Nepal
Asia · Southern Asia
Nepal is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds) underwater fishing is conceivable. No Nepali law specifically names or bans spearfishing or harpoons. The principal statute, the Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), restricts the METHOD of catching aquatic animals only with respect to electric current, explosive substances and poisonous substances (Section 3); spears are not listed. Section 6 affirms that any citizen may catch or kill aquatic animals in waters other than private water, subject to Section 3 and to any seasonal/area closures ordered by Government under Sections 4 and 5. In practice fishing requires a permit (issued by the local authority / Chief District Officer, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation for park areas, or the Central Fisheries Promotion and Conservation Centre), and fishing is prohibited inside national parks, wildlife reserves and many buffer zones except for designated traditional fishing communities. Spearfishing is therefore not expressly illegal but is heavily constrained by permit requirements and protected-area rules; recreational underwater spearfishing is not an established or commonly permitted activity in Nepal.
Sist oppdatert Juni 15, 2026
Styrende rammeverk
- §Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960) (Act No. 18 of 2017 B.S.); First Amendment Act, 2055 (1997)
- §National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 (1973) (and park-specific regulations, e.g. Chitwan National Park Regulations, Bardia National Park Regulations 1996)
- Lisens påkrevd
- Påkrevd
- Utlendinger
- Velkommen
Loven, ordrett
Lovtekster
De eksakte lovfestede og regulatoriske bestemmelsene som gjelder for spearfishing her, sitert slik de er publisert, med lenke til hver offisiell kilde.
Restriction on methods of catching and killing aquatic animal
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Restriction on methods of catching and killing aquatic animal: No person shall knowingly ---- ---- use any kind of electric current, explosive substance or poisonous substance with intention of catching and killing any aquatic animal in any water. Provided that, nothing contained in this Section or hereunder shall prevent the owner of a private water from using any method whatsoever, except using poisonous substance, for catching or killing any aquatic animals in his/her private water in such manner as not to cause any loss to aquatic animals in any other water.
Definitions of 'water' and 'aquatic animal'
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Definitions: Unless the subject or the context otherwise requires, in this Act: (a) "water" means the water of a lake, daha, rill, stream, river, canal, pond, ditch, reservoir, artificial reservoir, wetland, craze installed for aquaculture and paddy field where aquaculture is done and includes their sources. (b) "aquatic animal" means any animal living in water.
Government power to prohibit catching/killing of certain species or seasons (licensing)
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Powers of Government of Nepal to prohibit the catching, killing and wounding of certain kinds of aquatic animals: Government of Nepal may, by an order published in the Nepal Gazette, prevent: (a) the intentional catching, killing and wounding of the aquatic animals of the species specified in that order by any person without obtaining license from Government of Nepal or the local authority, and (b) the intentional catching, killing and wounding by any person of any aquatic animals in any season specified in and of any aquatic animals as specified in that order. Provided that, nothing contained in this Section and hereunder shall apply to the aquatic animals in the private water of any person.
Government power to prohibit catching/killing in specific waters (licensing)
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Powers of Government of Nepal to prohibit the catching, killing and wounding of aquatic animals in some specific water: Government of Nepal may, by an order published in the Nepal Gazette, prevent the intentional catching, killing and wounding by any person of any aquatic animals in the water in such place as may be specified in that order without obtaining license from Government of Nepal or local authority; and Government of Nepal shall have exclusive rights over all the aquatic animals in the water of such place. Provided that, Government of Nepal shall not issue such order in respect of the private water owned by any person.
Rights of Citizen to catch aquatic animals
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Rights of Citizen: Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to prevent any citizen from catching or killing aquatic animals in the other water, subject to Section 3, except in such season and place as prohibited by any orders issued under Sections 4 and 5.
Punishment for prohibited methods and breach of orders
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), Act No. 18 of the year 2017 (B.S.)
Punishment: (1) A person who violates or abets to violate Section 3 or 3A. shall be punished, by order of the local authority, with a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Rupees, and compensation equal to the amount in controversy shall also be recovered according to the gravity of offense, in the event of any loss or damage caused from such violation. In doing valuation of the loss and damage, the technical officer shall be got involved. (2) A person who violates or abets to violate any order issued under Section 4 or 5 shall be punished, by order of the local authority, with a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Rupees. ... (4) All weapons, goods and articles which are held by person who is proved guilty of an offense under this Act and related with that offense shall also be confiscated by order of the local authority.
Når du kan dykke
Sesonger og tidsbegrensninger
Lukkede, åpne og begrensede perioder gjennom året. Bekreft alltid artsspesifikke lukkinger lokalt.
- LukketAquatic animals (species and waters specified by Government order under Sections 4 and 5); no fixed nationwide spearfishing season exists. Seasonal closures (e.g. spawning/monsoon periods) are set by Gazette order and by national park regulations rather than by a single published calendar.unknown – unknown
The Aquatic Animal Protection Act does not itself set fixed open/closed dates. Section 4(b) empowers Government to prohibit catching of aquatic animals 'in any season specified' by order published in the Nepal Gazette. National park regulations also prohibit fishing during prohibited (spawning) seasons. Exact dates depend on the specific order/jurisdiction and were not retrievable from an official published calendar.
Tillatelse til å fiske
Lisens
Hva du trenger for å ha lov til å dykke, hva det koster, og hvordan du skaffer det.
Apply to the DNPWC (Kathmandu or regional offices) or the relevant local authority. Foreign anglers reportedly must submit a passport copy, visa copy, passport-sized photo, fishing itinerary (location, duration, purpose), gear details, and pay the permit fee. Fishing through a licensed Nepali operator is recommended.
Skaff lisensen dinÅpner den offisielle portalen · greatnepaltreks.com
- Type
- Fishing permit (freshwater). For protected-area waters a permit from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation; otherwise authorisation/licence from the local authority (Chief District Officer) under Sections 4-5 of the Aquatic Animal Protection Act.
- Kostnad
- unknown
- Gyldighet
- Typically issued for a specific duration (commonly a week or a month) and designated location, per tour operator guidance.
- Hvordan du får det
- Apply to the DNPWC (Kathmandu or regional offices) or the relevant local authority. Foreign anglers reportedly must submit a passport copy, visa copy, passport-sized photo, fishing itinerary (location, duration, purpose), gear details, and pay the permit fee. Fishing through a licensed Nepali operator is recommended.
- Myndighet
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC); local authority / Chief District Officer; Central Fisheries Promotion and Conservation Centre (CFPCC)
Utstyr og teknikk
Utstyrsregler
Hvilket utstyr som er tillatt, hvordan det kan brukes, og hvilke betingelser som gjelder.
Begrensninger
- Use of electric current to catch or kill aquatic animals is prohibited (Section 3).
- Use of explosive substances is prohibited (Section 3).
- Use of poisonous substances is prohibited; only a 'safe poison' recommended by a technical officer may be used where poison is required (Sections 3 and 5A).
- Spears, harpoons and spearguns are not specifically mentioned or banned in the Aquatic Animal Protection Act; their legality follows the general permit and protected-area rules.
The Act regulates prohibited methods (electricity, explosives, poison) but is silent on spearguns/harpoons. No official rule expressly permitting or banning recreational spearguns was found. Confiscation of weapons used in an offence is provided for under Section 8(4).
Hva du kan ta
Fangstbegrensninger og vernede arter
Daglige kvoter, minimumsstørrelser og arter som aldri må tas.
Daglig grense
unknown
Vernede arter — skal ikke tas
- VernetAquatic animals of species specified by Government order under Section 4 (catching requires a licence). Specific protected-species lists are set by Gazette order and were not retrieved verbatim.
The Aquatic Animal Protection Act does not set numeric daily or size limits in its text; species-specific and seasonal prohibitions are imposed by Government orders published in the Nepal Gazette under Sections 4 and 5. The golden mahseer (Tor putitora) is a culturally significant sport-fishing species typically managed under catch-and-release angling practices.
Hvem kan fiske
Besøkende og innbyggere
Hvordan reglene er forskjellige for utenlandske besøkende og lokale innbyggere.
Utenlandske besøkende
TillattSpesiell lisens påkrevd
Krav
- Fishing permit (and for parks, DNPWC permit)
- Passport copy
- Visa copy
- Passport-sized photo
- Fishing itinerary (location, duration, purpose)
- Gear details
Begrensninger
- No fishing inside national parks/reserves/buffer zones except where specifically authorised.
- Prohibited methods (electricity, explosives, poison) apply equally.
- Recreational underwater spearfishing is not an established permitted activity; sport fishing is predominantly rod-and-line angling (e.g. golden mahseer).
Foreign anglers generally fish through licensed Nepali operators. No source confirmed any specific foreigner permit for spearfishing as such; spearfishing is not a recognised tourist activity in Nepal.
Innbyggere
Fishing permit / community fishing rights
Krav
- Permit from local authority (CDO) or DNPWC for park-area waters
- Compliance with method restrictions (Section 3) and seasonal/area orders (Sections 4-5)
Fordeler
- Section 6 affirms citizens' right to catch/kill aquatic animals in non-private public waters, subject to Section 3 and to orders under Sections 4 and 5.
- Designated traditional fishing communities (e.g. Bote, Darai, Kumal, Tharu, Majhi) hold recognised fishing rights in certain river stretches and protected areas under park regulations.
Owners of 'private water' (privately owned ponds/lakes paying land tax) may use any method except poison to catch aquatic animals in their own water (Section 3 proviso).
Hvor langs kysten
Tillatte og forbudte soner
Navngitte områder som er åpne eller lukkede for spearfishing. Se hele bildet på det interaktive kartet.
Tillatte områder
Under Section 6, citizens may catch/kill aquatic animals in waters other than private water, subject to the method restrictions of Section 3 and any seasonal/area orders under Sections 4 and 5. A permit is generally required in practice. There is no marine water in Nepal (landlocked).
No electric current, explosives or poison (Section 3); permit usually required; not within national parks/reserves/buffer zones; subject to Gazette seasonal closures.
Forbudte områder
Fishing inside the national park is restricted; only designated traditional fishing communities have limited rights. Fishing during prohibited seasons is banned under the park regulations.
- Bardia National Parknational park
Fishing inside the park is restricted; the 1996 Bardia National Park Regulation allows only certain traditional communities (Bote, Darai, Kumal, Tharu) to fish.
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reservewildlife reserve
Wetland wildlife reserve (Ramsar site) on the Koshi River; fishing and harvesting restricted to seasonal/designated community use under reserve regulations.
- Phoksundo Lake (Shey Phoksundo National Park)national park / Ramsar lake
Phoksundo (Shey Phoksundo) Lake in Dolpa District is inside Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal's largest national park, and is a Ramsar wetland (2007). Fishing inside the park is restricted under national-park rules (DNPWC permit; protected-area no-fishing rule). Multiple sources confirm 'No fishing or boating is allowed in the lake' (both conservation policy and the lake's sacred status to Bon/Buddhist communities). Spearfishing would fall under these protected-area restrictions.
- Rara Lake (Rara National Park)national park / Ramsar lake
Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, lies inside Rara National Park and is a Ramsar site. As with all Nepali national parks, fishing inside the park is restricted (DNPWC permit required; general no-fishing rule for protected areas under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act). Underwater spearfishing would fall under these protected-area restrictions.
Betingelser på vannet
Sanntidsbetingelser
Sanntids marin- og væroversikt nær et kystnært referansepunkt i Nepal, fra Open-Meteo. Betingelsene varierer langs kysten — behandle dette som veiledende.
Live marin- og værdata nær Chitwan National Park (incl. Narayani/Rapti rivers within park).
Hvem du skal spørre
Myndigheter
De offisielle organene ansvarlige for fiskeri og lisensiering.
Central Fisheries Promotion and Conservation Centre (CFPCC)
fisheries authority
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC)
protected-areas / wildlife authority
Local authority (Chief District Officer of the district concerned)
district administration / enforcement authority under the Aquatic Animal Protection Act
Hvor dette kommer fra
Kilder
Hvert påstand på denne siden kan spores tilbake til en av disse referansene.
- [01]
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960) - full text (Nepal Law Commission, via FAOLEX)
Offisiellfaolex.fao.orgÅpnet Jun 15 - [02]
Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960) - ECOLEX record
Offisiellecolex.orgÅpnet Jun 15 - [03]
Fishing in Nepal: Necessary Documents & Permits (Great Nepal Treks)
Sekundærgreatnepaltreks.comÅpnet Jun 15 - [04]
Prosecution of Illegal Fishing in Nepalese Rivers and Lakes (LawGratis)
Sekundærmail.lawgratis.comÅpnet Jun 15 - [05]
Assessing the need for expanded protected areas (The Annapurna Express) - fishing rights in Chitwan/Bardia/Koshi Tappu
Sekundærtheannapurnaexpress.comÅpnet Jun 15 - [06]
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (Wikipedia)
communityen.wikipedia.orgÅpnet Jun 15
Forskernotater
Nepal is landlocked (coastline=false); there is no marine spearfishing and no sea-based legal framework. Research therefore focused on freshwater rules. No Nepali statute or regulation specifically names, permits, or prohibits spearfishing/harpoons/spearguns. The governing statute is the Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960) (Act No. 18 of 2017 B.S.; First Amendment 1997), whose full English text was retrieved verbatim from the official Nepal Law Commission text hosted on FAO FAOLEX. Its Section 3 bans only electricity, explosives and poison as catching methods; spears are not addressed, so spearfishing is not expressly illegal. However, fishing generally requires a permit (local authority / DNPWC / CFPCC), is barred inside national parks, wildlife reserves and many buffer zones except for designated traditional communities, and is subject to species/season closures imposed by Gazette order (Sections 4-5). Overall status set to 'restricted'. Confidence is 'medium': the primary law text is from an official source and captured in full, but no official source addresses spearfishing specifically, and exact permit costs, seasonal calendars and Gazette-ordered species lists were not retrievable. Penalty figures in the Act (fines up to Rs 5,000 for Section 3 breaches) differ from higher figures (up to Rs 10,000 / 6 months) cited in secondary enforcement reporting, which may reflect park regulations or other statutes.
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