SpearfishingMap

Trinidad and Tobago

Americas · Caribbean

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Trinidad and Tobago and is widely practised, especially in Tobago where parrotfish, rockfish and other reef species are taken by free divers and scuba divers. The official Institute of Marine Affairs states plainly that spearfishing in Tobago is unregulated: there is no permitting system, no gear restrictions, no size or catch limits and no open or closed seasons for the activity itself. The key legal constraint is geographic: fishing of any kind (including spearfishing) is strictly prohibited inside declared marine protected/restricted areas, most notably the Buccoo Reef Marine Park / Bon Accord Lagoon complex in Tobago, designated under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Ch. 37:02). The general Fisheries Act (Ch. 67:51) bans poison and explosives, empowers the Minister to declare prohibited areas and to restrict harpooning/taking of fish, and absolutely prohibits taking, killing or harpooning any marine turtle. Visitors generally need a fishing permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, though enforcement of permits for shore/free-dive spearfishing is light and reporting is inconsistent.

Restricted
Keyakinan dataKeyakinan sederhana

Dikemas kini terakhir Jun 15, 2026

Rangka kerja tadbir urus

  • §Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51 (Act 39 of 1916, as amended)
  • §Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, Chapter 37:02 (Act 1 of 1970, as amended)
  • §Protection of Turtle and Turtle Eggs Regulations (GN 119/1975, as amended by 201/2011)
  • §Fisheries (Conservation of Marine Turtles) Regulations (LN 65/1994, as amended)
Lesen diperlukan
Diperlukan
Senapang tombak
Dibenarkan
Scuba
Dibenarkan
Pelawat asing
Dialu-alukan

Undang-undang, secara verbatim

Teks undang-undang

Peruntukan undang-undang dan peraturan yang tepat mengawal memancing tombak di sini, dipetik seperti yang diterbitkan, dengan pautan ke setiap sumber rasmi.

01Section 4(c) and 4(d)Trinidad and Tobago · national

Power to declare prohibited areas and to prohibit harpooning/taking of fish

Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51

ENAsal

4. The Minister may make Regulations— ... (c) declaring any area to be a prohibited area; (d) prohibiting the killing, harpooning, taking, removing, catching or any other means of taking possession of fish or any variety thereof either absolutely or at such times and within such areas as may be prescribed;

02Section 7Trinidad and Tobago · national

Prohibition on use of poison or explosives to take fish

Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51

ENAsal

7. Any person who uses poison of any description or any explosive with intent to stupefy, poison, take or kill fish is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for three months.

03Section 8Trinidad and Tobago · national

Prohibition on taking fish in a prohibited area

Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51

ENAsal

8. (1) Except with the written permission of the Minister, no person shall take any fish in a prohibited area. (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.

04Section 2Trinidad and Tobago · national

Definition of fish (includes turtle, corals and other marine fauna)

Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51

ENAsal

“fish” includes oysters, crabs, shrimps, turtle, turtle eggs, corals and any species of other marine fauna;

05Regulation 3Trinidad and Tobago · national

Absolute prohibition on killing, harpooning or taking any marine turtle

Protection of Turtle and Turtle Eggs Regulations (made under section 4 of the Fisheries Act, Ch. 67:51)

ENAsal

3. No person shall, at any time, kill, harpoon, catch or otherwise take possession of any turtle, or purchase, sell, offer or expose for sale or cause to be sold or offered or exposed for sale any turtle, turtle meat or any other part of the turtle.

06Regulation 8(2)Trinidad and Tobago · national

Recreational vessel operation permitted within two nautical miles of the coast

Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51 (subsidiary regulations, 121/1998)

ENAsal

8. ... (2) A person operating an artisanal vessel or a vessel for recreational purposes shall be permitted to do so within a distance of two nautical miles from the coast line.

07Regulation 3Tobago (Buccoo Reef Marine Park) · national

Prohibited activities within a restricted marine area (Buccoo Reef Marine Park)

Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, Chapter 37:02 (Act 1 of 1970), restricted-area regulations

ENAsal

No person may, without written ministerial permission: go in or alight upon a restricted area; operate a boat or other vessel within a restricted area or cause or allow a boat or other vessel to enter such an area; take or remove any fish or bird from a restricted area; take or remove any mangrove from a restricted area; dig, dredge, or otherwise interfere with the seabed of a restricted area. Fishing, of any kind, is strictly prohibited within the Marine Park.

Bila anda boleh menyelam

Musim & sekatan masa

Tempoh tertutup, terbuka dan terhad sepanjang tahun. Sentiasa sahkan penutupan khusus spesies secara tempatan.

Tiada penutupan bermusim direkodkan — sahkan secara tempatan sebelum menyelam.

Kebenaran untuk memancing

Lesen

Apa yang anda perlukan untuk dibenarkan berada dalam air, kosnya, dan cara mendapatkannya.

Lesen diperlukanmelalui Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Fisheries Division)

Apply to / contact the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. In practice, no permitting system specifically governs shore-based/free-dive spearfishing in Tobago, and reports of permit requirements for visitors are inconsistent.

Dapatkan lesen anda

Membuka portal rasmi · agriculture.gov.tt

Lesen diperlukan
Jenis
Fishing permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (for visitors who wish to fish); recreational use is broadly permitted within 2 nautical miles of the coast.
Kos
unknown
Tempoh sah
unknown
Cara mendapatkan
Apply to / contact the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. In practice, no permitting system specifically governs shore-based/free-dive spearfishing in Tobago, and reports of permit requirements for visitors are inconsistent.
Pihak berkuasa
Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (Fisheries Division)
Portal pelesenan rasmi · agriculture.gov.tt

Peralatan & teknik

Peraturan peralatan

Peralatan apa yang dibenarkan, cara ia boleh digunakan, dan syarat yang dilampirkan.

Senapang tombakDibenarkan
ScubaDibenarkan

Sekatan

  • Use of poison or explosives to take, stupefy or kill fish is prohibited (Fisheries Act s.7).
  • No gear restrictions specific to spearfishing exist in law (per Institute of Marine Affairs).

Parrotfish in Tobago are harvested mainly by spear-fishers using either SCUBA diving or free diving; the Institute of Marine Affairs confirms spearfishing is unregulated outside protected areas, with no gear restrictions. Spearguns are commonly used and provided on local spearfishing tours.

Apa yang boleh diambil

Had tangkapan & spesies dilindungi

Kuota harian, saiz minimum, dan spesies yang tidak boleh diambil sama sekali.

Had harian

None established for recreational spearfishing (no catch limits per Institute of Marine Affairs).

Saiz minimum

  • Lobster (carapace length)min 8.9 cm

Spesies dilindungi — jangan ambil

  • DilindungiAll marine turtles (absolute prohibition on killing, harpooning, catching, possessing or selling under the Protection of Turtle and Turtle Eggs Regulations)
  • DilindungiCorals (included in statutory definition of 'fish'; taking restricted, especially within protected areas)

Lobster minimum legal size is reported as a carapace length of 3.5 inches (≈8.9 cm) and a minimum tail weight of 7 ounces. No spearfishing-specific size or catch limits exist (per Institute of Marine Affairs). Conservation concern exists over declining parrotfish abundance and size, but no statutory parrotfish limit has been confirmed. Size-limit figure for lobster is from a secondary aggregator source and should be verified against the official regulation before relying on it.

Siapa yang boleh memancing

Pelawat & pemastautin

Bagaimana peraturan berbeza untuk pelawat asing dan pemastautin tempatan.

Pelawat asing

Dibenarkan

Lesen khas diperlukan

Keperluan

  • Obtain a fishing permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries before fishing (per secondary travel sources).

Sekatan

  • Same geographic and conservation restrictions as residents: no fishing inside the Buccoo Reef Marine Park or other restricted areas; turtles fully protected; no poison/explosives.

Visitors who wish to fish are generally advised to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, though some sources state no rod licence/permit is required for casual fishing around Tobago. Requirements are inconsistently reported; confirm with the Fisheries Division before travelling.

Pemastautin

No spearfishing-specific licence; general Fisheries Act framework applies. Artisanal/recreational vessels may operate within 2 nautical miles of the coast.

Local skin/free divers traditionally and legally spear reef fish (e.g. parrotfish, rockfish) outside protected areas; the activity is unregulated in Tobago per the Institute of Marine Affairs.

Di mana di pesisir pantai

Zon dibenarkan & dilarang

Kawasan bernama yang terbuka atau tertutup untuk memancing tombak. Lihat gambaran lengkap pada peta interaktif.

Kawasan dibenarkan

  • Tobago coastal waters (outside marine protected areas)

    Spearfishing is widely and legally practised along most of Tobago's coast by free divers and scuba divers, targeting parrotfish, rockfish and other reef species. The Institute of Marine Affairs states the activity is unregulated outside protected areas (no permits, gear, size, catch limits or seasons).

    Must not enter the Buccoo Reef Marine Park or any other declared restricted/prohibited area; turtles are fully protected nationwide; poison and explosives prohibited.

    ima.gov.tt
  • Trinidad coastal waters (outside prohibited areas)

    Spearfishing is generally permitted in Trinidad's coastal waters outside any declared prohibited area, subject to the general Fisheries Act prohibitions.

    No taking of fish in declared prohibited areas without written ministerial permission; turtles fully protected; no poison/explosives.

    veronikasadventure.com

Kawasan dilarang

  • Buccoo Reef Marine Park / Bon Accord Lagoon Complexmarine park / no-take marine protected area

    Tobago's principal and oldest marine protected area, designated a no-take marine park in 1973 under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Ch. 37:02). Fishing of any kind, including spearfishing, is strictly prohibited; access requires a valid Access/Transit Permit from the Division.

    tha.gov.tt
Lihat pada peta

Keadaan di atas air

Keadaan langsung

Rakaman marin dan cuaca langsung berhampiran titik rujukan pesisir di Trinidad and Tobago, dari Open-Meteo. Keadaan berbeza-beza di sepanjang pantai — anggap sebagai petunjuk sahaja.

Marin & cuaca langsung berhampiran Buccoo Reef Marine Park / Bon Accord Lagoon Complex.

Keadaan

Siapa yang perlu dihubungi

Pihak berkuasa

Badan rasmi yang bertanggungjawab terhadap perikanan dan pelesenan.

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries – Fisheries Division

    fisheries authority

    agriculture.gov.ttunknown

  • Tobago House of Assembly – Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development

    regional environment/fisheries authority (Tobago)

    tha.gov.ttunknown

  • Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA)

    marine research institute

    ima.gov.ttunknown

Dari mana ini datang

Sumber

Setiap dakwaan pada halaman ini dikaitkan kembali kepada salah satu rujukan ini.

  1. [01]

    Fisheries Act, Chapter 67:51 (unofficial consolidated version updated to 31 Dec 2015) – Ministry of Agriculture

    Rasmi
    agriculture.gov.ttDiakses Jun 15
  2. [02]

    Prohibited Use of the Buccoo Reef Marine Protected Area – Tobago House of Assembly

    Rasmi
    tha.gov.ttDiakses Jun 15
  3. [03]

    Parrotfish – Eating and 'pooping' their way to healthy reefs! – Institute of Marine Affairs

    Rasmi
    ima.gov.ttDiakses Jun 15
  4. [04]

    Snorkel, Freedive or Spearfish in Trinidad and Tobago – Veronika's Adventure

    Sekunder
    veronikasadventure.comDiakses Jun 15
  5. [05]

    Caribbean Fishing – Laws and Regulations – Yacht Cruising Lifestyle

    Sekunder
    hashtagboatlife.comDiakses Jun 15
  6. [06]

    Fishing Conservation – Trinidad and Tobago (Buccoo Reef Marine Park 1973; bottom trawling ban 2013)

    Sekunder
    fishingtnt.comDiakses Jun 15

Nota penyelidik

Spearfishing is legal and commonly practised in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in Tobago, and is explicitly described as unregulated outside protected areas by the Institute of Marine Affairs (no permits, gear, size/catch limits or seasons specific to the activity). The binding legal constraints are: (1) a strict no-fishing rule inside declared marine protected/restricted areas, above all the Buccoo Reef Marine Park / Bon Accord Lagoon complex (Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, Ch. 37:02); (2) a nationwide absolute prohibition on taking, killing or harpooning marine turtles; and (3) the Fisheries Act ban on poison and explosives. The Fisheries Act (Ch. 67:51) verbatim text was retrieved from the official Ministry of Agriculture PDF and extracted with pdftotext. The Marine Areas Act restricted-area prohibitions were taken from the official Tobago House of Assembly page (which paraphrases Regulation 3); the verbatim wording of the underlying statutory instrument was not independently retrieved, so that entry is a faithful close paraphrase from an official source rather than a guaranteed exact transcription. Lobster size/tail-weight figures and the visitor-permit requirement come from secondary travel/aggregator sources and should be verified against official regulations. A modernising Fisheries Management Bill (2020) was before Parliament but is not confirmed as enacted; the 1916 Fisheries Act remains the governing statute. Coordinates for Buccoo Reef are approximate centroid values. No closed seasons relevant to spearfishing were found. Confidence: medium – strong official primary sourcing for the Fisheries Act, turtle protection and Buccoo Reef prohibition; weaker (secondary) sourcing for licensing details and lobster size limits.

Kekal terkiniAkses awal

Beritahu saya apabila peraturan Trinidad and Tobago berubah

Kami akan menghantar e-mel kepada anda apabila musim atau peraturan Trinidad and Tobago dikemas kini dalam dataset kami.

Beritahu saya tentang

Tiada spam — hanya amaran perubahan. Berhenti langgan pada bila-bila masa. Kami tidak menjual e-mel anda.