Suriname
Americas · South America
No spearfishing-specific (underwater fishing / harpoon) legislation could be located for Suriname. The country's Atlantic coast is extremely turbid (Amazon-influenced mud plume) with near-zero underwater visibility, there is no developed dive or spearfishing industry, and no registered marine dive sites. Fisheries are governed by a commercial-oriented framework (Sea Fisheries Act 1980, amended 2017; Fish Stock Protection Act/Decree 1961; Coastal Fisheries Decree 1981) under which fishing is only permitted with a valid licence issued by the LVV Fisheries Department (Visserijdienst); these instruments target commercial vessels and do not explicitly address recreational spearfishing. Freshwater sport fishing is traditionally informal (free or for a small fee). Fishing of any kind in nature reserves is prohibited without written permission under the Nature Protection Act 1954 (Art. 5), and sea turtles and marine mammals are protected under the Game Act. Because no source explicitly permits or prohibits recreational spearfishing, legality is marked unknown; divers should treat coastal protected areas as no-fishing zones and confirm requirements with the LVV Fisheries Department before any underwater fishing.
L-aħħar aġġornat Ġunju 16, 2026
Qafas governattiv
- §Sea Fisheries Act 1980 (Decree of 31 December 1980 laying down regulations in the field of sea fishing; amended by Act of 7 April 2017 on the Maritime Zones of the Republic of Suriname)
- §Fish Stock Protection Act 1961 and Fish Stock Protection Decree 1961 (G.B. No. 44)
- §Coastal Fisheries Decree 1981
- §Nature Protection Act 1954 (Natuurbeschermingswet)
- §Game Act (Jachtwet) / Nature Conservation legislation
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.
Prohibited activities in nature reserves (incl. fishing) without written permission
Nature Protection Act 1954 (Natuurbeschermingswet)
It is forbidden to undertake any kind of activity in a nature reserve which will affect the integrity of the reserves in a detrimental way. It is also prohibited to camp, make fire, cut wood or make charcoal, and to hunt or fish, unless written permission for this has been obtained from the Head of the Suriname Forest Service, and then only on the conditions stipulated in the permit.
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.
The only documented licence regime is for commercial fishing: each fishing vessel must operate under a valid annual licence (specifying gear, vessel size, engine power, fishing zone and target species) issued by the LVV Fisheries Department (Visserijdienst) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministerie van LVV). No evidence was found that recreational underwater fishing/spearfishing requires this licence. Recreational freshwater fishing is traditionally informal (free or for a small fee); no formal recreational/spearfishing licence procedure was located, so the requirement for recreational spearfishing is unknown.
Ikseb il-liċenzja tiegħekJiftaħ il-portal uffiċjali · discover-suriname.com
- Tip
- Commercial fishing-vessel licence only; no recreational/sport-fishing or spearfishing licence requirement was located
- Spiża
- unknown
- Validità
- Annual (commercial fishing-vessel licences must be renewed each year)
- Kif tikseb
- The only documented licence regime is for commercial fishing: each fishing vessel must operate under a valid annual licence (specifying gear, vessel size, engine power, fishing zone and target species) issued by the LVV Fisheries Department (Visserijdienst) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministerie van LVV). No evidence was found that recreational underwater fishing/spearfishing requires this licence. Recreational freshwater fishing is traditionally informal (free or for a small fee); no formal recreational/spearfishing licence procedure was located, so the requirement for recreational spearfishing is unknown.
- Awtorità
- Visserijdienst (Fisheries Department), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV)
Apparat u teknika
Regoli tal-apparat
L-apparat li huwa permess, kif jista' jintuża, u l-kundizzjonijiet mehmuża.
No regulations specific to spearguns, harpoons or the use of SCUBA while fishing were located. Sea Fisheries Act licence conditions specify gear specifications, but published sources address commercial gear (e.g. trawl/shrimp fisheries), not recreational underwater fishing equipment.
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
- ProtettAll sea turtle species (protected under the Game Act; Galibi, Wia Wia and Coppename Monding reserves protect nesting grounds)
- ProtettMarine mammals (protected under the Game Act)
- ProtettAll mammal and bird species designated as wild species in Suriname (Game Act)
Sea Fisheries Act licence conditions can set minimum landing sizes and allowable bycatch for commercial fisheries, but no recreational/spearfishing-specific catch or size limits were located. Per a non-verbatim paraphrase of the Game Act (Jachtwet 1954, Art. 2) reported by The Outlaw Ocean Project, capture, killing or possession of protected animals (all mammals, birds and sea turtles, plus species designated by State Decree) is prohibited; the exact verbatim statutory wording could not be verified from a primary source, so this is a summary, not a quote.
Min jista' jistada
Viżitaturi u residenti
Kif ir-regoli jvarjaw għall-viżitaturi barranin u r-residenti lokali.
Viżitaturi barranin
No rules specific to foreign recreational anglers or spearfishers were located. General fishing requires a valid licence, and fishing within nature reserves requires written permission from the Head of the Suriname Forest Service.
Residenti
unknown
Residents traditionally engage in freshwater sport fishing as a hobby, for free or for a small fee. No formal resident recreational/spearfishing licence regime was located.
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
- Bigi Pan Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA)multiple use management area / coastal wetland (permit-regulated, not an outright no-fishing zone)
Coastal wetland/mangrove protected area (IUCN category VI) in NW Suriname between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nickerie River, established 1987. As a multiple-use area it permits regulated fishing and recreation under permit rather than imposing an outright ban; listed here as restricted because any fishing is subject to permit and to the protections of the Nature Protection Act 1954. Coordinates are from a geolocation source (BirdLife), not a legal instrument.
- Coppename Monding Nature Reservemarine/coastal nature reserve (Ramsar site)
Coastal/marine nature reserve at the mouth of the Coppename River (Saramacca District), established 1961; Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (site #304, listed 22 July 1985). Legal basis for the no-fishing designation: Nature Protection Act 1954, Art. 5 (fishing prohibited without written permission of the Head of the Suriname Forest Service). Coordinates and reserve status are from a geolocation source (Wikipedia), not a legal instrument.
- Wia Wia Nature Reservemarine/coastal nature reserve
Coastal nature reserve on the Atlantic coast near the Marowijne River, established 1966 (approx. 360 km2); a sea turtle nesting area. Legal basis for the no-fishing designation: Nature Protection Act 1954, Art. 5 (fishing prohibited without written permission). Location/status are from a geolocation/shorebird-network source (WHSRN), not a legal instrument.
- Galibi Nature Reservemarine/coastal nature reserve
Coastal nature reserve near the mouth of the Marowijne River, established 1969, protecting sea turtle species. Legal basis for the no-fishing designation: Nature Protection Act 1954, Art. 5 (fishing prohibited without written permission). Coordinates and reserve status are from a geolocation source (Wikipedia), not a legal instrument.
- North Coronie Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA)multiple use management area / coastal mangrove + marine waters (permit-regulated)
Coastal Multiple Use Management Area established 2001 along the Atlantic coast of Coronie District (mangrove forests, lagoons, tidal mudflats, brackish swamps), approx. 27,000 ha of land plus a roughly equal area of marine waters. One of the three Surinamese coastal MUMAs (with Bigi Pan and Noord Saramacca). As a multiple-use area, fishing/recreation is permit-regulated rather than subject to an outright ban; listed as restricted because any fishing is subject to permit and to the Nature Protection Act 1954. Coordinates are a representative coastal center off Totness (Coronie District capital, 5.8775N 56.32917W), not a legal boundary table.
- Noord Saramacca Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA)multiple use management area / coastal mangrove + marine waters (permit-regulated)
Coastal Multiple Use Management Area along the Atlantic coast of Saramacca District (mangrove, mudflats, brackish swamps), approx. 100,400 ha of land plus a roughly equal area of marine water; encloses the Coppename Monding Nature Reserve at its western edge. One of the three Surinamese coastal MUMAs (with Bigi Pan and North Coronie). As a multiple-use area, fishing/recreation is permit-regulated rather than subject to an outright ban; listed as restricted because any fishing is subject to permit and to the Nature Protection Act 1954. Coordinates are a representative coastal center for the Saramacca shore (the Coppename Monding NR at its western boundary sits at 5.917N 55.717W), not a legal boundary table.
Kundizzjonijiet fuq l-ilma
Kundizzjonijiet diretti
Snapshot marinam u tal-temp ħajja ħdejn punt ta' referenza kostali f'Suriname, minn Open-Meteo. Il-kundizzjonijiet jvarjaw tul il-kosta — ittratta bħala indikattiv.
Marina ħajja u temp ħdejn Bigi Pan Multiple Use Management Area (MUMA).
Lil min titlob
Awtoritajiet
Il-korpi uffiċjali responsabbli mis-sajd u l-liċenzjar.
Visserijdienst (Fisheries Department), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministerie van LVV)
fisheries authority
discover-suriname.comunknownSuriname Forest Service (LBB) / Nature Conservation Division (Natuurbeheer)
nature conservation / protected areas authority
swm-programme.infounknownSuriname Coast Guard Authority (Kustwacht)
maritime enforcement authority
mas.srunknown
Minn fejn ġej dan
Sorsi
Kull talba f'din il-paġna tmur lura għal waħda minn dawn ir-referenzi.
- [01]
Suriname | The Global Fishing Legislative Database — The Outlaw Ocean Project
Sekondarjutheoutlawocean.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [02]
Suriname — Fishing Offenses & Infractions (Game Act protected species) — The Outlaw Ocean Project
Sekondarjutheoutlawocean.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [03]
Suriname — Statutory law, Non-consumption use (Nature Protection Act 1954, Art. 5) — Sustainable Wildlife Management Legal Hub (FAO)
Uffiċjaliswm-programme.infoAċċessat Ġun 15 - [04]
Socio-Economic Study of the Fisheries Sector in Suriname (2017) — WWF
Sekondarjuwwflac.awsassets.panda.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [05]
Suriname National Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing (2024)
Uffiċjalifisheryprogress.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [06]
FAOLEX Database — General Profile, Suriname (fisheries legislation listing)
Uffiċjalifao.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [07]
Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministerie van LVV) — Discover Suriname
Sekondarjudiscover-suriname.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [08]
Diving in Suriname — PADI (turbid waters, undeveloped dive industry)
Sekondarjupadi.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [09]
Coppename Monding Nature Reserve — Wikipedia (coordinates, Ramsar status)
communityen.wikipedia.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [10]
Bigi Pan IBA, Suriname — BirdLife International (coordinates)
Sekondarjudatazone.birdlife.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [11]
Galibi, Suriname — Wikipedia (coordinates, turtle reserve)
communityen.wikipedia.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [12]
Wia Wia — Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN)
Sekondarjuwhsrn.orgAċċessat Ġun 15
Noti tar-riċerkatur
Suriname is not a marine spearfishing destination: its Atlantic coast carries the Amazon-derived mud plume with near-zero underwater visibility and there is no developed dive/spearfishing industry or registered marine dive sites (PADI confirms an undeveloped dive sector). No legislation specific to spearfishing, harpoons or underwater fishing was located after focused web research. The fisheries legal framework (Sea Fisheries Act 1980/2017, Fish Stock Protection Act/Decree 1961, Coastal Fisheries Decree 1981) is commercial-oriented; the only documented licence regime is an annual per-vessel commercial fishing licence issued by the LVV Fisheries Department, and no recreational/spearfishing licence requirement was found (so license.required is set to unknown/null rather than true). VERBATIM SOURCING: exact legal text was retrievable only for the Nature Protection Act 1954 (Art. 5, via the FAO/SWM legal hub) and that is the sole entry kept in law_texts. The Game Act (Jachtwet 1954, Art. 2) protected-species prohibition is described in catch_limits/protected_species and legal_status.summary as a NON-verbatim paraphrase only: the available secondary source (The Outlaw Ocean Project) is itself a paraphrase, and the official Dutch statute PDF (WET van 3 april 1954, SWM Programme) could not be fetched (repeated timeouts), so no verifiable verbatim Game Act quote could be obtained and the earlier paraphrase was removed from law_texts to avoid mislabelling. The full primary texts of the Sea Fisheries Act and Fish Stock Protection Act sit in FAOLEX but could not be fetched (PDF/403 access), so they are not quoted. data_confidence is LOW because no source explicitly addresses recreational spearfishing legality and no primary fisheries-act text could be quoted. PRACTICAL GUIDANCE: any fishing in the coastal nature reserves (Galibi, Wia Wia, Coppename Monding) requires written permission and is otherwise prohibited under the Nature Protection Act 1954, Art. 5; fishing in the Bigi Pan MUMA is permit-regulated; sea turtles and marine mammals are protected under the Game Act. Confirm current rules with the LVV Visserijdienst before any underwater fishing.
Avżani meta r-regoli ta' Suriname jinbidlu
Nibgħtulek email meta l-istaġuni jew ir-regolamenti ta' Suriname jiġu aġġornati fis-sett tad-data tagħna.