Papua New Guinea
Oceania · Melanesia
Recreational/sport spearfishing is legal in Papua New Guinea and does not require a national fishing licence. Under the Fisheries Management Act 1998 (s.3(2)), the Act's licensing regime does not apply to fish taken for personal consumption, for sport or pleasure, by customary fishing, or by artisanal fishing - so recreational and subsistence spearfishers need no permit from the National Fisheries Authority. There is no national prohibition on spearguns; only fishing with poisons, chemicals or explosives is banned outright (s.32), and that ban applies to everyone including recreational fishers. The practical restriction is customary marine tenure: roughly 97% of PNG's coastline, reefs and inshore waters are under customary (clan/tribal) ownership, so in practice you must obtain permission from the traditional landowners/village before spearfishing in their waters - this is both customary law and, via reef ownership, effectively binding. The National Fisheries Board may by Gazette notice prohibit specified gear, methods, species, sizes or areas (s.30), and protected species (turtles, dugong, sharks/rays in declared MPAs) must not be taken. New marine protected areas (e.g. the Lovongai and Murat MPAs in New Ireland Province, declared 2023) impose species and area protections.
L-aħħar aġġornat Ġunju 15, 2026
Qafas governattiv
- §Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
- §Fisheries Management Regulation 2000
- §Customary marine tenure (customary law over reefs and inshore waters)
- §International Trade (Fauna and Flora) Act 1979 (protected species, e.g. turtles, dugong)
- Liċenzja meħtieġa
- Mhux meħtieġ
- Isperunar
- Permess
- Barranin
- Merħba
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.
Application of the Act - exemption for sport, personal, customary and artisanal fishing
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
(2) Unless otherwise specified by or under this Act, the provisions of this Act do not apply to or in relation to the taking of fish- (a) for personal consumption, and not for sale or trading or for manufacturing purposes; or (b) for sport or pleasure; or (c) by customary fishing; or (d) by artisanal fishing. (3) For the purposes of fisheries management under this Act, where a question arises as to whether the fish were taken for the purposes or in the manner described in Subsection (2), the Minister's decision, taking into account the recommendation of the Managing Director, is final. (4) In any proceedings under this Act, the burden of proof of a matter referred to in Subsection (2) is on the defendant.
Definition of "fishing" (includes searching for or taking fish)
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
"fishing" means- (a) searching for or taking fish; or (b) the attempted searching for or taking of fish; or (c) engaging in any activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the locating or taking of fish; or (d) placing, searching for or recovering any fish aggregating device or associated equipment including radio beacons; or (e) any operation at sea in support of or in preparation for any activity in relation to a fishing vessel described in Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) except any related activity as defined in this subsection; or (f) any use of an aircraft which is related to any activity described in Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d), except for flights in emergencies involving the health or safety of a crew member or the safety of a vessel; or (g) aquaculture.
Definition of "customary fishing"
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
"customary fishing" means fishing by indigenous inhabitants, in waters where they are entitled by custom to fish, where- (a) the fish are taken in a manner that, as regards the boat, the equipment and the method used, is substantially in accordance with their customary traditions; and (b) the fish are taken for household consumption, barter or customary social or ceremonial purposes;
Fishing and related activities subject to prohibition (gear, method, species, size, area)
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
(2) Notwithstanding Section 3(2), this section applies to all persons, all vessels and all fishing and related activities. (3) Subject to this Act, the Board may by notice in the National Gazette, following a recommendation by the Managing Director- ... (b) prohibit at all times, or during a specified period, the taking, from any specified area of fisheries waters of- (i) fish or fish included in a specified class of fish; ... (c) prohibit the taking, from any fisheries waters, of fish included in a specified class of fish that- (i) are less or greater than a specified size; ... (d) prohibit the taking, from any fisheries waters, of fish, or of fish included in a specified class of fish- (i) by a specified method or gear; or (ii) by persons other than a specified class of persons; ... (j) prohibit the taking of protected or endangered species of fish; and (k) prohibit such other activities as may be prescribed from time to time.
Fishing with poisons or explosives prohibited (applies to all, including recreational)
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998)
(1) No person shall- (a) use, permit to be used or attempt to use any- (i) chemical, poison or noxious substance or material whether of manufactured or natural origin; or (ii) dynamite or explosive substance or device, for the purpose of killing, taking, stunning, stupefying or disabling fish or in any way rendering fish more easily caught; or (b) carry, permit to be carried, possess or control any- (i) chemical, poison or noxious substance or material whether of manufactured or natural origin; or (ii) dynamite or explosive substance or device, in circumstances which indicate the intention of its use for any of the purposes referred to in Paragraph (a); or (c) place in the water or assist in placing in the water any- (i) chemical, poison or noxious substance or material whether of manufactured or natural origin ...
Meta tista' tgħum
Staġuni u restrizzjonijiet tal-ħin
Perjodi magħluqa, miftuħa u ristrett matul is-sena. Ivverifika dejjem it-tgħeluq speċifiku għall-ispeċi lokalment.
L-ebda tgħeluq staġjonali rrekordjat — ivverifika lokalment qabel tgħum.
Permess biex tistada
Liċenzja
Dak li għandek bżonn biex tkun permess fl-ilma, dak li jiswa, u kif tiksbu.
- Tip
- No licence required for recreational/sport/subsistence spearfishing; only commercial fishing requires a National Fisheries Authority licence.
- Spiża
- N/A for recreational spearfishing
- Validità
- N/A
- Kif tikseb
- No fishing licence is needed for sport, personal consumption, customary or artisanal fishing (Fisheries Management Act 1998 s.3(2)). In practice, obtain permission from the traditional landowners/village whose reef you intend to fish; charter operators or lodges normally arrange this.
- Awtorità
- National Fisheries Authority (NFA)
Apparat u teknika
Regoli tal-apparat
L-apparat li huwa permess, kif jista' jintuża, u l-kundizzjonijiet mehmuża.
Restrizzjonijiet
- No national prohibition on spearguns or hand spears for recreational/subsistence use.
- Use of poisons, chemicals, noxious substances or explosives to take fish is prohibited for everyone (Fisheries Management Act 1998 s.32).
- The National Fisheries Board may by Gazette notice prohibit specified gear or methods in specified areas (s.30(3)(d)); local communities may impose gear restrictions within LMMAs/tambu areas.
No specific national rule found regulating SCUBA-assisted spearfishing; many community and customary management areas restrict gear. Confirm locally.
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
No national recreational bag limit set in statute; local/customary closures and any Gazette notices under s.30 may impose limits.
Speċi protetti — tieħux
- ProtettMarine turtles
- ProtettDugong
- ProtettWhales (excluded from the definition of 'fish' under the Act) and dolphins
- ProtettSharks and rays (protected within the Murat MPA - five of six wards)
- ProtettSawfish and rhino rays (critically endangered; protected in the new New Ireland MPAs)
Protected/endangered species protections derive from Fisheries Management Act 1998 s.30(3)(j), the International Trade (Fauna and Flora) Act 1979, and area-specific MPA rules. Whales are expressly excluded from the Act's definition of 'fish'. No statutory national minimum sizes for reef fish were located; size limits may be imposed by Gazette notice or local management.
Min jista' jistada
Viżitaturi u residenti
Kif ir-regoli jvarjaw għall-viżitaturi barranin u r-residenti lokali.
Viżitaturi barranin
PermessRekwiżiti
- Obtain permission from traditional landowners before fishing/spearfishing in customary coastal waters or reefs (usually arranged by the lodge or charter operator).
- Comply with the poison/explosives ban and any protected-species and MPA restrictions.
Restrizzjonijiet
- Customary marine tenure means foreigners cannot freely fish any reef without local consent.
- Avoid declared MPAs and community tambu/no-take closures.
No special recreational fishing/spearfishing licence exists for foreign visitors; the same s.3(2) exemption applies. Visitors should note PNG customs rules may restrict importing certain dive/spearfishing equipment - verify with PNG Customs before travel.
Residenti
No licence required for recreational, subsistence, customary or artisanal spearfishing.
Rekwiżiti
- Customary fishing must be by indigenous inhabitants in waters where entitled by custom, using customary methods, for household consumption, barter or ceremonial purposes (s.2 definition).
Vantaġġi
- Customary and artisanal fishers are exempt from the Act's licensing regime (s.3(2)).
Indigenous communities exercise customary ownership and management over their reefs, including establishing tambu closures and LMMAs.
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 permessi
Roughly 97% of PNG's land and inshore waters are under customary clan/tribal ownership. Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is generally permitted in these waters but, in practice and by customary law, requires permission from the traditional landowners/village. Dive lodges and charter operators usually arrange this consent.
Obtain permission from traditional landowners before spearfishing; respect any local tambu (taboo/no-take) closures; do not take protected species.
Żoni projbiti
- Murat Marine Protected Areamarine protected area
MPA in New Ireland Province declared 12-13 November 2023 (part of >1.5 million hectares / >16,000 km2 of new protection with the Lovongai MPA). Provides full protection for marine turtles, dugongs, whales and dolphins, and (in five of the six wards) all other shark and ray species, plus first-ever rules protecting sawfish and rhino rays. Taking these protected species - including by spearfishing - is prohibited.
- Lovongai Marine Protected Areamarine protected area
MPA covering the Lovongai (New Hanover) Local Level Government area in New Ireland Province, declared November 2023 alongside the Murat MPA. Imposes species and area protections; taking of protected species is prohibited.
- Customary tambu (no-take) closures / Locally Managed Marine Areascommunity no-take reserve (LMMA / tambu area)
Coastal communities establish customary 'tambu' no-take closures and Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), e.g. with WCS support in New Ireland Province and via local government declarations in West New Britain. These carry size, permanence and gear restrictions and may prohibit fishing/spearfishing entirely within the closure.
- Fisheries (Torres Strait Protected Zone) areatreaty-regulated protected zone
The Fisheries Management Act 1998 does not apply in respect of the area to which the Fisheries (Torres Strait Protected Zone) Act 1984 applies (s.3(5)); fishing in that border zone is governed separately under the PNG-Australia Torres Strait Treaty regime.
- Maza Wildlife Management Areamarine wildlife management area
Community-run marine Wildlife Management Area covering the sea and coral reefs off the coast east of the Tonda WMA in Western Province (southern PNG, Gulf of Papua / Torres Strait approaches). Established primarily to protect dugong and marine turtles; modern hunting/fishing methods are restricted. Taking protected species (dugong, turtles) - including by spearfishing - is prohibited and dugong meat sale is restricted.
- Talele Islands National Parknational park (marine/island)
Small island/marine national park in Lassul Bay, East New Britain Province (Bismarck Sea), covering about 0.31 km2. As a declared national park, extractive activities including spearfishing are not permitted within its boundaries.
- Kimbe Bay Locally Managed Marine Area networklocally managed marine area network (no-take zones)
Network of community Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in Kimbe Bay, West New Britain Province, on the north coast of New Britain (Bismarck Sea). Villagers monitor designated no-take zones alongside open areas; the no-take zones prohibit fishing/spearfishing, while open areas may permit hand-line and spear fishing. Obtain local guidance before diving; do not spearfish in the no-take zones.
- Western Manus Marine Protected Areano-take marine protected area
Large no-take marine protected area (about 200,000 km2) declared by Papua New Guinea in the Bismarck Sea around the Western Islands of Manus Province (Wuvulu, Hermit, Ninigo, Kaniet groups), the largest MPA in PNG history and part of the Melanesian Ocean Corridor. The sanctuary prohibits all fishing and other extractive activities, so spearfishing is banned. Coordinates are an approximate centre for the Western Islands area.
Kundizzjonijiet fuq l-ilma
Kundizzjonijiet diretti
Snapshot marinam u tal-temp ħajja ħdejn punt ta' referenza kostali f'Papua New Guinea, minn Open-Meteo. Il-kundizzjonijiet jvarjaw tul il-kosta — ittratta bħala indikattiv.
Marina ħajja u temp ħdejn Murat Marine Protected Area.
Lil min titlob
Awtoritajiet
Il-korpi uffiċjali responsabbli mis-sajd u l-liċenzjar.
National Fisheries Authority (NFA)
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.pgDeloitte Tower, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New GuineaConservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA)
environment authority
pngcepa.comPort Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Minn fejn ġej dan
Sorsi
Kull talba f'din il-paġna tmur lura għal waħda minn dawn ir-referenzi.
- [01]
Fisheries Management Act 1998 (No. 48 of 1998) - full text PDF
Uffiċjalifaolex.fao.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [02]
Fisheries Management Act 1998 - FAO ECOLEX record
Uffiċjaliecolex.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [03]
National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea - official site
Uffiċjalifisheries.gov.pgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [04]
NFA - Legislation page
Uffiċjalifisheries.gov.pgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [05]
WCS - Papua New Guinea triples ocean protection, announcing two new Marine Protected Areas (Lovongai & Murat MPAs, New Ireland, 2023)
Sekondarjupng.wcs.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [06]
WCS Newsroom - PNG Triples Ocean Protection (MPA details)
Sekondarjunewsroom.wcs.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [07]
Reef Resilience Network - Papua New Guinea Fisheries Management (LMMAs, tambu closures)
Sekondarjureefresilience.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [08]
Fishing World Guide - Fishing in Papua New Guinea (licence not required; landowner permission)
Sekondarjufishingworldguide.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [09]
Wikipedia - Fisheries in Papua New Guinea
communityen.wikipedia.orgAċċessat Ġun 15
Noti tar-riċerkatur
Spearfishing is lawful in PNG as recreational/sport/subsistence/customary activity and needs no national licence (Fisheries Management Act 1998 s.3(2)). There is no national speargun ban; only poisons/explosives are banned (s.32). The dominant real-world constraint is customary marine tenure: about 97% of coastline and reefs are clan-owned, so landowner permission is required in practice - this is why the top-level status is 'restricted' rather than 'yes'. The National Fisheries Board can impose gear/method/species/size/area prohibitions by National Gazette notice (s.30); we did not retrieve the current Gazette notices, so any active species size limits or area closures should be verified with the NFA. Marine protected areas (Lovongai and Murat MPAs, New Ireland, 2023) and community tambu/LMMA closures protect turtles, dugong, whales, dolphins, sharks, rays and sawfish - these must not be speared. The Fisheries Management Regulation 2000 was reviewed (via the Outlaw Ocean toolkit summary) and concerns mainly commercial vessels, FADs and licensing; it adds no recreational spearfishing rules. PACLII (full statute and regulation) was inaccessible (Cloudflare bot protection), so verbatim statutory text was taken from the official FAO LEX PDF of the Act. Confidence is 'medium': the national legal framework is well established and verbatim-sourced, but PNG has no centralized recreational spearfishing rulebook and the binding details are decentralized to customary owners and local management areas, which are not comprehensively documented online. Coordinates for the MPAs are approximate centroids for the New Hanover/Murat (New Ireland) area, not official boundary points.
Avżani meta r-regoli ta' Papua New Guinea jinbidlu
Nibgħtulek email meta l-istaġuni jew ir-regolamenti ta' Papua New Guinea jiġu aġġornati fis-sett tad-data tagħna.