Maldives
Asia · Southern Asia
Spearfishing is prohibited throughout the Maldives. The General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020), made under the Fisheries Act of the Maldives (Act No. 14/2019), expressly lists the 'use of spear gun to harvest, catch or attack fish' among the activities prohibited in fishery (Section 12(a)), and the fine schedule sets a penalty of 3,000 Rufiyaa (rising to 5,000 for repeat offences) for the use of spear guns for catching or killing fish. A 'spear gun' is defined as anything prepared to discharge/shoot sharp-tipped objects using a sling, air or chemicals for killing or attacking fish. The ban applies nationally and to everyone, including foreign tourists; resorts and charters do not offer spearfishing. In addition, many reef species that spearfishers might target are themselves fully protected (e.g. all sharks, rays, parrotfishes, Napoleon wrasse, sea turtles), reinforcing the prohibition.
Laatst bijgewerkt juni 14, 2026
Geldend kader
- §Fisheries Act of the Maldives (Act No. 14/2019)
- §General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020), published 30 August 2020
- Vergunning vereist
- Niet vereist
- Harpoengeweer
- Verboden
- Duikfles
- 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.
Prohibited Activities in Fishery - use of spear gun
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020)
12. The following activities are prohibited in fishery. (a) Use of spear gun to harvest, catch or attack fish; (b) Fishing in protected areas by the Ministry or any government institution, in contravention of any guidelines relevant to the area; (c) Use of aircraft or any type of aerial vehicle/drones as fishing aids; (d) Rodhulun; (e) Scuba diving for the collection of sea cucumber; (f) Conducting any type of fishing that is prohibited pursuant to Section 27 of Act No. 14/2019 (Fisheries Act of Maldives) ...
Definition of 'Spear gun'
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020)
(e) “Spear gun” means, anything that is prepared to discharge/shoot a sharp tipped objects using a sling or air or chemicals, for killing or attacking fish.
Fine for use of spear guns
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020), Schedule of fines
7. Use of spear guns for catching or killing fish — 3,000/- Rufiyaa — An additional 1,000/- Rufiyaa to the previous fine amount for every repeated offense (up to 5,000/- Rufiyaa)
Prohibited fishing methods in the maritime zones of the Maldives
Fisheries Act of the Maldives (Act No. 14/2019)
The following types of fishing are prohibited in the maritime zones of the Maldives. (a) Purse seine fishing; (b) Gillnet fishing; (c) Trawl net fishing; (d) Fishing using a net with the exception of bait fishing and fishing for personal consumption; (e) Fishing using an explosive, poison or such other chemical.
Prohibited species - protected reef and pelagic species
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020), Schedule 2
Schedule 2 - Prohibited types of fish for taking, catching, harvesting and killing in the maritime zones of the Maldives: 1. Cetaceans; 2. Berried lobsters; 3. Lobsters with carapace smaller than 7.6cm in length; 4. Giant Clam; 5. Sharks; 6. Rays; 7. Corals; 8. Parrotfishes; 9. Napoleon Wrasse; 10. Sea Turtles and their eggs; 11. Black Coral; 12. Whalesharks; 13. Triton Conch.
Wanneer je mag duiken
Seizoenen & tijdsbeperkingen
Gesloten, open en beperkte perioden door het jaar heen. Bevestig soortspecifieke sluitingen altijd lokaal.
- GeslotenSpearfishing (all species, all areas)jan 1 – dec 31
Spearfishing is prohibited year-round throughout the Maldives; there is no open season. The use of a spear gun to harvest, catch or attack fish is banned at all times under Section 12(a) of the General Fisheries Regulation (R-75/2020).
Toestemming om te vissen
Vergunning
Wat je nodig hebt om het water in te mogen, wat het kost en hoe je het krijgt.
- Type
- Not applicable - spearfishing is prohibited and no spearfishing licence exists
- Kosten
- unknown
- Geldigheid
- unknown
- Hoe te verkrijgen
- No spearfishing licence is available because the activity is banned. General/charter line fishing is administered through licensed resorts and charter operators.
- Autoriteit
- Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
Uitrusting & techniek
Uitrustingsregels
Welke uitrusting is toegestaan, hoe die gebruikt mag worden en welke voorwaarden eraan verbonden zijn.
Beperkingen
- Spear guns are prohibited for harvesting, catching or attacking fish (Section 12(a), R-75/2020).
- A 'spear gun' is defined as anything prepared to discharge/shoot sharp-tipped objects using a sling, air or chemicals for killing or attacking fish (Section 18(e), R-75/2020) - this captures pole spears, slings and pneumatic/band guns.
- Use of explosives, poison or other chemicals for fishing is prohibited (Fisheries Act Section 27).
- Nets are prohibited over reefs except bait fishing and personal-consumption fishing.
- Scuba diving for any fishing-related activity requires a recognised diving certificate, and scuba diving to collect sea cucumber is prohibited (Sections 12(e), 14).
Because spearfishing is banned outright, equipment-specific allowances (max spears, scuba combined with spearfishing) do not apply. Scuba is not permitted as a means of spearfishing since spearfishing itself is prohibited.
Wat je mag meenemen
Vangstlimieten & beschermde soorten
Dagquota, minimummaten en soorten die nooit gevangen mogen worden.
Daglimiet
Not applicable to spearfishing (prohibited). For permitted line fishing, large gamefish such as Giant Trevally and billfish are generally catch-and-release.
Minimummaten
- Spiny lobster (Panulirus spp.)min 7.6 cm
Beschermde soorten — niet meenemen
- BeschermdAll sharks (Selachimorpha)
- BeschermdWhale sharks (Rhincodontidae)
- BeschermdRays (Batoidea)
- BeschermdCetaceans (whales and dolphins)
- BeschermdSea turtles and their eggs (Chelonioidea)
- BeschermdNapoleon / humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
- BeschermdAll parrotfishes (Scaridae)
- BeschermdGiant clam (Tridacna)
- BeschermdTriton conch (Charonia tritonis)
- BeschermdAll corals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and black coral (Antipatharia)
- BeschermdBerried (egg-bearing) lobsters and undersized lobsters (carapace < 7.6 cm)
Schedule 2 of the General Fisheries Regulation R-75/2020 lists species that may not be taken, caught, harvested or killed in Maldivian maritime zones. The lobster minimum is a carapace length of 7.6 cm measured from the rear of the eye socket to the rear of the carapace. Shark fishing has been banned for over a decade.
Wie mag vissen
Bezoekers & inwoners
Hoe de regels verschillen voor buitenlandse bezoekers en lokale inwoners.
Buitenlandse bezoekers
Niet toegestaanBeperkingen
- Spearfishing is prohibited for everyone, including foreign tourists; no resort or charter offers it.
- Foreign tourists are limited to permitted methods such as line/charter fishing (jigging, popping, trolling, handline, pole-and-line), typically arranged through licensed resorts or charter operators.
The spearfishing prohibition is nationwide and not waived for visitors. Foreigners may only work on fishing vessels with a work permit per Section 13 of R-75/2020, which is unrelated to recreational spearfishing.
Inwoners
No spearfishing licence (activity prohibited for residents as well)
Maldivian residents are subject to the same nationwide spearfishing ban. Traditional Maldivian fisheries are pole-and-line and handline; spearfishing is not a recognised permitted method.
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
- Entire Republic of Maldives (all maritime zones)national-wide prohibition
Spearfishing with a spear gun is prohibited across all maritime zones of the Maldives (internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone) under Section 12(a) of the General Fisheries Regulation R-75/2020. There is no area where recreational spearfishing is permitted.
- Ministry / government protected areasmarine protected area
Fishing in areas protected by the Ministry or any government institution, in contravention of the guidelines relevant to the area, is separately prohibited under Section 12(b) of the General Fisheries Regulation R-75/2020 (fine of 3,500 Rufiyaa). This reinforces the spearfishing ban inside marine protected areas.
- Hanifaru Bay Marine Protected Area (Baa Atoll)marine reserve / no-take MPA
Hanifaru Bay is a core no-take Marine Protected Area in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (declared an MPA in 2009; core MPA within the Biosphere Reserve in 2011). Fishing and scuba diving are banned; it is a snorkel-only protected zone famous for manta ray and whale shark aggregations. Spearfishing is prohibited here both under the national speargun ban (Section 12(a), R-75/2020) and under MPA rules (Section 12(b)).
- Banana Reef Protected Marine Area (Gaathugiri, North Malé Atoll)marine reserve / protected dive site
Banana Reef (Gaathugiri) was the first protected dive site (1989) and the Maldives' first declared protected marine area, located about 8 km from Malé in North Malé Atoll. Fishing, anchoring and coral collection are prohibited inside the protected dive-site area, reinforcing the nationwide spearfishing ban.
- South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area (SAMPA)marine reserve / no-take MPA
The South Ari Atoll MPA (SAMPA) is a 42 km-long protected area in Alif Dhaal (South Ari) Atoll, running from the north-western tip of Rangali island to the north-eastern tip of Dhigurah island, extending 1 km seaward from the outer reef. Designated protected in 2009 with a management plan from July 2019, it is a globally significant whale-shark aggregation site with regulated activities and rangers; spearfishing is prohibited under the national ban and MPA rules. Coordinate given is a representative central point near Dhigurah island.
- Fish Head / Mushimasmingili Thila MPA (Ari Atoll)marine protected area
Fish Head (Mushimasmingili Thila) is a famous grey-reef-shark and Napoleon-wrasse dive pinnacle in North Ari Atoll (Alif Alif), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 269 ha) by the EPA under Environmental Protection and Preservation Act 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995. Spearfishing is prohibited under the nationwide speargun ban (Section 12(a), Regulation R-75/2020) and fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted protected area is separately prohibited under Section 12(b).
- Maaya Thila MPA (Ari Atoll)marine protected area
Maaya Thila is one of the Maldives' most famous night-dive pinnacles in North Ari Atoll (Alif Alif), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 1024 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020) and fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Rasdhoo Madivaru MPA (Rasdhoo Atoll)marine protected area
Rasdhoo Madivaru ('Hammerhead Point') is a renowned outer-atoll drop-off and sandbank in Rasdhoo Atoll (Alif Alif), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA/Sandbanks, 553 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree (IUL)438-ENV/438/2018/262 declared 7 Oct 2018 (amended (IUL)438-ENV/438/2023/352, 20 Jul 2023); recognised as an Ecologically & Biologically Significant Marine Area. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Kudarah Thila MPA (South Ari Atoll)marine protected area
Kudarah Thila is a celebrated small coral pinnacle in South Ari Atoll (Alif Dhaal), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 269 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Rangali Kandu (Madivaru) MPA (South Ari Atoll)marine protected area
Rangali Kandu (Madivaru), a manta and whale-shark channel off Rangali island in South Ari Atoll (Alif Dhaal), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 861 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree 10-C/99/38, declared 21 Oct 1999. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Guraidhoo Kanduolhi MPA (South Malé Atoll)marine protected area
Guraidhoo Kandu (channel) is a popular current dive off Guraidhoo in South Malé Atoll (Kaafu), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 351 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995 (amended (IUL)438-ENV/438/2020/150, 3 Sep 2020). Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Embudhoo Kanduolhi MPA (South Malé Atoll)marine protected area
Embudhoo Kandu ('Embudhoo Express') is a famous drift-dive channel in the northeast of South Malé Atoll (Kaafu), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 631 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Dhigali Haa MPA (Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve)marine protected area
Dhigali Haa (Horubadhoo Thila / 'Dhigali Giri & Dhigali Haa') is a signature dive pinnacle in Baa Atoll, a core zone of the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 89 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree 10-C/99/38 declared 21 Oct 1999 (amended 138-FS2/1/2011/35, 5 Jun 2011); recognised as an EBSA. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Angafaru MPA (Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve)marine protected area
Angafaru is a large manta and whale-shark feeding reef in Baa Atoll, a core zone of the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 769 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree 138-EE/2009/19, declared 5 Jun 2009; recognised as an EBSA. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Filitheyo Kandu MPA (Faafu Atoll)marine protected area
Filitheyo Kandu is a well-known channel dive off Filitheyo island in Faafu Atoll, gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 167 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree 10-C/99/38, declared 21 Oct 1999. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Fushifaru MPA (Lhaviyani Atoll)marine protected area
Fushifaru Thila is a famous manta cleaning station and channel in Lhaviyani (Faadhippolhu) Atoll, gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 884 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree E/95/32, declared 27 Sep 1995 (amended (IUL)438/ENV/438/2020/182). Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Farikede MPA (Fuvahmulah)marine protected area
Farikede is the gazetted marine protected area on the outer reef of Fuvahmulah (Gnaviyani), the island famed as a year-round tiger-shark aggregation site, part of the UNESCO Fuvahmulah Biosphere Reserve. Gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 637 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree (IUL)438-ENV/438/2020/129, declared 22 Jul 2020. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Maldives Victory Wreck MPA (North Malé Atoll)marine protected area
The Maldives Victory is a protected wreck dive near Hulhule/Airport in North Malé Atoll (Kaafu), gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (MPA, 5 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree (IUL)438-ENV/438/2021/24, declared 13 Feb 2021. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
- Kandihera-Maakandu Channel / Manta Point MPA (Addu Atoll)marine protected area
The Kandihera-Maakandu Channel ('Manta Point Addu') is a manta cleaning station and channel in Addu Atoll (Seenu), part of the UNESCO Addu Atoll Biosphere Reserve, gazetted as a Marine Protected Area (Sandbank/MPA, 735 ha) by the EPA under EPPA 4/93, decree 2018/R-105, declared 13 Sep 2018. Spearfishing is prohibited nationwide (Section 12(a), R-75/2020); fishing inside this Ministry-gazetted MPA is separately prohibited (Section 12(b)).
Condities op het water
Live condities
Live mariene en weersmomentopname nabij een kustreferentiepunt in Maldives, van Open-Meteo. Condities variëren langs de kust — beschouw als indicatief.
Live mariene & weerscondities nabij Entire Republic of Maldives (all maritime zones).
Wie je moet vragen
Autoriteiten
De officiële instanties die verantwoordelijk zijn voor visserij en vergunningen.
Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.mvMinistry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Male', Republic of MaldivesMaldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI)
marine research / environment
mmri.gov.mvunknown
Waar dit vandaan komt
Bronnen
Elke bewering op deze pagina is terug te voeren op een van deze referenties.
- [01]
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020) - official English text (FAOLEX PDF)
Officieelfaolex.fao.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [02]
Fisheries Act of the Maldives No. 14/2019 - Fishing Offenses and Infractions (Section 27 verbatim)
Secundairtheoutlawocean.comGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [03]
The Fisheries Act of the Maldives No. 14/2019 (Outlaw Ocean global fishing legislation toolkit)
Secundairtheoutlawocean.comGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [04]
General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives [Regulation No. R-75/2020] - ECOLEX record (publication date 30 Aug 2020)
Officieelecolex.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [05]
Maldives Fishing: The Complete Guide (FishingBooker) - spearfishing prohibited, shark ban, permitted methods
Secundairfishingbooker.comGeraadpleegd jun 14
Notities van de onderzoeker
Spearfishing is unambiguously illegal throughout the Maldives. The clearest legal basis is Section 12(a) of the General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (R-75/2020), made under the Fisheries Act No. 14/2019, which prohibits the 'use of spear gun to harvest, catch or attack fish'; Section 18(e) defines 'spear gun' broadly (sling/air/chemical-powered sharp-tipped projectiles), and the fine schedule (item 7) sets a 3,000 Rufiyaa penalty, escalating to 5,000 for repeat offences. The Fisheries Act Section 27 separately bans explosives, poison, and most net/industrial methods but does not itemise spear guns; the spear-gun prohibition lives in the subsidiary Regulation. Many target reef species are also fully protected under Schedule 2 (sharks, rays, parrotfishes, Napoleon wrasse, turtles, etc.). The verbatim Regulation text was extracted from the official FAOLEX English-language PDF (MDV214445En.pdf); the English is an official/government translation of the original Dhivehi, hence translated=true. Confidence is high because the prohibition is stated directly in primary subsidiary legislation. Coordinates given for the nationwide-prohibition zone are the approximate geographic centre of the Maldives.
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