Haiti
Americas · Caribbean
Spearfishing with a speargun or harpoon is prohibited in Haiti. The Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish (the country's basic fisheries law, still in force) classifies 'gun or harpoon fishing' and the mere carrying of guns or harpoons aboard fishing vessels (Arts. 32 and 33) as a felony (delit), punishable by a fine of 500-1000 gourdes or 1 to 3 years' imprisonment. There is no recreational spearfishing licence regime, and the only specifically regulated form of in-water/diving fishing recognised in practice is breath-hold (apnea) and compressor diving for lobster, conch and demersal fish, which itself is constrained by gear and species rules. Recreational fishing of any kind is very poorly developed in Haiti. Enforcement of all fisheries rules is weak in practice, but the law on the books makes speargun/harpoon use illegal. Marine Protected Areas (Three Bays, Port-Salut/Aquin, Jeremie-Abricot, Baraderes-Cayemites) impose additional fishing bans.
Última atualização junho 14, 2026
Enquadramento legal
- §Decret du 27 octobre 1978 reglementant l'Exercice du Droit de Peche en Haiti (Fisheries Decree, 147 articles) - basic fisheries law still in force
- §Decret du 16 fevrier 1965 accordant a l'Etat le monopole de l'importation et de l'exportation des produits de peche (Moniteur No. 17)
- §Decret du 12 octobre 2005 / 2006 portant sur la gestion de l'environnement et de regulation de la conduite des citoyens et citoyennes pour un developpement durable (Environmental Management Decree - legal basis for Marine Protected Areas)
- §Arrete du 11 decembre 2013 / 21 mars 2014 declarant l'Aire Protegee de Ressources Naturelles Gerees des Trois Baies
- §Arrete du 26 aout 2013 declarant l'Aire Protegee de Ressources Naturelles Gerees de Port-Salut/Aquin
- §Arrete intercommunal du 2 avril 2018 portant sur la gestion des ressources halieutiques de l'Aire Protegee des Trois Baies (AP3B)
- Arpão
- Proibido
- Estrangeiros
- Não permitido
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.
Speargun / harpoon fishing classified as a felony
Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish in Haiti (Fisheries Decree)
The following activities are felonies punishable by a fine of between 500 and 1000 gourdes ... or imprisonment between 1 to 3 years: ... Gun or harpoon fishing. Carrying guns or harpoons in vessels engaged in fishing [Arts. 32, 33] ... The stock and the fishing gear will be seized.
Carrying harpoons aboard a fishing vessel is a felony
Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish in Haiti (Fisheries Decree)
The following activities are considered felonies punishable by a fine of between 500 and 1000 gourdes ... or imprisonment between 6 months to one year if the fine is not paid: ... Carrying harpoons in vessels engaged in fishing [Art. 33].
Prohibition of fishing in reserved/protected areas and disturbance of reproduction
Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish in Haiti (Fisheries Decree)
The Fisheries Decree of 1978 bans fishing, sand or stone dredging, harvesting of aquatic plants and in general any activities that may 'disturb the free reproduction of fish'. ... fishing in a protected area is considered a felony ... it is forbidden to fish for any species within 50 meters of the boundary of a protected area.
Closed season for lobster (felony to fish during closed season)
Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish in Haiti (Fisheries Decree)
The following activities are considered felonies ... : ... Fishing for lobster during the closed season (April 1st through September 30th).
Protected species and prohibited captures
Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish in Haiti (Fisheries Decree)
the capture of certain species like dolphins, porpoises and live sardines to be used as bait is prohibited ... it also prohibits the fishing and export of the Atlantic triton (Charonia variegata), all corals, removing turtle eggs, fishing for pinnipeds or cetaceans (unless with a special permit ...), and cutting mangroves ... Harvesting, selling and exporting triton (Charonia variegata); fishing for turtle between May and October, collecting turtle eggs at any time, fishing for crabs between December 1st and May 31 ...
Prohibition of explosives and toxic substances; integral/partial protection of species (verbatim French analysis of Title VIII)
Decret du 27 octobre 1978 reglementant l'exercice du droit de peche (analyse FAO, projet TCP/HAI/4509)
Le decret du 27 octobre 1978 est le texte de base relatif aux peches. C'est un document extremement long de 147 articles distribues sous dix titres ... Le titre huitieme du decret est intitule 'de la pollution des eaux et de la protection de certaines especes'. ... Le decret prohibe la peche a l'aide d'explosifs et de substances toxiques. Il reglemente par ailleurs l'introduction d'especes nouvelles. Des mesures de protection integrale ou partielle de certaines especes animales et vegetales sont edictees. Ces especes comprennent notamment le triton, les tortues, les crabes, les pinnipedes, les cetaces, les marsouins et les mangroves.
Diving fishing practice in Haiti (apnea / with or without speargun / compressor)
FAO Fishery Country Profile - La Republique d'Haiti (FID/CP/HTI, Aout 2005)
Peche en plongee : celle-ci s'effectue generalement en apnee, avec ou sans fusil sous-marin (souvent de fabrication locale, depourvu de systeme de securite au declenchement de la fleche, et donc d'une manipulation extremement dangereuse) ; cette activite peut egalement etre pratiquee a l'aide d'un compresseur monte sur un canot avec tube a air pour la peche des langoustes, lambis, gros poissons demersaux, coraux etc., l'equipage etant alors generalement compose de 4 hommes et les plongees s'effectuant jusqu'a une profondeur de 25 m environ ... l'utilisation de la peche au compresseur dans certaines zones ... est par ailleurs a l'origine de la degradation rapide de certains ecosystemes.
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.
- DefesoLobster (langouste / Caribbean spiny lobster)Abr 1 – Set 30
Closed season for lobster; fishing for lobster between 1 April and 30 September is a felony under Art. 111 of the 1978 Fisheries Decree. In practice rarely enforced.
- DefesoSea turtlesMai 1 – Out 31
Fishing for turtle between May and October is a misdemeanour; collecting turtle eggs is prohibited at any time (Art. 97).
- DefesoCrabsDez 1 – Mai 31
Fishing for crabs between 1 December and 31 May is a misdemeanour under Art. 97 of the 1978 Fisheries Decree.
Autorização para pescar
Licença
O que precisa para estar autorizado na água, quanto custa e como a obter.
unknown
Obtenha a sua licençaAbre o portal oficial · agriculture.gouv.ht
- Tipo
- No recreational spearfishing licence exists. The 1978 Fisheries Decree regulates fishing via permits/concessions for commercial and artisanal fishing, but speargun/harpoon fishing is itself prohibited (a felony), so no licence is issued for it.
- Custo
- unknown
- Validade
- Fishing permits under the decree: 2 years (permits); concessions 2-10 years (commercial). Not applicable to spearfishing, which is banned.
- Como obter
- unknown
- Autoridade
- Direction des Peches et de l'Aquaculture (DPAQ), Ministere de l'Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles et du Developpement Rural (MARNDR)
Equipamento e técnica
Regras de equipamento
Que equipamento é permitido, como pode ser usado e as condições associadas.
Restrições
- Speargun (fusil sous-marin) and harpoon fishing is a felony under Arts. 32-33 of the 1978 Fisheries Decree (fine 500-1000 gourdes or 1-3 years imprisonment; gear seized).
- Merely carrying a gun or harpoon aboard a fishing vessel is a felony (Art. 33).
- Use of explosives and toxic/poisonous substances to fish is prohibited (Title VIII / Art. 95).
- Compressor (hookah) diving is widely used in practice for lobster/conch but is associated with ecosystem damage; minimum mesh sizes (16-20 mm) and other gear rules apply to nets and traps.
In practice, breath-hold (apnea) and compressor diving for lobster, conch and demersal fish are common in artisanal fisheries, and locally-made spearguns without trigger safety are noted by FAO as extremely dangerous - but the speargun/harpoon use itself is legally prohibited under the 1978 decree.
O que pode capturar
Limites de captura e espécies protegidas
Quotas diárias, tamanhos mínimos e espécies que nunca podem ser capturadas.
Limite diário
No general recreational daily bag limit identified. Commercial/artisanal limits are set by permit/concession.
Tamanhos mínimos
- Lobster (langouste)mín 0 cm
Espécies protegidas — não capturar
- ProtegidaAtlantic triton (Charonia variegata) - harvest, sale and export prohibited
- ProtegidaAll corals
- ProtegidaSea turtles (and turtle eggs - collection prohibited at all times)
- ProtegidaDolphins and porpoises (marsouins)
- ProtegidaPinnipeds and cetaceans (special permit only)
- ProtegidaBleeding tooth sea snail (Nerita peloronta) - north/north-east regions
- ProtegidaKing helmet conch (Cassis tuberosa) - north/north-east regions
- ProtegidaQueen conch / lambi (Strombus gigas) - size limits and packaging rules
- ProtegidaMangroves (cutting prohibited, esp. oyster nurseries)
- ProtegidaLive sardines used as bait, pisquette (dwarf herring) in estuaries
Lobster: it is a felony to fish/sell lobster under 5 ounces (151 g) or to sell lobster with eggs; only lobster tails over 5 ounces may be sold/exported. Minimum sizes for other species are set in the relevant permit/concession rather than the decree itself. Three Bays MPA additionally bans taking sea turtles, marine mammals, aquarium fish and endangered cartilaginous fish (2018 by-law).
Quem pode pescar
Visitantes e residentes
Como as regras diferem para visitantes estrangeiros e residentes locais.
Visitantes estrangeiros
Não permitidoLicença especial obrigatória
Requisitos
- Foreign individuals, companies and cooperatives must obtain a concession contract registered with the Fisheries Service and a fishing permit/licence from the Secretary of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development.
- Foreign fishing vessels must present documents on the good status and nationality of the ship.
- All seafood harvested in Haitian waters must be landed in Haitian ports.
Restrições
- Fishing by non-nationals in the territorial sea is a felony (Art. 36 of the 1978 Decree).
- Speargun/harpoon fishing is prohibited for everyone, nationals and foreigners alike.
- Vessels over 3 tons may not fish within 3 miles of the coast; trawling within 3 miles is a felony.
There is no foreigner recreational spearfishing regime. The decree's foreigner provisions concern commercial/industrial fishing under concession; recreational spearfishing with a speargun or harpoon remains illegal regardless of nationality.
Residentes
Artisanal fishing fee/permit (taxe de peche artisanale) under the 1978 Fisheries Decree; no spearfishing-specific licence exists.
Requisitos
- Pay the artisanal fishing fee (engaging in artisanal fishing without paying it is a misdemeanour, Art. 10).
- Provide catch statistics to the Fisheries Service on request (failure can lead to withdrawal of fishing rights).
Benefícios
- 20% of fisheries taxes and fines are allocated to the development of fishing cooperatives.
Right to fish belongs to the State and may be granted to individuals, private companies or fishing cooperatives; speargun/harpoon use is prohibited for residents as well.
Onde na costa
Zonas permitidas e proibidas
Áreas designadas abertas ou fechadas à pesca submarina. Veja o panorama completo no mapa interativo.
Áreas proibidas
- Aire Protegee des Trois Baies (Three Bays Marine Protected Area)marine protected area / national park
Haiti's second MPA, created 11 December 2013, covering the bays of Limonade, Caracol and Fort-Liberte plus the Lagon aux Boeufs in north-east Haiti. Damaging/unsustainable fishing methods (small-mesh nets) banned; total ban on netting under 50 mm mesh, and a ban on taking sea turtles, marine mammals, aquarium fish and endangered cartilaginous fish under the 2018 inter-communal by-law. Fishing within 50 m of the boundary is prohibited under the 1978 Fisheries Decree.
- Aire Protegee de Ressources Naturelles Gerees de Port-Salut/Aquinmarine protected area (managed natural resources)
Haiti's first MPA, created by decree (Le Moniteur, 26 August 2013), located in the south-west of the southern peninsula. Comprises five zoned areas totalling nearly 1,000 square kilometres of marine and terrestrial sites.
- Aire Protegee Jeremie-Abricotsmarine protected area
Marine protected area in the Grand'Anse department (south-west), declared in 2017 according to UNEP/CEP.
- Aire Protegee Baraderes-Cayemitesmarine protected area
Marine protected area in the Nippes/Grand'Anse area, declared in 2017 according to UNEP/CEP.
Condições na água
Condições em tempo real
Instantâneo marinho e meteorológico em tempo real perto de um ponto de referência costeiro em Haiti, da Open-Meteo. As condições variam ao longo da costa — encare como indicativo.
Condições marinhas e meteorológicas em tempo real perto de Aire Protegee des Trois Baies (Three Bays Marine Protected Area).
A quem perguntar
Autoridades
Os organismos oficiais responsáveis pelas pescas e pelo licenciamento.
Direction des Peches et de l'Aquaculture (DPAQ) - Ministere de l'Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles et du Developpement Rural (MARNDR)
fisheries authority
agriculture.gouv.htMinistere de l'Agriculture, Damien, Port-au-Prince, HaitiAgence Nationale des Aires Protegees (ANAP) - Ministere de l'Environnement (MDE)
environment ministry / protected areas agency
Manages Haiti's Marine Protected Areas under the 2006 Environmental Management DecreeBrigade de Surveillance des Aires Protegees (BSAP)
protected-area enforcement
Formerly Corps de Surveillance de l'Environnement; enforces protected-area rules
De onde vem isto
Fontes
Cada afirmação nesta página remete para uma destas referências.
- [01]
Environmental Law Institute (2018), Legal Framework for Marine Protected Area Enforcement in Three Bays National Park, Haiti - detailed article-by-article analysis of the 1978 Fisheries Decree (incl. harpoon/speargun felony, closed seasons, protected species, penalties)
Secundáriaeli.orgConsultado em Jun 14 - [02]
FAO Fishery Country Profile - La Republique d'Haiti (FID/CP/HTI, August 2005) - confirms 1978 decree as governing law, diving/speargun fishing practice, responsible authority
Oficialfao.orgConsultado em Jun 14 - [03]
FAO - Legislation des peches en Haiti (project TCP/HAI/4509) - analysis of the 1978 Fisheries Decree structure, prohibited methods, protected species
Oficialopenknowledge.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 14 - [04]
FAOLEX - Decret du 16 fevrier 1965 accordant a l'Etat le monopole de l'importation et de l'exportation des produits de peche (verbatim text)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 14 - [05]
Ministere de l'Agriculture des Ressources Naturelles et du Developpement Rural (MARNDR) - La Peche en Haiti
Oficialagriculture.gouv.htConsultado em Jun 14 - [06]
Fondation Haiti Maritime - La Peche en Haiti: Territoire, recensement et production (confirms 1978 decree, 72h trip limit, coastline data)
Secundáriahaiti-maritime.orgConsultado em Jun 14 - [07]
FAOLEX Database - Haiti country general profile (fisheries legislation index)
Oficialfao.orgConsultado em Jun 14
Notas do investigador
Spearfishing (speargun/harpoon underwater fishing) is legally prohibited in Haiti: under the Decree of 27 October 1978 regulating the exercise of the right to fish (the country's basic fisheries law, 147 articles, still in force), 'gun or harpoon fishing' and even carrying a gun or harpoon aboard a fishing vessel (Arts. 32 and 33) are felonies punishable by a 500-1000 gourde fine or 1-3 years imprisonment, with seizure of gear (penalty art. 132.2). There is no recreational spearfishing licence. VERBATIM SOURCE NOTE: the exact original French wording of Arts. 32-33 could not be retrieved (the only full-text PDFs found via FAOLEX/MARNDR for the 1978 decree are image-only scans and the 1965 monopoly decree). The law_texts entries flagged translated=true are precise English excerpts from the USAID-funded Environmental Law Institute (2018) article-by-article review of the 1978 decree; the French entries (translated=false) are verbatim from FAO documents. Confidence is set to MEDIUM rather than high because the governing instrument's verbatim French text for the speargun provisions is reported via an authoritative secondary legal analysis rather than the primary gazette text; the prohibition itself is well-corroborated. Enforcement of all fisheries rules in Haiti is widely described as weak. Coordinates for MPAs are approximate centroids of the named bays/areas. Lobster minimum size is expressed by the law in ounces (over 5 oz / 151 g) rather than centimetres, so min_size_cm is recorded as 0 (not specified in cm).
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