SpearfishingMap

Kuwait

Asia · Western Asia

Recreational spearfishing is effectively prohibited in Kuwait. Decree No. 22 of 1980 (issued under Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources) makes it unlawful to catch fish or other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters using 'harpoon guns' (i.e. spearguns), alongside explosives, poisons, barbed gear, electric means and hooks. The prohibition applies across all Kuwaiti territorial waters. Independently, only licensed Kuwaiti fishing vessels may fish at all (Law No. 46 of 1980, Arts. 3-4); recreational/leisure fishing is banned within three nautical miles of all Kuwaiti coasts and islands (Decree No. 11 of 1983), and Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 prohibits hunting/catching marine organisms outside designated seasons and areas. Combined, there is no lawful avenue for recreational underwater spearfishing.

Prohibited
Betrouwbaarheid van gegevensHoge betrouwbaarheid

Laatst bijgewerkt mei 21, 2025

Geldend kader

  • §Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources
  • §Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters
  • §Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait
  • §Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait
  • §Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 (Art. 100)
Vergunning vereist
Vereist
Harpoengeweer
Verboden
Buitenlanders
Niet toegestaan

De wet, woordelijk

Wetteksten

De exacte wettelijke en regelgevende bepalingen die speervissen hier reguleren, geciteerd zoals gepubliceerd, met een link naar elke officiële bron.

01Article 1State of Kuwait · national

Prohibition of harpoon guns and other destructive fishing means

Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters

ENVertaald

Article 1. - It shall be unlawful to catch fish and other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters by using explosives, poisonous or intoxicating substances, barbed fishing equipment, electric means, harpoon guns, or hooks. Article 2. - Anyone violating the provisions of this Decree shall be subject to the penalties established by law. Article 3. - The competent authorities shall enforce this Decree which shall be effective on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

02Articles 4, 6, 7, 8State of Kuwait · national

Licensing of fishing, gear, and amateur fishing; prohibition powers

Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources

ENVertaald

Article 4 - No Kuwait vessel shall practice fishing without a licence issued by the Fisheries Resources Department. The licence shall specify fishing techniques, gear and vessel's specifications as well as its crew. Article 6 - Anyone engaged in fishing on a Kuwaiti fishing vessel or using a fishing gear should have a licence from the Fisheries Resources Department specifying the type of work licensed. Article 7 - The Fisheries Resources Department shall decide the regulations for amateur fishing and for members of clubs and bodies. This Department may ask those concerned to obtain licences if necessary. Article 8 - In cooperation with departments concerned the competent minister shall issue regulations organizing fishing specially concerning the following: ... (e) Specify the equipment and gear that could be used and others that should be prohibited. (f) Prohibit materials noxious to the growth, reproduction and migration of fish and other living marine resources. ... (i) Prohibit the fishing of certain species of fish and other living marine resources definitely or indefinitely, and in all or part of the territorial waters.

03Articles 12, 13State of Kuwait · national

Penalties for fishing without a licence and for breaching fishing rules

Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources

ENVertaald

Article 12 - Without prejudice to any other stronger penalty, any violation of Articles 2, 4, 5 and 8 of this Law shall be punishable by a fine of not more than 500 Dinars and not less than 50 Dinars. In addition to this fine the offender's vessel, seized properties or the cash bond may be confiscated, according to circumstances, and the licence shall be withdrawn indefinitely or for a definite period until the offence is removed. Likewise, the offender may be ordered to pay double licence fee. A confiscated vessel shall not be released except after having paid the fine and fees. Article 13 - Any violations to the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of this Law shall be punishable by a fine to the amount of 50 Dinars. To this fine may be added the confiscation of seized fishing gear and catch. The offender may also have to pay double licence fee.

04Article 1State of Kuwait · national

Prohibition of fishing within 3 miles of Kuwaiti coasts and islands

Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait

ENVertaald

It is absolutely prohibited for Kuwaiti fishing vessels to practice fishing on all the coasts of Kuwait and its islands and for a distance of 3 miles therefrom. (Violations are subject to penalties under Law No. 46 of 1980.)

05Article 1State of Kuwait · national

Prohibition of fishing in certain areas of Kuwaiti territorial waters

Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait

ENVertaald

Article 1. - No fishing vessel shall fish in the area located between the line starting from Vielka Island to Raas Alard in the east and from Vielka Island to Raas Albrsha in the north including Khor Alspiea; the prohibited area shall include all of John Elkiwail. Article 2. - Any one who violates this Decree shall be subject to the penalties provided for in the Law No. 46 of 1980. Article 3. - This Decree shall be published in the Gazette.

Wanneer je mag duiken

Seizoenen & tijdsbeperkingen

Gesloten, open en beperkte perioden door het jaar heen. Bevestig soortspecifieke sluitingen altijd lokaal.

jan
feb
mrt
apr
mei
jun
jul
aug
sep
okt
nov
dec
GeslotenBeperktOpen
  • GeslotenShrimp (penaeid shrimp), national watersfeb 1 – aug 31

    A closed season for shrimp catch is enforced in Kuwait waters during the shrimp spawning and breeding season, running from February to August each year. This is a fisheries conservation closure rather than a spearfishing-specific season; spearfishing itself remains prohibited year-round under Decree No. 22 of 1980.

    un.org

Toestemming om te vissen

Vergunning

Wat je nodig hebt om het water in te mogen, wat het kost en hoe je het krijgt.

Vergunning vereistvia Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) - Fisheries Resources Department

Through the Fisheries Resources Department / Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR). No mechanism exists for licensing recreational spearfishing, which is prohibited.

Vraag je vergunning aan

Opent het officiële portaal · e.gov.kw

Vergunning vereist
Type
Fishing licence for vessels, gear and crew issued under Law No. 46 of 1980; no recreational spearfishing licence exists. Only licensed Kuwaiti-flagged vessels may fish.
Kosten
Vessel/gear/crew licence fees set by ministerial regulation; e.g. crew professional licence fee was 1 Dinar/year (Decree No. 18 of 1980). No speargun/spearfishing permit is issued.
Geldigheid
unknown
Hoe te verkrijgen
Through the Fisheries Resources Department / Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR). No mechanism exists for licensing recreational spearfishing, which is prohibited.
Autoriteit
Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) - Fisheries Resources Department
Officieel vergunningenportaal · e.gov.kw

Uitrusting & techniek

Uitrustingsregels

Welke uitrusting is toegestaan, hoe die gebruikt mag worden en welke voorwaarden eraan verbonden zijn.

HarpoengeweerVerboden

Beperkingen

  • Harpoon guns (spearguns) are expressly prohibited for catching marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters (Decree No. 22 of 1980, Art. 1).
  • Also prohibited: explosives, poisonous or intoxicating substances, barbed fishing equipment, electric fishing means, and hooks (Decree No. 22 of 1980, Art. 1).
  • Trawling for finfish, bottom-set gill nets, beach seine, long-lines and large-scale pelagic drift-nets are prohibited (PAAFR conservation measures).
  • Use or experimentation with new/unfamiliar fishing techniques or equipment requires a licence from the Directorate of Fisheries Resources (Decree No. 21 of 1980).

The legal prohibition uses the term 'harpoon guns', which covers spearguns/Hawaiian slings used in underwater spearfishing. No exemption exists for recreational use.

Wat je mag meenemen

Vangstlimieten & beschermde soorten

Dagquota, minimummaten en soorten die nooit gevangen mogen worden.

Daglimiet

unknown

Law No. 46 of 1980 (Art. 8) empowers the competent minister to set minimum catch sizes, net mesh sizes, and to prohibit catching specific species; specific recreational catch limits were not retrieved. Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 broadly prohibits hunting, catching, collecting, harming, possessing or transporting wild/marine organisms outside seasons and areas defined by executive regulation.

Wie mag vissen

Bezoekers & inwoners

Hoe de regels verschillen voor buitenlandse bezoekers en lokale inwoners.

Buitenlandse bezoekers

Niet toegestaan

Beperkingen

  • Only licensed Kuwaiti-flagged fishing vessels may fish in Kuwaiti waters; no foreign fishing vessel may fish without a special licence/agreement issued by the competent minister (Law No. 46 of 1980, Art. 2; Decree No. 19 of 1980).
  • Spearfishing (harpoon guns) is prohibited for everyone regardless of nationality (Decree No. 22 of 1980).

There is no recreational spearfishing pathway for foreigners (or anyone). Tourists cannot legally spearfish in Kuwaiti waters.

Inwoners

Commercial fishing licence under Law No. 46 of 1980 (vessel, gear and crew); no recreational spearfishing licence.

Vereisten

  • Fishing vessel must be Kuwaiti-flagged and owned by a Kuwait resident under conditions set by the competent minister (Law No. 46 of 1980, Art. 3).
  • Vessel must hold a licence specifying fishing techniques, gear, vessel specifications and crew (Art. 4); crew and gear users must hold their own licences (Arts. 5-6).

Even Kuwaiti residents/citizens may not use harpoon guns/spearguns; recreational spearfishing is not a permitted activity.

Waar aan de kust

Toegestane & verboden zones

Genoemde gebieden die open of gesloten zijn voor speervissen. Bekijk het volledige beeld op de interactieve kaart.

Verboden gebieden

Op de kaart

Condities op het water

Live condities

Live mariene en weersmomentopname nabij een kustreferentiepunt in Kuwait, van Open-Meteo. Condities variëren langs de kust — beschouw als indicatief.

Live mariene & weerscondities nabij All Kuwaiti coasts and islands (3-nautical-mile coastal belt).

Condities

Wie je moet vragen

Autoriteiten

De officiële instanties die verantwoordelijk zijn voor visserij en vergunningen.

  • Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR)

    fisheries authority

    e.gov.kwFisheries Resources Department, State of Kuwait

  • Environment Public Authority (EPA) - Kuwait

    environment authority

    epa.gov.kwEnforces Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 (incl. Art. 100 on marine organisms)

Waar dit vandaan komt

Bronnen

Elke bewering op deze pagina is terug te voeren op een van deze referenties.

  1. [01]

    Decree No. 22 of 1980 on Prohibition of Specific Materials in Kuwaiti Territorial Waters (FAOLEX)

    Officieel
    faolex.fao.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  2. [02]

    Decree Promulgating Law No. 46 of 1980 on Conservation of Fisheries Resources (FAOLEX)

    Officieel
    faolex.fao.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  3. [03]

    Decree No. 13 of 1983 on Prohibition of fishing in certain areas in the territorial waters of Kuwait (FAOLEX)

    Officieel
    faolex.fao.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  4. [04]

    Decree No. 11 of 1983 prohibiting fishing within 3 miles from the coasts of Kuwait (ECOLEX)

    Officieel
    ecolex.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  5. [05]

    Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources - Action taken Report on UN Fish Stock Agreement (UN DOALOS)

    Officieel
    un.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  6. [06]

    EPA clarifies reasons behind fishing ban in certain areas (Times Kuwait, 20 May 2025)

    Secundair
    timeskuwait.comGeraadpleegd jun 14
  7. [07]

    Kuwait Government Online - Electronic Services for the Fish Resources Sector (PAAFR)

    Officieel
    e.gov.kwGeraadpleegd jun 14

Notities van de onderzoeker

Kuwait does not permit recreational underwater spearfishing. The decisive provision is Decree No. 22 of 1980, Article 1, which makes it unlawful to catch fish or other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters using 'harpoon guns' (spearguns), among other destructive means. This sits within Law No. 46 of 1980 (Conservation of Fisheries Resources), under which only licensed Kuwaiti vessels may fish and there is no recreational/amateur spearfishing licence. Additional layers reinforce the ban: a 3-nautical-mile coastal no-fishing belt (Decree No. 11 of 1983), area closures including Kuwait Bay (Decree No. 13 of 1983), and Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014. The core decree texts were retrieved verbatim from FAOLEX scanned PDFs (image-only, OCR-extracted locally); the 1980/1983 decrees are official English translations published by FAO/ECOLEX. Coordinates for prohibited zones are approximate centroids of the named features (Kuwait Bay, Failaka/Ras Al-Ard area) and are indicative, not legal boundaries. Confidence is high that spearfishing is prohibited; some operational details (exact recreational catch limits, current fee schedules) were not retrievable and are marked unknown.

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