China
Asia · Eastern Asia
There is no Chinese law that expressly names recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing with a speargun/pole spear). It falls under the general Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China, which is built around a licensing regime for inland and inshore fishing and a list of prohibited gear/methods. The Fisheries Law (Art. 16/23) requires a fishing licence for inland-water or inshore fishing; the law and its implementing regulations empower the fishery authorities to ban specific gear and methods, and prohibit fishing in closed areas and during closed seasons (Art. 20/30). In practice recreational marine fishing in China is lightly developed and region-specific: provinces and localities set their own rules and most permitting is aimed at commercial fisheries, so recreational sea-angling is often unregulated while underwater spearfishing is uncommon and not provided for. All of coastal China is subject to the annual summer fishing moratorium (休渔期), during which essentially all forms of fishing other than hand line/rod angling are banned in the Bohai, Yellow, East China and South China Seas. Spearfishing is also prohibited inside marine nature reserves and national parks (e.g. the Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve). Treat spearfishing as restricted/uncertain: legality depends on local provincial rules, the moratorium calendar and whether the site is a protected area; importing a speargun may be treated as a regulated/weapon item by Chinese customs. No source was found that confirms an explicit national permit or framework for recreational spearfishing.
L-aħħar aġġornat Novembru 3, 2025
Qafas governattiv
- §Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (1986, effective 1 July 1986; amended 2000, 2004, 2009, 2013; comprehensive overhaul deliberated 2019-2025)
- §Regulations for the Implementation of the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China
- §Annual marine summer fishing moratorium notices issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (休渔期, in force since 1995)
- Liċenzja meħtieġa
- Meħtieġ
Il-liġi, verbatim
Testi legali
Id-dispożizzjonijiet statutorji u regolatorji eżatti li jirregolaw is-sajd bl-isperunar hawnhekk, citati kif ippubblikati, b'link għal kull sors uffiċjali.
Fishing licence requirement for inland and inshore fishing
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China
Any unit or individual that intends to engage in inland water or inshore fishing must first apply to departments of fishery administration for fishing licences.
Prohibited fishing methods, gear, closed areas and seasons
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China
Use of explosives and poisons in fishing shall be prohibited. It shall not be permitted to fish in prohibited fishing areas and during closed seasons, to fish with gear and methods banned by the fishery authority or to use fishing nets with meshes smaller than the minimum prescribed sizes.
Protection of fry and spawning aquatic animals
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China
Catching fry of aquatic animals of important economic value shall be prohibited. Catching fry of aquatic animals of important economic value or spawning aquatic animals under protection for artificial breeding or for other special purposes must be approved by the department of fishery administration under the State Council or by departments of fishery administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government.
Prohibited gear and methods, closed areas and seasons (amended consolidated text)
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (amended consolidated version)
The use of explosives, poisons, electricity and any other means in fishing that impairs the fishery resources is prohibited. The manufacture, sale and use of banned fishing gear are prohibited. Fishing in restricted fishing areas and during closed seasons is prohibited. The use of fishing nets with mesh smaller than the specified minimum size is prohibited. The proportion of juvenile fish in a catch may not exceed the specified level. The sale of catch illegally harvested in the restricted fishing areas and during closed seasons is prohibited.
Meta tista' tgħum
Staġuni u restrizzjonijiet tal-ħin
Perjodi magħluqa, miftuħa u ristrett matul is-sena. Ivverifika dejjem it-tgħeluq speċifiku għall-ispeċi lokalment.
- MagħluqSouth China Sea waters north of the 12th parallel north (incl. waters off Hainan and Guangdong, Beibu/Gulf of Tonkin); all fishing operations except rod/line anglingMej 1 – Aww 16
Annual summer fishing moratorium (休渔期) for the South China Sea. In 2025 it ran from 12:00 noon on 1 May to 12:00 on 16 August. Applies to all fishing operations and supporting auxiliary vessels except fishing rods/hand lines.
- MagħluqBohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea; all fishing operations except rod/line anglingMej 1 – Set 16
Annual summer fishing moratorium (休渔期) for the Bohai, Yellow and East China Seas. End dates vary by sea area and gear type (typically 1 August to 16 September). Enforced jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security and the China Coast Guard.
Permess biex tistada
Liċenzja
Dak li għandek bżonn biex tkun permess fl-ilma, dak li jiswa, u kif tiksbu.
Apply to the local fisheries bureau of the agricultural/rural-affairs department of the relevant province or municipality. Requirements and availability vary widely by locality; many areas have no recreational permit system, while some lakes/zones (e.g. Qiandao Lake, Zhejiang) require an annual permit. Eligibility may require Chinese residency or a long-term visa.
Ikseb il-liċenzja tiegħekJiftaħ il-portal uffiċjali · animallaw.info
- Tip
- Fishing licence issued by the local fishery administration department (渔业行政主管部门); aimed primarily at commercial inshore/inland fishing. No dedicated recreational spearfishing permit is documented at national level.
- Spiża
- unknown
- Validità
- unknown
- Kif tikseb
- Apply to the local fisheries bureau of the agricultural/rural-affairs department of the relevant province or municipality. Requirements and availability vary widely by locality; many areas have no recreational permit system, while some lakes/zones (e.g. Qiandao Lake, Zhejiang) require an annual permit. Eligibility may require Chinese residency or a long-term visa.
- Awtorità
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs / provincial and municipal fishery administration departments
Apparat u teknika
Regoli tal-apparat
L-apparat li huwa permess, kif jista' jintuża, u l-kundizzjonijiet mehmuża.
Restrizzjonijiet
- Explosives, poisons and electricity (electrofishing) are prohibited nationwide for fishing (Fisheries Law Art. 20/30).
- Gear and methods banned by the fishery authority may not be used; spearguns are not specifically named but are not an approved recreational method anywhere documented.
- Importing a speargun may be treated by Chinese customs as a regulated/weapon-class item; declare at customs and expect possible confiscation.
Chinese law does not explicitly authorise or prohibit recreational spearguns/pole spears for sport spearfishing. There is no documented national rule on scuba-assisted spearfishing. Status should be treated as uncertain and dependent on local provincial rules and the protected-area/moratorium context.
Dak li tista' tieħu
Limiti tal-qabda u speċi protetti
Kwoti ta' kuljum, daqsijiet minimi, u speċi li ma jistgħux jittieħdu qatt.
Limitu ta' kuljum
unknown
Speċi protetti — tieħux
- ProtettAquatic animals listed as nationally protected (e.g. species under the List of Wildlife under Special State Protection); catching fry of economically important species is prohibited without approval (Fisheries Law Art. 21).
No species-specific recreational spearfishing size or bag limits were found. The Fisheries Law restricts catching fry/juveniles and spawning animals, and protected aquatic wildlife may not be taken. Minimum mesh sizes and juvenile-catch proportions apply to commercial gear, not spearfishing.
Min jista' jistada
Viżitaturi u residenti
Kif ir-regoli jvarjaw għall-viżitaturi barranin u r-residenti lokali.
Viżitaturi barranin
Restrizzjonijiet
- Fishing-permit eligibility in many localities requires Chinese residency or a long-term visa, which can effectively exclude tourists.
- Foreign fishing in Chinese territorial waters is tightly controlled; recreational spearfishing by visitors is not provided for and may not be permitted near sensitive or military coastal zones.
- Bringing a speargun through Chinese customs may be restricted.
No source confirms a clear pathway for foreigners to spearfish recreationally in China. Assume it is generally not available to tourists without local arrangement; verify with the relevant provincial fisheries bureau before attempting.
Residenti
Local fishing licence where a recreational permit system exists; otherwise none required in many areas.
Rekwiżiti
- Apply to the local fisheries bureau where a permit regime exists.
- Identification and, in some cases, proof of address / residency.
Recreational fishing rules are fragmented and region-specific. Many rural and inland waters are effectively unregulated, while some provinces/localities require permits. Marine recreational spearfishing remains uncommon and not specifically regulated.
Fejn fuq il-kosta
Żoni permessi u projbiti
Żoni nominati li huma miftuħa jew magħluqa għas-sajd bl-isperunar. Ara l-kwadru sħiħ fuq il-mappa interattiva.
Żoni projbiti
- Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reservemarine nature reserve
National marine nature reserve protecting coral reef ecosystems off Sanya, Hainan. Extractive activities including fishing and spearing are prohibited within the protected reef areas.
- Prohibited fishing areas and closed seasons (designated by fishery authorities)statutory closed area / season
Areas and periods that the fishery administration departments designate as prohibited fishing areas or closed seasons. Fishing of any kind, including spearfishing, is prohibited there under Articles 20/30 of the Fisheries Law.
- Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reservemarine reserve
Hong Kong's only marine reserve, at the south-east corner of Hong Kong Island (~20 ha). Fishing, swimming, diving and collecting of organisms are all strictly prohibited - the strictest no-take protection in Hong Kong waters.
- Hoi Ha Wan Marine Parkmarine park
Marine park (260 ha) in the north-east New Territories, Hong Kong, established July 1996 to protect corals and reef fish. Unauthorised fishing and collection of marine life are prohibited; commercial fishing was banned and the inner bay is managed as a no-take zone.
- Tung Ping Chau Marine Parkmarine park
Marine park (270 ha) around Tung Ping Chau island in Mirs Bay, north-east Hong Kong, established 2001 to protect its fringing coral communities. Commercial fishing is banned and destructive fishing/collection of marine life is prohibited.
- Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Parkmarine park
Marine park (1,200 ha) in the western waters of Hong Kong off the New Territories coast, established Nov 1996, a habitat for the Chinese white dolphin. Commercial fishing is banned and unauthorised fishing/collection of marine life is prohibited.
- Yan Chau Tong (Double Haven) Marine Parkmarine park
Marine park (680 ha) in the north-east New Territories of Hong Kong (Double Haven / Yan Chau Tong), established July 1996. One of the HK marine parks where unauthorised fishing and collection of marine life are prohibited.
- Xuwen National Coral Reef Nature Reservemarine nature reserve
National coral reef nature reserve (10,867 ha) on the southern Leizhou Peninsula at Dengloujiao, Xuwen county, Zhanjiang, Guangdong - the largest contiguous coral reef on China's continental shelf. As a national marine nature reserve protecting state-protected stony corals, extractive activities including fishing/spearing are prohibited in the protected reef areas.
Kundizzjonijiet fuq l-ilma
Kundizzjonijiet diretti
Snapshot marinam u tal-temp ħajja ħdejn punt ta' referenza kostali f'China, minn Open-Meteo. Il-kundizzjonijiet jvarjaw tul il-kosta — ittratta bħala indikattiv.
Marina ħajja u temp ħdejn Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve.
Lil min titlob
Awtoritajiet
Il-korpi uffiċjali responsabbli mis-sajd u l-liċenzjar.
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China (Bureau of Fisheries)
fisheries authority
China Coast Guard
maritime enforcement authority
Provincial / municipal fishery administration departments (渔业行政主管部门)
fisheries authority
Minn fejn ġej dan
Sorsi
Kull talba f'din il-paġna tmur lura għal waħda minn dawn ir-referenzi.
- [01]
China - Fishing - China Fisheries Law (verbatim articles)
Sekondarjuanimallaw.infoAċċessat Ġun 14 - [02]
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Outlaw Ocean global fishing legislation toolkit)
Sekondarjutheoutlawocean.comAċċessat Ġun 14 - [03]
Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China (Ministry of Ecology and Environment, official English text)
Uffiċjalienglish.mee.gov.cnAċċessat Ġun 14 - [04]
South China Sea enters annual fishing moratorium (gov.cn / Xinhua, 2 May 2025)
Uffiċjalienglish.www.gov.cnAċċessat Ġun 14 - [05]
Three Decades, One Commitment: China's Marine Summer Fishing Moratorium (ECNS, 3 Nov 2025)
Sekondarjuecns.cnAċċessat Ġun 14 - [06]
South China Sea fishing moratorium begins May 1 (GDToday)
Sekondarjunewsgd.comAċċessat Ġun 14 - [07]
China Fishing Permit: Application Process and Approved Zones
communityjarniascyril.comAċċessat Ġun 14 - [08]
Sanya's Underwater Adventures (Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve context)
communityintoexplore.comAċċessat Ġun 14
Noti tar-riċerkatur
China has no law that expressly addresses recreational spearfishing; classification as 'restricted' reflects that it is governed by the general Fisheries Law (licensing + prohibited-gear/closed-area framework), the nationwide summer fishing moratorium, marine protected-area rules, and fragmented provincial recreational-fishing rules. Verbatim law text was retrieved from animallaw.info and the Outlaw Ocean toolkit; note two numbering systems exist (1986 translation: Art. 16/20/21; amended consolidated text: Art. 23/30/31), captured separately above. The Fisheries Law (1986) has been amended several times (2000, 2004, 2009, 2013) and a major overhaul was under deliberation 2019-2025; the precise current article numbers/wording for spearfishing-relevant provisions could not all be verified from a single official Chinese-language source, so data_confidence is set to LOW. No recreational spearfishing permit, bag/size limits, or explicit speargun rule were found. Coordinates for the Sanya reserve are approximate. Anyone planning to spearfish in China should confirm current rules with the relevant provincial fisheries bureau and check the moratorium calendar and protected-area boundaries; importing a speargun may be restricted at customs.
Avżani meta r-regoli ta' China jinbidlu
Nibgħtulek email meta l-istaġuni jew ir-regolamenti ta' China jiġu aġġornati fis-sett tad-data tagħna.