50-70 (course + registered spear + license).
- Gëltegkeet
- Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License: valid 2 years.
- Wéi ze kréien
- Sport/tourist fishing: licence/permit from DIGEPESCA (and Marina Mercante inspection for foreign vessels). Lionfish license: attend a workshop at the Roatan Marine Park Eco Store (West End) covering spear usage, hunting regulations and an in-water skills assessment.
- Autoritéit
- DIGEPESCA (SAG) for fishing licenses; Roatan Marine Park for the Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License.
Ausrüstung & Technik
Ausrüstungsreegelen
Wéi Ausrüstung erlaabt ass, wéi se benotzt duerf ginn a wéi Bedéngungen drun hänken.
Aschränkungen
- In the Bay Islands marine protected areas only a Hawaiian sling or pole spear of up to approximately 3 feet may be used, and only to hunt lionfish.
- Spearguns are not permitted for licensed lionfish hunting in the Roatan/Bay Islands marine parks.
- National fisheries law (Decreto 106-2015, Art. 45) expressly prohibits explosives and poisons; it does not separately authorise or prohibit spearguns, but protected-area rules govern in practice.
- All hunting must respect protected species and 'captura y liberacion' (catch-and-release) for billfish ('picudos').
There is no clear, published national rule that authorises recreational spearguns. Because the country's main coastal/reef areas are protected, in practice spearing is limited to licensed lionfish removal with hand-thrown/pole spears (Hawaiian sling or pole spear up to ~3 ft). scuba_allowed for lionfish hunting is left unknown - lionfish licenses cover both divers and free-divers, but specific scuba authorisation should be confirmed locally.
Wat Dir mat kënnt huelen
Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten
Deeglech Quoten, Mindestgréissten a Arten, déi ni geholl duerfen ginn.
Deeglech Limit
unknown
Geschützt Arten — net huelen
- GeschütztBillfish / 'picudos' (marlin, sailfish) - catch-and-release only (Decreto 106-2015, Art. 41)
- GeschütztCaribbean spiny lobster - closed season and management plan
- GeschütztQueen/giant Caribbean conch - closed season and management plan
- GeschütztSea cucumber - subject to veda/management plan
- GeschütztSea turtles, marine mammals and other species protected under Honduran wildlife law
No specific recreational spearfishing bag or size limits were located in retrievable sources. Lobster, conch, sea cucumber and certain fish are subject to closed seasons (vedas) and management plans. Billfish must be released.
Wien fësche duerf
Besucher & Awunner
Wéi d'Reegelen fir auslännesch Besucher a lokal Awunner ënnerscheeden.
Auslännesch Besucher
ErlaabtSpeziell Lizenz erfuerdert
Ufuerderungen
- Foreign vessels may obtain a sport fishing license (licencia de pesca deportiva) for Honduran jurisdictional waters after inspection by the Direccion General de la Marina Mercante and other competent authorities (Decreto 106-2015, Art. 42).
- No lucrative/commercial activity may result from the authorised sport fishing.
- To spear lionfish in the Bay Islands, visiting divers/free-divers must obtain a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License from the Roatan Marine Park (workshop + skills assessment).
Aschränkungen
- Foreigners are subject to the same protected-area prohibitions: no spearfishing inside marine parks/reserves except licensed lionfish hunting.
- Activity must occur within a defined time period and under a valid management plan.
Visiting divers commonly obtain the Roatan Marine Park lionfish license; it is open to both local and visiting divers and free-divers.
Awunner
Pesca deportiva / subsistencia license under Decreto 106-2015; Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License (Roatan Marine Park) for lionfish hunting.
Ufuerderungen
- Subsistence and sport fishing in rivers, lagoons and streams is supervised and controlled by the municipalities and their Unidad Municipal Ambiental (UMA) (Decreto 106-2015, Art. 45).
- Basic artisanal fishing permits are reserved exclusively for Honduran nationals (Decreto 106-2015, Art. 37).
Virdeeler
- Basic artisanal fishing (within 3 nautical miles of the continental or populated-island coast) is reserved for Hondurans and is exempt from the catch-quota system and from monthly sworn declarations.
- Residents may attend Roatan Marine Park lionfish workshops on the same terms as visitors.
Spearfishing as a recreational activity is governed primarily by protected-area rules; residents face the same in-park restrictions as visitors.
Wou op der Küst
Erlaabt & verbotene Zonen
Benannt Gebidder, déi fir Speerfëscherei op oder zou sinn. Kuckt d'ganzt Bild op der interaktiver Kaart.
Erlaabt Gebidder
Within the Bay Islands marine protected areas, spearing is prohibited for all species except the invasive lionfish (pez leon). Holders of a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License issued by the Roatan Marine Park may legally hunt lionfish only, using a Hawaiian sling or pole spear of up to ~3 feet. Spearguns are not permitted; the permit derives from petitions to the Fisheries Department (DIGEPESCA).
Lionfish only; Hawaiian sling or pole spear up to ~3 ft; no spearguns; license/workshop required from Roatan Marine Park; license valid 2 years.
Verbotene Gebidder
- Bay Islands National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Islas de la Bahia)national marine park / protected area
Large marine protected area (approx. 6,471.5 km2) covering Roatan, Utila, Guanaja and surrounding waters, with management categories ranging from no-take zones to multiple-use areas. Spearfishing is illegal within the protected area, except licensed lionfish hunting.
- Roatan Marine Park / Sandy Bay-West End Marine Reservemarine reserve
Marine reserve on the north-west coast of Roatan, established January 2005. As a marine reserve, spearfishing is illegal; the only exception is lionfish hunted under a Roatan Marine Park lionfish spearing license.
- Cayos Cochinos Marine Natural Monument (Monumento Natural Marino Archipielago Cayos Cochinos)marine reserve / natural monument
Marine protected area on the Caribbean coast of Honduras (two main islands plus 13 cays), declared a marine reserve in 1994, managed by the Honduras Coral Reef Fund (HCRF). All commercial fishing, netting and trapping is prohibited inside the marine park; even local Garifuna residents may fish only with hand lines and are explicitly prohibited from netting and spearfishing. Spearfishing is therefore banned for all parties throughout the protected area. The 2009 expansion increased the protected area (buffer zone) to ~1,220 km2.
Konditioune op dem Waasser
Live-Konditioune
Live Mieres- a Wiederschnappschoss no engem Küstenreferenzpunkt a Honduras, vun Open-Meteo. Konditioune variéiere laanscht d'Küst — als indikatif betruechten.
Live Mieres- & Wiederbedéngungen no Bay Islands National Marine Park - lionfish hunting (Roatan, Utila, Guanaja).
Wien ze froen
Autoritéiten
Déi offiziell Gremien, déi fir Fëscherei a Lizenzéierung zoustänneg sinn.
Direccion General de Pesca y Acuicultura (DIGEPESCA)
fisheries authority (under Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia, SAG)
digepesca.sag.gob.hnSecretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia (SAG), Tegucigalpa, HondurasSecretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia (SAG)
agriculture and livestock ministry (issues vedas / Acuerdos Ministeriales)
sag.gob.hnTegucigalpa, HondurasDireccion General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM)
maritime authority (vessel inspections for sport fishing licenses)
marinamercante.gob.hnHondurasRoatan Marine Park (RMP)
marine protected area NGO / co-manager (Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License)
roatanmarinepark.orgEco Store, West End, Roatan, Bay Islands, HondurasInstituto de Conservacion Forestal (ICF) / SINAPH
environment / protected-areas authority (National System of Protected Areas)
icf.gob.hnHonduras
Wou dëst hierkommt
Quellen
All Behaaptung op dëser Säit geet op eng vun dëse Referenze zréck.
- [01]
Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 106-2015 (full text, La Gaceta No. 34,409, 5 Aug 2017) - FAOLEX
Offiziellfaolex.fao.orgOpgeruff Jun 14 - [02]
Decreto No. 106-2015 - Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura (FAOLEX record)
Offiziellfao.orgOpgeruff Jun 14 - [03]
Decreto No. 106-2015 - Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura (UNEP Law & Environment Assistance Platform)
Offiziellleap.unep.orgOpgeruff Jun 14 - [04]
Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura - DIGEPESCA (SAG) official PDF
Offizielldigepesca.sag.gob.hnOpgeruff Jun 14 - [05]
1 de marzo inicia veda de especies marino costeras de alto valor comercial - SAG/DIGEPESCA press release
Offiziellprensa.sag.gob.hnOpgeruff Jun 14 - [06]
El 1 de agosto se abrio la veda de pesca de caracol (La Prensa) - conch season Acuerdo 117-2024
Sekundärlaprensa.hnOpgeruff Jun 14 - [07]
Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License - Roatan Divers
communityroatandivers.comOpgeruff Jun 14 - [08]
Lion Fish Hunting - CoCo View Resort (Hawaiian sling/pole spear up to 3 ft, lionfish only, RMP license)
communitycocoviewresort.comOpgeruff Jun 14 - [09]
Honduras - Invasive Species (Reef Resilience Network) - Bay Islands National Marine Park, lionfish licensing, DIGEPESCA permits
Sekundärreefresilience.orgOpgeruff Jun 14 - [10]
Roatan Info - Roatan Freediving School (spearfishing prohibited in Roatan Marine Park except licensed lionfish)
communityroatanfreediving.comOpgeruff Jun 14 - [11]
Ley Especial de las Areas Protegidas de las Islas de la Bahia (TSC Honduras legal library)
Offizielltsc.gob.hnOpgeruff Jun 14
Fuerschernotizen
Honduras has no national statute that specifically names recreational spearfishing ('pesca submarina') or authorises spearguns. The Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto 106-2015) recognises sport fishing (pesca deportiva) as a non-commercial category requiring a license/permit, expressly prohibits only explosives and poisons (Art. 45), requires catch-and-release for billfish (Art. 41), and allows foreign-vessel sport fishing licenses after maritime inspection (Art. 42). In practice the legally significant constraints are the marine protected areas: the Bay Islands National Marine Park (~6,471.5 km2 over Roatan, Utila, Guanaja) and the Roatan Marine Park / Sandy Bay-West End Marine Reserve, where spearfishing is prohibited. The one operative exception is invasive-lionfish removal under a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License issued by the Roatan Marine Park, restricted to a Hawaiian sling or pole spear of up to ~3 ft (no spearguns), valid 2 years. Verbatim legal text was taken from the FAOLEX copy of Decreto 106-2015 (PDF extracted with pdftotext). Confidence is 'medium': the national law text is authoritative and verbatim, but the protected-area prohibitions and lionfish license rules are documented mainly via reputable secondary/community sources (Roatan Marine Park partners, Reef Resilience Network) rather than primary legal text, and exact daily/size limits for spearfishing could not be located. The Ley Especial de las Areas Protegidas de las Islas de la Bahia and the Roatan Marine Park's own management plan would be the primary instruments to confirm the in-park spearfishing ban verbatim; their full text was not retrieved in this pass.
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