SpearfishingMap

Ecuador

Americas · South America

Recreational/sport spearfishing with a speargun (arpon) is legal in Ecuadorian jurisdictional waters but is a regulated extractive activity. Under Article 124 of the Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (2020), sport fishing for marine or freshwater fish in the extractive phase with a harpoon is permitted only with prior authorization and registration before the governing authority (Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / MAGP). The authority sets gear, species, minimum sizes, areas, seasons and catch limits. In the Galapagos Marine Reserve a far stricter special regime applies: extractive fishing is reserved exclusively to registered local artisanal fishers (PARMA licence, restricted to permanent Galapagos residents), industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned, and recreational spearfishing by tourists is not permitted. Directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs is prohibited nationwide.

Restricted
Confiança dos dadosConfiança elevada

Última atualização junho 14, 2026

Enquadramento legal

  • §Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (Registro Oficial Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)
  • §Reglamento General a la Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (Decreto Ejecutivo No. 362, 2022)
  • §Ley Organica de Regimen Especial para la Conservacion y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Provincia de Galapagos (LOREG, 2015)
  • §Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos
Licença obrigatória
Obrigatória
Arpão
Permitido
Estrangeiros
Bem-vindos

A lei, na íntegra

Textos legais

As disposições legais e regulamentares exatas que regem a pesca submarina aqui, citadas tal como publicadas, com uma ligação a cada fonte oficial.

01Articulo 124Ecuador · national

Sport or recreational fishing; spearfishing with harpoon requires authorization

Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)

ESOriginal

Articulo 124.- Pesca deportiva o de recreacion. El ente rector autorizara la actividad de pesca deportiva o recreativa y podra realizarse en las aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas, para lo cual establecera las medidas especificas para su ordenamiento, como son: artes de pesca, especies, tallas minimas de captura, areas, epocas de pesca y limites de captura en coordinacion con otras instituciones del sector publico. [...] La pesca deportiva para peces de agua dulce o marina en fase extractiva con arpon, sera permitida previa autorizacion y registro ante el ente rector. Las normas y demas requisitos para el desarrollo de esta actividad se estableceran en el reglamento de la presente Ley, en concordancia con las normas internacionales expedidas por los organismos competentes de los cuales el Ecuador es miembro.

02Articulo 127Ecuador · national

Recreational/sport fishing inside the National System of Protected Areas

Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)

ESOriginal

Articulo 127.- Medidas especificas. La pesca recreativa o deportiva podra realizarse en las aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas, para lo cual el ente rector podra establecer medidas especificas para su ordenamiento, en el marco de gobernanza. La Autoridad Ambiental Nacional en coordinacion con las autoridades competentes, regulara las actividades de pesca recreativa o deportiva dentro del Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas, de conformidad con los planes de manejo y la zonificacion de cada area y siempre que sean compatibles con sus objetivos de conservacion.

03Articulo 103Ecuador · national

Prohibited fishing methods in the species-reproduction reserve zone

Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)

ESOriginal

Articulo 103.- Prohibiciones en zona de reserva. En la zona de reserva de reproduccion de las especies bioacuaticas, se prohibe: a) Toda actividad pesquera industrial; b) Operacion extractiva con todo tipo de artes de captura masiva determinados por el ente rector previo informe del Instituto Publico de Investigacion de Acuicultura y Pesca; c) Uso de la red de monofilamento o tambien denominada electronica; d) Uso de mallas larveras; e) Uso de explosivos y compuestos quimicos (naturales o sinteticos), para la captura de los diferentes recursos hidrobiologicos existentes; y, f) Otras que se establezcan en el Reglamento de la presente Ley, sustentado tecnicamente.

04Articulo 152Ecuador · national

National prohibition on directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs

Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020)

ESOriginal

Articulo 152.- Tiburones y especies afines. Se prohibe la pesca dirigida de tiburones, mantas y otros elasmobranquios que el ente rector determine, asi como, la fabricacion, transporte, importacion, comercializacion de artes de pesca utilizados para capturar estos recursos, la mutilacion de las aletas de tiburon y el descarte de su cuerpo al mar, la importacion, transbordo e internacion de tiburones enteros o aletas de tiburon en cualquier estado de conservacion o procesamiento, aun cuando hayan sido capturados en aguas internacionales.

05Art. 3Galapagos Marine Reserve (Provincia de Galapagos) · regional

Galapagos Marine Reserve - artisanal fishing only; ban on fishing from tourist vessels

Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text, FAOLEX ecu112351)

ESOriginal

Art. 3.- PESCA ARTESANAL EN GALAPAGOS: Es aquella actividad pesquera destinada a la captura, extraccion y recoleccion de recursos vivos acuaticos, ejercida por pescadores artesanales autorizados y registrados por la DPNG, utilizando metodos, modalidades, aparejos de pesca y embarcaciones artesanales autorizadas o reguladas por este reglamento y cuyo producto se destina al autoconsumo o el uso comercial. En la RMG esta prohibida expresamente la pesca industrial y la pesca desde embarcaciones de turismo, con excepcion de las embarcaciones de turismo con autorizacion para ejercer pesca deportiva. En la RMG esta permitida la pesca de investigacion debidamente justificada y autorizada por la DPNG, en la cual se promovera la participacion del sector pesquero.

06Art. 11Galapagos Marine Reserve (Provincia de Galapagos) · regional

Galapagos - underwater (spearfishing/diving) fishing requires DIGMER licence

Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text, FAOLEX ecu112351)

ESOriginal

Art. 11.- Es la autorizacion que la DPNG concede al pescador artesanal y al armador pesquero artesanal, para que emprenda actividades de pesca artesanal permitidas por la LOREG, el RG, las disposiciones de este reglamento y el PRMG. La Licencia PARMA en la RMG sera concedida solamente para las actividades de pesca autorizadas, dentro de las zonas, condiciones, temporadas y demas reglas determinadas en este Reglamento y por la AIM, de acuerdo con los estudios tecnicos realizados por la DPNG. Para realizar actividades de pesca submarinas se requerira de una matricula otorgada por la DIGMER que acredite su idoneidad tecnica.

Quando pode mergulhar

Épocas e restrições temporais

Períodos de defeso, abertos e restritos ao longo do ano. Confirme sempre localmente os defesos específicos por espécie.

  • RestritoAll extractive fishing including sport spearfishing - species closed seasons (vedas)varies – varies

    Under Art. 124 and Art. 125(c), sport/recreational fishers must respect species, areas and seasons (epocas de pesca) set by the governing authority. Ecuador operates species-specific closed seasons (vedas), e.g. for spiny lobster and sea cucumber. Exact dates are fixed by Ministerial Agreement and change periodically; verify current vedas with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca before fishing.

Autorização para pescar

Licença

O que precisa para estar autorizado na água, quanto custa e como a obter.

Licença obrigatóriaatravés de Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP); Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG) for Galapagos

Apply to the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP) for authorization and registration to practice extractive sport fishing with a harpoon (Art. 124). Sport-fishing vessel permits are requested online via the SIAP system (https://siap.aciis.services/acrm/) with cedula/RUC, naval registration, tonnage certificate, safety inspection and proof of payment. In Galapagos, only registered resident artisanal fishers may obtain a PARMA licence from the DPNG plus a DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing.

Obtenha a sua licença

Abre o portal oficial · gob.ec

Licença obrigatória
Tipo
Prior authorization and registration for sport/recreational spearfishing with harpoon (Art. 124); permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva for sport-fishing vessels; PARMA licence + DIGMER matricula for underwater artisanal fishing in Galapagos
Custo
unknown (vessel sport-fishing permit fees per the MAGP/Acuacultura y Pesca tarifario; no fixed published figure for individual harpoon authorization)
Validade
Sport-fishing vessel permit: 1 year
Como obter
Apply to the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca / Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP) for authorization and registration to practice extractive sport fishing with a harpoon (Art. 124). Sport-fishing vessel permits are requested online via the SIAP system (https://siap.aciis.services/acrm/) with cedula/RUC, naval registration, tonnage certificate, safety inspection and proof of payment. In Galapagos, only registered resident artisanal fishers may obtain a PARMA licence from the DPNG plus a DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing.
Autoridade
Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca (MAGP); Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG) for Galapagos

Equipamento e técnica

Regras de equipamento

Que equipamento é permitido, como pode ser usado e as condições associadas.

ArpãoPermitido

Restrições

  • Harpoon (arpon) spearfishing for marine or freshwater fish in the extractive phase is permitted only with prior authorization and registration before the governing authority (Art. 124).
  • Only gear, devices and fishing methods authorized by the governing authority may be used (Art. 125 e).
  • Explosives, chemical compounds, mass-capture gear, monofilament/electronic nets and larval nets are prohibited in the reproduction reserve zone (Art. 103).
  • In Galapagos, underwater fishing requires a DIGMER matricula certifying technical fitness (Art. 11).

The Ley itself authorizes spearfishing with arpon (Art. 124); detailed technical rules (e.g. scuba vs free-diving, number of spears) are to be set in the implementing Reglamento and Ministerial Agreements, which were not retrieved at the level of harpoon-specific gear detail. Confirm current technical conditions with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca.

O que pode capturar

Limites de captura e espécies protegidas

Quotas diárias, tamanhos mínimos e espécies que nunca podem ser capturadas.

Limite diário

Set by the governing authority per Art. 124 (limites de captura); no single national figure for sport spearfishing was retrieved.

Espécies protegidas — não capturar

  • ProtegidaSharks (tiburones) - directed take prohibited (Art. 152)
  • ProtegidaManta rays (mantas) - directed take prohibited (Art. 152)
  • ProtegidaOther elasmobranchs determined by the governing authority (Art. 152)
  • ProtegidaMarine fauna listed under Art. 153 and environmental/CITES instruments

Sport/recreational fishers must catch only permitted species in the zones and periods set by the authority and respect minimum capture sizes (Art. 124, Art. 125 c). Directed take of sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs is prohibited nationwide (Art. 152). Specific minimum sizes and daily bag limits are fixed by Ministerial Agreement and were not retrieved as verbatim figures.

Quem pode pescar

Visitantes e residentes

Como as regras diferem para visitantes estrangeiros e residentes locais.

Visitantes estrangeiros

Permitido

Licença especial obrigatória

Requisitos

  • Obtain prior authorization and registration for extractive harpoon sport fishing from the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca (Art. 124).
  • Sport-fishing typically conducted from authorized sport-fishing vessels holding a permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva.

Restrições

  • In the Galapagos Marine Reserve, extractive fishing (including the artisanal PARMA licence) is reserved to permanent Galapagos residents only; tourists/foreigners cannot spearfish there.
  • Galapagos National Park: fishing only on GNPD-authorized recreational tour boats; recreational spearfishing not permitted.

Nationality is not a stated bar to sport spearfishing on the mainland coast, but the activity is authorization-based; the Galapagos special regime effectively excludes non-resident extractive fishing.

Residentes

Galapagos: Licencia PARMA (artisanal fishing permit) granted by the DPNG, plus DIGMER diving matricula for underwater fishing; mainland: authorization/registration for sport fishing with harpoon (Art. 124)

Requisitos

  • Galapagos PARMA: be a permanent resident of the Province of Galapagos and affiliated to a legally constituted artisanal fishers' cooperative; appear in the Registry of Artisanal Fishers of Galapagos; hold a DIGMER diving matricula to fish underwater (Arts. 4, 11, 12).

Benefícios

  • Galapagos permanent residents (registered artisanal fishers) hold exclusive extractive fishing rights within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

On the continental coast there is no general residency requirement for sport spearfishing beyond the Art. 124 authorization; in Galapagos extractive fishing is limited to resident artisanal fishers.

Onde na costa

Zonas permitidas e proibidas

Áreas designadas abertas ou fechadas à pesca submarina. Veja o panorama completo no mapa interativo.

Áreas permitidas

  • Sport/recreational spearfishing with a harpoon is permitted in Ecuadorian jurisdictional waters (aguas jurisdiccionales ecuatorianas) subject to prior authorization and registration with the governing authority, and to gear/species/size/area/season/catch limits set under Art. 124. Activity inside the species-reproduction reserve zone (1 nautical mile from the low-water line along the continental coast, Art. 102) and the artisanal fishing zone (8 nautical miles, Art. 104) is subject to additional restrictions and bans on industrial and mass-capture gear (Art. 103).

    Prior authorization and registration required; comply with authorized gear, permitted species, minimum sizes, designated areas, open seasons and catch limits; respect protected-species bans (sharks/rays/elasmobranchs).

Áreas proibidas

  • Marine protected area of approximately 143,000 km2 extending 40 nautical miles from the archipelago baseline (plus internal waters). Extractive fishing is reserved exclusively to registered local artisanal fishers (PARMA licence, restricted to permanent Galapagos residents). Industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned; recreational spearfishing by tourists/non-residents is not permitted. Underwater (diving) extractive fishing by licensed artisanal fishers additionally requires a DIGMER matricula.

  • Galapagos National Park rules: fishing is only permitted on recreational tour boats authorized by the GNPD; motorized aquatic sports, mini-subs and aerial tourism activities are not permitted. Recreational spearfishing is not permitted within the park or the marine reserve.

  • Zone from the low-water line along Ecuador's continental coast extending at least 1 nautical mile seaward (Art. 102), set aside for reproduction of hydrobiological species. Industrial fishing, mass-capture gear, monofilament/electronic nets, larval nets, explosives and chemical compounds are prohibited (Art. 103).

Condições na água

Condições em tempo real

Instantâneo marinho e meteorológico em tempo real perto de um ponto de referência costeiro em Ecuador, da Open-Meteo. As condições variam ao longo da costa — encare como indicativo.

Condições marinhas e meteorológicas em tempo real perto de Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Condições

A quem perguntar

Autoridades

Os organismos oficiais responsáveis pelas pescas e pelo licenciamento.

  • Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca (Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca - MAGP)

    fisheries authority

  • Subsecretaria de Recursos Pesqueros

    fisheries authority

  • Direccion del Parque Nacional Galapagos (DPNG)

    protected area authority

  • Direccion General de la Marina Mercante (DIGMER) / Armada del Ecuador

    maritime authority

  • Instituto Publico de Investigacion de Acuicultura y Pesca

    research institute

De onde vem isto

Fontes

Cada afirmação nesta página remete para uma destas referências.

  1. [01]

    Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca (R.O. Suplemento No. 187, 21 April 2020) - official gob.ec PDF

    Oficial
    gob.ecConsultado em Jun 14
  2. [02]

    Reglamento Especial de la Actividad Pesquera Artesanal en la Reserva Marina de Galapagos (consolidated text)

    Oficial
    faolex.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 14
  3. [03]

    Decreto Ejecutivo No. 362 - Reglamento General a la Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca

    Oficial
    produccion.gob.ecConsultado em Jun 14
  4. [04]

    Solicitud de permiso de pesca para embarcacion deportiva - Guia Oficial de Tramites (gob.ec)

    Oficial
    gob.ecConsultado em Jun 14
  5. [05]

    Reserva Marina - Parque Nacional Galapagos (galapagos.gob.ec)

    Oficial
    galapagos.gob.ecConsultado em Jun 14
  6. [06]

    Galapagos National Park Rules - Galapagos Conservancy

    Secundária
    galapagos.orgConsultado em Jun 14

Notas do investigador

Recreational spearfishing with a harpoon is explicitly authorized by Article 124 of the 2020 Ley Organica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y Pesca, but only 'previa autorizacion y registro ante el ente rector' (with prior authorization and registration), hence the 'restricted' status. The governing authority (Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca/MAGP) sets gear, species, minimum sizes, areas, seasons and catch limits; detailed harpoon-specific technical rules and exact catch/size figures are delegated to the implementing Reglamento and Ministerial Agreements and were not retrieved as verbatim numeric values. The Galapagos Marine Reserve operates a separate, much stricter special regime (LOREG + artisanal fishing regulation): extractive fishing is exclusive to registered resident artisanal fishers, industrial fishing and fishing from tourist vessels are banned, and recreational spearfishing by tourists is not permitted. Sharks, rays and other elasmobranchs are protected nationwide (Art. 152). All law_texts excerpts are verbatim Spanish from the official gob.ec PDF and the FAOLEX consolidated Galapagos regulation; accents were normalized to ASCII for JSON safety but wording is otherwise unchanged. Closed-season (veda) dates and specific bag/size limits should be verified directly with the Viceministerio de Acuacultura y Pesca before fishing as they change by Ministerial Agreement.

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