South Africa
Africa · Southern Africa
Recreational spearfishing is legal in South Africa but requires a recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing, issued under the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 and its regulations. A spearfisher may take only fish of the Class Pisces (bony fish, sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras) with a speargun. Scuba and any artificial breathing apparatus are prohibited (snorkel only); catch is for own use only and may not be sold, bartered or traded; spearfishing is forbidden in estuaries and in no-take Marine Protected Areas. Species-specific bag limits, size limits and closed seasons apply, with an overall cumulative daily bag limit of ten fish. Foreigners may obtain the same permit.
Ostatnia aktualizacja czerwiec 15, 2026
Ramy prawne
- §Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998
- §Regulations in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Government Notice R.1111 of 2 September 1998, Government Gazette No. 19205, as amended)
- §Marine Recreational Fishing Information and Permit Conditions Brochure (DFFE, Version 23/1)
- Wymagana licencja
- Wymagana
- Kusza
- Dozwolony
- Akwalung
- Zabroniony
- Obcokrajowcy
- Mile widziani
Prawo, dosłownie
Teksty prawne
Dokładne przepisy ustawowe i wykonawcze regulujące łowiectwo podwodne w tym miejscu, zacytowane w opublikowanej formie, z linkiem do każdego oficjalnego źródła.
Definition of recreational fishing
Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998
recreational fishing means, any fishing done for leisure or sport and not for sale, barter, earnings or gain;
Permit requirement
Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998
No person shall exercise any right granted in terms of section 18 or perform any other activity in terms of this Act unless a permit has been issued by the Minister to such person to exercise that right or perform that activity.
Marine protected areas - prohibited activities
Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998
No person shall in any marine protected area, without permission in terms of subsection (3)- (a) fish or attempt to fish; (b) take or destroy any fauna and flora other than fish; (c) dredge, extract sand or gravel, discharge or deposit waste or any other polluting matter, or in any way disturb, alter or destroy the natural environment; (d) construct or erect any building or other structure on or over any land or water within such a marine protected area; or (e) carry on any activity which may adversely impact on the ecosystems of that area.
Recreational permit - general and spearfishing endorsement
Marine Recreational Fishing Information and Permit Conditions Brochure (DFFE, Version 23/1) - Regulations under MLRA 1998
(1) A person may obtain a recreational fishing permit online via https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.za or from an office authorised by the Minister, subject to the payment of a predetermined fee, to engage in one or more of the following types of recreational fishing: Angling, Spearfishing, Cast-netting and Marine Aquarium Fish. ... (2) A recreational fishing permit entitles the holder to catch fish for own use only and not for the purpose of selling or trading fish. ... (4) The holder of a recreational fishing permit, endorsed for spearfishing, is entitled to catch fish of the Class Pisces (i.e. bony fish, sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras) with only a speargun. ... (8) The holder of a recreational fishing permit, shall not use any artificial respiratory equipment, with the exception of a snorkel.
Regulations specific to recreational spearfishing
Marine Recreational Fishing Information and Permit Conditions Brochure (DFFE, Version 23/1) - Regulations under MLRA 1998
(15) The holder of a recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing shall not catch, disturb, land, keep, or control: (a) any fish listed in the Prohibited Species List in Table 3. (b) more fish than the bag-limit listed in respect of each species in Species List in Table 4 during any one day. Furthermore, there is an overall cumulative daily bag limit of ten, irrespective of the species caught and provided that this limit does not apply to those species listed here with no bag limit, and to those with a bag limit exceeding ten; (c) any fish smaller than, or of a mass less than, the size-limit listed in respect of each species in the Species List in Table 4. (d) any fish during the closed-season listed in respect of each species in the Species List in Table 4. (16) The holder of a recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing shall not catch fish or attempt to catch fish in an estuary.
Closed seasons for shad, galjoen and red steenbras
Marine Recreational Fishing Information and Permit Conditions Brochure (DFFE, Version 23/1) - Regulations under MLRA 1998
(9) There is a closed season for elf / shad (Pomatomus saltatrix) from 1 September to 30 November in any year. (10) There is a closed season for galjoen (Dichistius capensis) from 15 October of one year to the last day of February in the following year, both dates inclusive. (11) There is a closed season for red steenbras (Petrus rupestris) from 1 September to 30 November in any year.
Kiedy możesz nurkować
Sezony i ograniczenia czasowe
Okresy ochronne, otwarte i z ograniczeniami w ciągu roku. Zawsze potwierdzaj lokalnie zamknięcia dotyczące konkretnych gatunków.
- ZamkniętyElf / Shad (Pomatomus saltatrix)wrz 1 – lis 30
Closed season for elf / shad from 1 September to 30 November in any year.
- ZamkniętyGaljoen (Dichistius capensis)paź 15 – lut 28
Closed season for galjoen from 15 October of one year to the last day of February in the following year, both dates inclusive.
- ZamkniętyRed steenbras (Petrus rupestris)wrz 1 – lis 30
Closed season for red steenbras from 1 September to 30 November in any year.
Pozwolenie na łowienie
Licencja
Czego potrzebujesz, by móc wejść do wody, ile to kosztuje i jak to zdobyć.
Apply and pay online via https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.za, or at an office/outlet authorised by the Minister. Available to anyone 12 years or older. Permit must be available for inspection while fishing.
Zdobądź licencjęOtwiera oficjalny portal · fishing.dffe.gov.za
- Typ
- Recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing (issued under the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998)
- Koszt
- Application fee R7; annual spearfishing permit R87; short-term (4-week) spearfishing permit R50 (DFFE fee schedule, Version 23/1).
- Ważność
- Annual permit (up to one year per MLRA s.13(2)(a)) or short-term permit valid for four weeks.
- Jak uzyskać
- Apply and pay online via https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.za, or at an office/outlet authorised by the Minister. Available to anyone 12 years or older. Permit must be available for inspection while fishing.
- Organ
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Sprzęt i technika
Zasady dotyczące sprzętu
Jaki sprzęt jest dozwolony, jak może być używany i jakie warunki są z tym związane.
Ograniczenia
- Spearfishing may be undertaken only with a speargun.
- No artificial respiratory/breathing apparatus may be used; only a snorkel is permitted (no scuba).
- Spearfishing is prohibited in estuaries, tidal rivers and tidal lagoons.
- Spearguns may not be used in designated closed/shore-angling-only areas or in no-take MPA zones.
- Catch is for own use only; no fish may be sold, bartered or traded.
A spearfisher may take only fish of the Class Pisces (bony fish, sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras). Possession of speargun-related diving gear is also prohibited in certain abalone-protection areas.
Co możesz złowić
Limity połowowe i gatunki chronione
Dzienne limity, minimalne rozmiary oraz gatunki, których nigdy nie wolno łowić.
Limit dzienny
Overall cumulative daily bag limit of ten (10) fish per person, irrespective of species, except species listed with no bag limit or with a bag limit exceeding ten. Per-species bag limits in Table 4 apply (e.g. sharks/rays/skates/chimaeras of Class Chondrichthyes limited to one; rockcods (Family Serranidae) limited to five). In KwaZulu-Natal, no more than 5 of any one species.
Minimalne rozmiary
- Bronze breammin 30 cm
- Garrick (leervis)min 70 cm
- Geelbekmin 60 cm
- Kob (Argyrosomus spp.)min 40 cm
- Red steenbrasmin 40 cm
- Strepie (karanteen)min 15 cm
Gatunki chronione — nie łowić
- ChronionyGreat white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
- ChronionyBrindle bass
- ChronionyPotato bass
- ChronionyNatal wrasse
- ChronionySeventy-four
- ChronionySawfishes
- ChronionyPoenskop / black musselcracker (critical list, restricted)
- ChronionySpecies in the Prohibited Species List (Table 3) and Threatened or Protected Marine Species Regulations (GG 40875 of 30 May 2017)
Size is measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the extreme end of the tail. Size limits listed here are a selection of common species; the full per-species bag-limit, size-limit and closed-season schedule is in Table 4 of the DFFE permit-conditions brochure and the Government Gazette. Any fish caught in contravention must be returned to the sea with as little injury as possible.
Kto może łowić
Goście i mieszkańcy
Czym różnią się zasady dla zagranicznych gości i lokalnych mieszkańców.
Zagraniczni goście
DozwoloneWymagania
- Obtain the same recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing (online via the DFFE e-permit platform or an authorised office).
- Carry valid foreign identification (passport, and where applicable a visa or legal proof of stay).
Ograniczenia
- Same bag limits, size limits, closed seasons, equipment rules and MPA/estuary prohibitions apply as for residents.
- Note: under MLRA section 18(4) only South African persons may hold commercial/subsistence fishing rights; this does not affect recreational permits.
Foreign tourists are not exempt from needing a recreational fishing permit; fees and procedures for the recreational permit are generally the same as for residents.
Mieszkańcy
Recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing (annual or short-term)
Wymagania
- Be 12 years or older.
- Apply and pay the prescribed fee online (https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.za) or at an authorised office.
- Carry the permit for inspection while spearfishing.
The same recreational permit applies to South African residents and visitors; there is no separate residents-only spearfishing licence regime under the MLRA recreational permit.
Gdzie na wybrzeżu
Strefy dozwolone i zabronione
Nazwane obszary otwarte lub zamknięte dla łowiectwa podwodnego. Zobacz pełny obraz na interaktywnej mapie.
Obszary dozwolone
Recreational spearfishing with a valid spearfishing-endorsed permit is generally permitted along the South African coastline in waters that are not declared no-take Marine Protected Areas, not estuaries/tidal rivers/tidal lagoons, and not designated closed areas. Permit holders must observe bag limits, size limits and closed seasons.
Speargun only; snorkel only (no scuba or artificial breathing apparatus); own-use catch (no sale/barter/trade); overall cumulative daily bag limit of ten fish; species size limits and closed seasons apply; no spearfishing in estuaries.
Within some MPAs there are controlled areas where recreational activities such as angling or spearfishing may be permitted subject to the conditions of the MPA management authority. Permit holders fishing within an MPA must adhere to the conditions of the Management Agency for that specific MPA.
Must comply with the specific MPA management authority conditions; many MPA zones are no-take restricted areas where all fishing is prohibited.
Obszary zabronione
- Estuaries, tidal rivers and tidal lagoonsestuary / tidal river / tidal lagoon (no spearfishing)
The holder of a recreational fishing permit endorsed for spearfishing shall not catch fish or attempt to catch fish in an estuary; no person may use a speargun in a tidal river or tidal lagoon.
- Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Areamarine protected area (no-take / restricted zone)
One of the oldest and largest no-take marine protected areas in the world; the entire MPA is a restricted (no-take) zone where fishing and spearfishing are prohibited. Proclaimed in Government Gazette No. 21948 of 29 December 2000; managed by SANParks.
- Pondoland Marine Protected Area (restricted no-take zones)marine protected area (no-take / restricted zones)
Declared 2004. Contains offshore, inshore and estuarine restricted (no-take) zones where fishing is prohibited, including the tidal portions of the Msikaba and Mtentu Rivers and a central restricted zone of about 643 km2.
- Strand (Lourens River mouth to Gordon's Bay harbour eastern breakwater)closed area (shore angling only - no spearfishing)
Only shore angling (and no other type of fishing, including spearfishing) is allowed between the mouth of the Lourens River and the eastern breakwater of the harbour at Gordon's Bay, extending 500 m seawards.
- Hermanus (Kraal Rock to Rietfontein, Walker Bay)closed area (shore angling only - no spearfishing)
Only shore angling (and no other type of fishing, including spearfishing) is allowed between the beacons at Kraal Rock (HR1), Walker Bay, and Rietfontein (HR2), Hermanus, extending 500 m seawards from the high-water mark.
- Dyer Islandclosed area (shore angling only - no spearfishing)
Only shore angling is allowed at Dyer Island, in an area extending two nautical miles seawards from the high-water mark; spearfishing is therefore not permitted.
Warunki na wodzie
Warunki na żywo
Migawka warunków morskich i pogodowych na żywo w pobliżu nadmorskiego punktu odniesienia w kraju South Africa, od Open-Meteo. Warunki różnią się wzdłuż wybrzeża — traktuj orientacyjnie.
Warunki morskie i pogodowe na żywo w pobliżu Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area.
Na miejscu
Lokalne sklepy i czartery
Sklepy ze sprzętem, czartery, kursy i kluby w okolicy kraju South Africa. Przykładowe wpisy są wyraźnie oznaczone, dopóki weryfikujemy prawdziwe firmy.
Od społeczności
Miejsca nurkowe społeczności
Miejsca udostępnione przez nurków w okolicy kraju South Africa. Zgłoszone przez społeczność i nie zastępują sprawdzenia lokalnych zasad i warunków.
Cape Town — False Bay
Cold-water kelp forest in False Bay.
34.150°S, 18.450°E
Do kogo się zwrócić
Władze
Oficjalne organy odpowiedzialne za rybołówstwo i licencje.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
fisheries and environment authority
dffe.gov.zaRecreational fishing e-permit portal: https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.zaSouth African National Parks (SANParks)
marine protected area management agency
sanparks.orgTable Mountain MPA: 021-783 0234Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
marine protected area management agency (KwaZulu-Natal)
kznwildlife.comAliwal Shoal: 031-274 1150Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency
marine protected area management agency (Eastern Cape)
visiteasterncape.co.zaPondoland: 043-705 4400; Amathole: 043-742 4450; Dwesa-Cwebe: 047-499 7900CapeNature
conservation authority (Western Cape)
capenature.co.zaStilbaai MPA: 028-754 2234
Skąd to pochodzi
Źródła
Każde stwierdzenie na tej stronie odsyła do jednego z tych odniesień.
- [01]
Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998 (full text, FAOLEX/EnviroLeg)
Oficjalnefaolex.fao.orgDostęp cze 15 - [02]
Marine Recreational Fishing Information and Permit Conditions Brochure (DFFE, Version 23/1)
Oficjalnespearfishingsa.co.zaDostęp cze 15 - [03]
Recreational Fishing Permit e-permit portal (DFFE)
Oficjalnefishing.dffe.gov.zaDostęp cze 15 - [04]
Regulations in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act 1998 (SAFLII consolidated regulations)
Oficjalnesaflii.orgDostęp cze 15 - [05]
Launch of the recreational fishing permits online application platform (DFFE media release)
Oficjalnedffe.gov.zaDostęp cze 15 - [06]
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (Wikipedia)
Wtórneen.wikipedia.orgDostęp cze 15 - [07]
Pondoland Marine Protected Area (Wikipedia)
Wtórneen.wikipedia.orgDostęp cze 15 - [08]
Everything you need to know about Marine Protected Areas in South Africa (Two Oceans Aquarium)
Wtórneaquarium.co.zaDostęp cze 15 - [09]
Spearfishing Regulations (Spearfishing South Africa)
communityspearfishingsa.co.zaDostęp cze 15
Notatki badacza
Spearfishing is regulated nationally under the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 and its regulations; there is no separate provincial spearfishing licence, though some closed areas and bag-limit variations are region-specific (e.g. KwaZulu-Natal 5-per-species cap; east/west of Cape Agulhas variations). Verbatim statutory text (definition of recreational fishing, s.13 permits, s.43 MPAs) was extracted from the FAOLEX/EnviroLeg PDF of the Act; verbatim permit-condition text (spearfishing endorsement, speargun-only, no scuba, no estuary fishing, bag limits, closed seasons, fees) was extracted from the official DFFE Marine Recreational Fishing Permit Conditions Brochure (Version 23/1, hosted on the Spearfishing SA site). Coordinates for Tsitsikamma and Pondoland MPAs come from Wikipedia and may be approximate centroids. The size-limit list is a selection of common species; the full Table 4 schedule should be consulted in the DFFE brochure / Government Gazette before fishing. Galjoen closed-season end is encoded as 02-28 (last day of February; 02-29 in leap years). The SAFLII consolidated regulations page returned HTTP 403 on direct fetch and was not quoted verbatim, but the equivalent provisions are captured from the official DFFE brochure.
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