Antigua and Barbuda
Americas · Caribbean
Spearfishing is heavily restricted. A spear gun may not be used for fishing in Antigua and Barbuda waters without prior written permission (a permit) from the Chief Fisheries Officer, and its use is prohibited entirely in designated conservation/marine reserve areas. In practice the Fisheries Division issues spearfishing permits only to nationals (citizens/local fishers), so visiting tourists and other non-citizens are not permitted to spearfish; pole-spearing of invasive lionfish is generally tolerated. Spearing of lobster is explicitly prohibited (lobster may only be taken by hand, loop, pot or trap, and speared/impaled lobster may not be possessed or sold). Collection of conch and lobster using scuba/hookah is restricted. Marine reserves declared under the Fisheries Act and restricted areas under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act ban fishing without permission. The governing instruments are the Fisheries Act 2006 (No. 22 of 2006), the Fisheries Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 2 of 2013, which replaced the Fisheries Regulations S.I. 10/1990 under Cap. 173) and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Cap. 259).
ອັບເດດຄັ້ງສຸດທ້າຍ ມິຖຸນາ 14, 2026
ກອບກົດໝາຍທີ່ຄຸ້ມຄອງ
- §Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006)
- §Fisheries Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 2 of 2013) — current; replaced the Fisheries Regulations under the former Fisheries Act, Cap. 173 (S.I. 10/1990, S.I. 23/1991)
- §Barbuda (Fisheries) Regulations, 2014 (S.I. No. 33 of 2014)
- §Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Cap. 259)
- §Fisheries (Restriction on Methods of Fresh-Water Fishing) Regulations, 1978 (S.R.O. 4/1978)
- ຕ້ອງການໃບອະນຸຍາດ
- ຈຳເປັນ
- ປືນຫອກ
- ອະນຸຍາດ
- ສະກູບາ
- ຫ້າມ
- ຊາວຕ່າງຊາດ
- ບໍ່ອະນຸຍາດ
ກົດໝາຍ, ຂໍ້ຄວາມຄົງເດີມ
ຂໍ້ຄວາມກົດໝາຍ
ບົດບັນຍັດທາງກົດໝາຍ ແລະ ລະບຽບການທີ່ຄວບຄຸມການດຳນ້ຳຈັບປາດ້ວຍຫອກທີ່ນີ້, ຢ້ອງຕາມທີ່ເຜີຍແຜ່, ພ້ອມລິ້ງໄປຫາແຫຼ່ງທາງການແຕ່ລະໜ່ວຍ.
Restriction on use of spear gun
Fisheries Regulations (Cap. 173), S.I. 10/1990 — predecessor of the Fisheries Regulations, 2013
25. (1) No person shall use a spear gun (Fish gun) for fishing in Antigua and Barbuda waters without first having obtained the written permission from the Chief Fisheries Officer for the use of that type of fishing gear. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the Chief Fisheries Officer may grant upon an application a permit to use a spear gun for fishing in Antigua and Barbuda waters and may attach to such permit such conditions as he considers necessary. (3) The use of spear gun for fishing is prohibited in all areas specified as conservation areas.
Lobster — prohibited capture methods (no spearing)
Fisheries Regulations (Cap. 173), S.I. 10/1990 — predecessor of the Fisheries Regulations, 2013
20. (3) No person shall capture any lobster other than by hand, loop, pot or trap. (4) No person shall have in his possession or sell any lobster that has been speared, hooked or otherwise impaled.
Marine reserves — fishing prohibited without permission
Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006)
53. (1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare an area of Antigua and Barbuda waters, and as appropriate, any adjacent or surrounding land, to be a marine reserve where he considers that special measures are necessary— (a) to afford special protection to the flora and fauna of such areas; (b) to protect and preserve the natural breeding grounds and habitants of aquatic life, with particular regard to flora and fauna in danger of extinction; (c) to allow for the natural regeneration of aquatic life in areas where such life has been depleted or threatened; (d) to promote scientific study and research in respect of such areas; or (e) to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of such areas. (2) A person who, in a marine reserve, without permission granted under subsection (3)— (a) fishes or attempts to fish; (b) takes or destroys any flora or fauna other than fish; (c) dredges, extracts sand and gravel, discharges or deposits wastes or any other polluting matter, or in any other way disturbs, alters or destroys the natural environment; or (d) constructs or erects any buildings or other structures on or over any land or waters within such a reserve, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Local fishing licence required to fish from a vessel
Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006)
30. (1) No local fishing vessel shall be used for fishing or related activities in Antigua and Barbuda waters without a valid local fishing licence in respect of that vessel.
Foreign fishing licence required for foreign vessels
Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006)
27. (1) No foreign fishing vessel shall be used for fishing or related activities in Antigua and Barbuda waters without a valid foreign fishing licence issued under this section.
Marine Areas — restricted areas
Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Cap. 259)
3. (1) The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette designate any portion of the marine areas of Antigua and Barbuda as a restricted area where he considers that special steps are necessary to afford special protection to the flora and fauna of those areas, or to protect and preserve the natural beauty thereof.
Barbuda special area permit — fishing operations including spear fishing (permit validity by eligibility as a licensed local fisher)
Barbuda (Fisheries) Regulations, 2014 (S.I. No. 33 of 2014)
(7) A permit shall be valid for two years when issued to a person eligible for entry into the record as a licensed local fisher pursuant to section 35 of the Fisheries Regulations, 2013. (8) A permit shall be valid for one week, but not longer than the duration of the person's legal stay in Antigua and Barbuda, when issued to a person who is not eligible for entry into the record as a licensed local fisher pursuant to section 35 of the Fisheries Regulations, 2013, and such permit shall be valid only when used on a licensed sports or recreational fishing vessel.
ເວລາທີ່ທ່ານດຳນ້ຳໄດ້
ລະດູການ ແລະ ຂໍ້ຈຳກັດເວລາ
ໄລຍະເວລາປິດ, ເປີດ ແລະ ຈຳກັດຕະຫຼອດປີ. ຢືນຢັນການປິດຕາມຊະນິດໃນທ້ອງຖິ່ນສະເໝີ.
- ປິດCaribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)ພ.ພ 1 – ມິ.ຖ 30
Closed season for lobster: it is illegal to fish for, take, possess, place for sale or purchase lobster. Maximum fine EC$50,000.
- ປິດQueen conch (Strombus gigas)ກ.ລ 1 – ສ.ຫ 31
Closed season for conch. Maximum fine EC$50,000.
- ປິດNassau Grouper, Red Hind, Coneyມ.ກ 1 – ມີ.ນ 31
Closed season for Nassau Grouper, Red Hind and Coney.
- ປິດParrot (Chub) Fishພ.ພ 1 – ກ.ລ 31
Closed season for Parrot (Chub) Fish.
- ປິດMarine turtles (all species)ມ.ກ 1 – ທ.ວ 31
No open season — marine turtles are protected year-round. It is illegal to take, capture or disturb any turtle, disturb or destroy a nest, or possess turtle eggs. (Historic regulation set a turtle close season 1 March–31 August; current Fisheries Division guidance states no open season / full year-round protection.)
ການອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ຫາປາ
ໃບອະນຸຍາດ
ສິ່ງທີ່ທ່ານຕ້ອງການເພື່ອໃຫ້ໄດ້ຮັບອະນຸຍາດໃນນ້ຳ, ຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍ ແລະ ວິທີຮັບ.
Apply to the Fisheries Division / Chief Fisheries Officer (and the Barbuda Council for Barbuda waters) on the prescribed form.
ຮັບໃບອະນຸຍາດເປີດປະຕູທາງການ · agriculture.gov.ag
- ປະເພດ
- Spear gun permit (written permission from the Chief Fisheries Officer) plus a local fishing licence when fishing from a vessel. In practice spearfishing permits are issued only to nationals/registered local fishers.
- ຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍ
- Approximately EC$/US$100 for a 3-month vessel fishing permit (secondary source); spear gun permit fee not separately published.
- ໄລຍະໃຊ້ໄດ້
- Vessel fishing permit reported as ~3 months; Barbuda special-area permits are 2 years for eligible local fishers, otherwise up to 1 week (length of legal stay).
- ວິທີຮັບ
- Apply to the Fisheries Division / Chief Fisheries Officer (and the Barbuda Council for Barbuda waters) on the prescribed form.
- ອຳນາດການ
- Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs
ອຸປະກອນ ແລະ ເຕັກນິກ
ກົດໝາຍອຸປະກອນ
ອຸປະກອນໃດໄດ້ຮັບອະນຸຍາດ, ວິທີໃຊ້ ແລະ ເງື່ອນໄຂທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ.
ຂໍ້ຈຳກັດ
- Spear gun (fish gun) may not be used for fishing without prior written permission/permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer (Fisheries Regulations reg. 25).
- Spear gun use is prohibited entirely in all designated conservation / marine reserve areas.
- Lobster may only be captured by hand, loop, pot or trap; spearing, hooking or otherwise impaling lobster is prohibited, and speared lobster may not be possessed or sold (reg. 20).
- Collection of lobster and conch using scuba or hookah gear is restricted/prohibited (secondary sources; conservation measures).
- Pole-spearing of invasive lionfish is generally permitted/encouraged.
Speargun use is legal only under permit; in practice permits are reserved for nationals. Scuba is not permitted as a method for taking restricted species such as lobster and conch.
ສິ່ງທີ່ທ່ານສາມາດເອົາໄດ້
ຂີດຈຳກັດການຈັບ ແລະ ຊະນິດທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນ
ໂຄຕາລາຍວັນ, ຂະໜາດຂັ້ນຕ່ຳ ແລະ ຊະນິດທີ່ຫ້າມຈັບ.
ຂີດຈຳກັດລາຍວັນ
unknown
ຂະໜາດຂັ້ນຕ່ຳ
- Caribbean spiny lobster (carapace length)ຕ່ຳສຸດ 9.5 ຊມ
- Queen conch (shell length)ຕ່ຳສຸດ 17.78 ຊມ
ຊະນິດໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນ — ຫ້າມຈັບ
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນAll marine turtles (year-round, no open season)
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນLobster carrying eggs
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນMoulting (soft-shelled) lobster
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນUndersized lobster (less than 95 mm / 3 3/4 in carapace, or under 1.5 lb)
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນLobster with a tar spot
- ໄດ້ຮັບການປ້ອງກັນUndersized / immature conch (shell under 7 in, flared lip under 5 mm, meat under 225 g / 8 oz)
Lobster: illegal to take if carrying eggs, moulting, undersized (<95 mm or <3 3/4 in), or with a tar spot. Conch: illegal if shell under 7 in, lip thickness under 5 mm, or meat weight under 225 g (8 oz). Maximum fine EC$50,000 for taking species in closed season.
ໃຜສາມາດຫາປາໄດ້
ຜູ້ມາຢ້ຽມຢາມ ແລະ ຜູ້ຢູ່ອາໄສ
ກົດໝາຍຕ່າງກັນແນວໃດສຳລັບຊາວຕ່າງຊາດ ແລະ ຜູ້ຢູ່ອາໄສໃນທ້ອງຖິ່ນ.
ຊາວຕ່າງຊາດ
ບໍ່ອະນຸຍາດຕ້ອງການໃບອະນຸຍາດພິເສດ
ຂໍ້ຈຳກັດ
- Spearfishing/spear gun permits are issued in practice only to nationals (citizens/registered local fishers); tourists and other non-citizens are not permitted to spearfish.
- Foreign fishing vessels require a foreign fishing licence under section 27 of the Fisheries Act 2006.
Multiple secondary sources (dive operators, cruising guides) consistently report that spearfishing in Antigua and Barbuda is reserved for citizens only and that tourists may not spearfish. This citizen-only practice is administrative/permit-based; the verbatim spear-gun regulation (reg. 25) makes the permit discretionary to the Chief Fisheries Officer rather than expressly excluding non-citizens in the text retrieved.
ຜູ້ຢູ່ອາໄສ
Local fishing licence (vessel) and spear gun permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer; registration as a licensed local fisher under section 35 of the Fisheries Regulations 2013.
ຄວາມຕ້ອງການ
- Register/apply with the Fisheries Division as a local fisher.
- Obtain written permission/permit for spear gun use.
- Hold a local fishing licence for the vessel used.
ຜົນປະໂຫຍດ
- Eligible nationals/local fishers can obtain spearfishing permits not available to non-citizens.
- Barbuda special-area permits valid for two years for eligible licensed local fishers.
Spearfishing is in practice limited to citizens/registered local fishers.
ບ່ອນໃດຕາມຊາຍຝັ່ງ
ເຂດທີ່ອະນຸຍາດ ແລະ ຫ້າມ
ພື້ນທີ່ທີ່ມີຊື່ທີ່ເປີດ ຫຼື ປິດສຳລັບການດຳນ້ຳຈັບປາດ້ວຍຫອກ. ເບິ່ງຮູບລວມໃນແຜນທີ່ໂຕ້ຕອບ.
ພື້ນທີ່ທີ່ຫ້າມ
- Cades Bay Marine Reserve (Cades Reef)marine reserve
Marine reserve off the south-west coast of Antigua protecting the Cades Reef barrier reef, seagrass beds and mangroves. Fishing/spearfishing prohibited without permission; spear gun use prohibited in conservation areas.
- Nelson's Dockyard National Parknational park
National park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) at English Harbour, southern Antigua, including marine areas where fishing is restricted.
- North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA)marine management area
Marine management area on the north-east coast of Antigua with fishing restrictions and conservation zones.
- Diamond and Salt Fish Tail Reefsmarine reserve
Protected reef areas with fishing restrictions.
- Palaster Reef Marine Reserve (Barbuda)marine reserve
Marine reserve off Barbuda; fishing restrictions apply.
- Codrington Lagoon National Park (Barbuda)national park
Protected lagoon and surrounding waters on Barbuda; fishing restrictions apply.
ສະພາບໃນນ້ຳ
ສະພາບສົດ
ສະພາບທາງທະເລ ແລະ ອາກາດສົດໃກ້ຈຸດອ້າງອິງຊາຍຝັ່ງໃນ Antigua and Barbuda, ຈາກ Open-Meteo. ສະພາບຕ່າງກັນຕາມຊາຍຝັ່ງ — ໃຊ້ເປັນຂໍ້ມູນອ້າງອິງ.
ສະພາບທາງທະເລ ແລະ ອາກາດສົດໃກ້ Cades Bay Marine Reserve (Cades Reef).
ໃຜທີ່ຕ້ອງຖາມ
ອຳນາດການ
ໜ່ວຍງານທາງການທີ່ຮັບຜິດຊອບການປະມົງ ແລະ ການອອກໃບອະນຸຍາດ.
Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs
fisheries authority
agriculture.gov.agTel +1-268-462-1372 / 462-6106 / 462-3206 / 462-2841; Email fisheriesantigua@gmail.comBarbuda Council
regional fisheries authority (Barbuda waters)
Council Hall, Codrington, Barbuda, Antigua and BarbudaNational Parks Authority (Antigua and Barbuda)
protected area authority
ທີ່ມາຂໍ້ມູນ
ແຫຼ່ງທີ່ມາ
ທຸກຄຳຢັ້ງຢືນໃນໜ້ານີ້ສາວໄປຫາໜຶ່ງໃນເອກະສານອ້າງອິງເຫຼົ່ານີ້.
- [01]
The Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006) — full text
ທາງການlaws.gov.agເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [02]
Fisheries Regulations (Cap. 173, S.I. 10/1990) — full text incl. reg. 25 spear gun, reg. 20 lobster (FAOLEX)
ທາງການfaolex.fao.orgເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [03]
Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Cap. 259) — full text (FAOLEX)
ທາງການfaolex.fao.orgເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [04]
The Barbuda (Fisheries) Regulations, 2014 (S.I. No. 33 of 2014) — full text (FAOLEX)
ທາງການfaolex.fao.orgເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [05]
Antigua and Barbuda Closed Seasons for Fishery Resources — Fisheries Division (Ministry of Agriculture)
ທາງການagriculture.gov.agເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [06]
Fisheries (Restriction on Methods of Fresh-Water Fishing) Regulations 1978 (S.R.O. 4/1978) — FAOLEX
ທາງການfaolex.fao.orgເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [07]
Fishing Regulations — AVA Watersports (dive operator summary of MPAs, licence, spearfishing-citizens-only)
ສຳຮອງavawatersports.comເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [08]
Caribbean Fishing – Laws and Regulations (Antigua & Barbuda section)
ສຳຮອງhashtagboatlife.comເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14 - [09]
NATLEX (ILO) — The Fisheries Act, 2006 (No. 22 of 2006) record
ທາງການnatlex.ilo.orgເຂົ້າເຖິງ ມິ.ຖ 14
ໝາຍເຫດຂອງນັກວິໄຈ
Spearfishing is restricted, not outright banned. The verbatim spear-gun rule (Fisheries Regulations reg. 25, S.I. 10/1990, quoted here from the FAOLEX copy) requires written permission from the Chief Fisheries Officer and bans spear guns entirely in conservation/marine reserve areas. The current instrument is the Fisheries Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 2 of 2013), which replaced the 1990 regulations and carries forward equivalent spear-gun and species provisions; a clean text-extractable copy of the 2013 regulations themselves could not be retrieved (the official laws.gov.ag site has a TLS certificate issue and the FAOLEX copies of the 2013 regs are image-scanned PDFs), so the verbatim spear-gun and lobster excerpts are quoted from the directly-preceding S.I. 10/1990 regulations under the former Fisheries Act (Cap. 173), and corroborated by the Barbuda (Fisheries) Regulations 2014 which expressly cross-reference the 2013 regulations. The widely-reported 'citizens only' spearfishing rule is an administrative/permit practice (permits issued to nationals/registered local fishers) confirmed by multiple secondary sources rather than by an expressly retrieved statutory clause; hence data_confidence is medium. Closed seasons, lobster/conch size limits and turtle year-round protection are from the official Fisheries Division document. Coordinates are only provided where a clear source exists (Nelson's Dockyard); other MPA coordinates left blank to avoid fabrication.
ແຈ້ງເຕືອນຂ້ອຍເມື່ອກົດລະບຽບຂອງ Antigua and Barbuda ປ່ຽນ
ພວກເຮົາຈະສົ່ງອີເມວຫາທ່ານເມື່ອລະດູການ ຫຼື ລະບຽບການຂອງ Antigua and Barbuda ຖືກອັບເດດໃນຊຸດຂໍ້ມູນຂອງພວກເຮົາ.