Tonga
Oceania · Polynesia
Recreational and subsistence spearfishing (free-diving, breath-hold) is a long-established, legal and common fishing method in Tonga and is expressly recognised in national fisheries policy as a small-scale fishing technique. However it is restricted: the Fisheries Management Act 2002 empowers the Minister to regulate spear guns, underwater breathing apparatus and underwater torches; the use of SCUBA (underwater breathing apparatus) for fishing is prohibited unless an exemption is granted by the Ministry of Fisheries. Spearfishing, like all fishing, is banned inside community Special Management Areas (SMAs) for non-members and entirely banned inside Fish Habitat Reserves (no-take zones within SMAs); these laws apply to all visitors including tourists and boaters. National species size limits and conservation rules (protected/no-take species, a sea-urchin closed season) apply to whatever is speared. Marine mammals (whales, dolphins) and several reef species are fully protected and may not be taken. Foreign visitors fish under the same rules as residents; recreational/sport fishing licence powers exist under the Act but are administered chiefly through commercial sport-fishing vessel (charter) licences rather than individual recreational permits.
Última atualização junho 15, 2026
Enquadramento legal
- §Fisheries Management Act 2002 (Act No. 26 of 2002; CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition)
- §Fisheries Management (Conservation) Regulations 2008
- §Fisheries (Coastal Communities) Regulations 2009 (Special Management Areas)
- §Fisheries (Local Fishing) Regulations 2009
- §Tonga National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026
- §Whale Watching and Swimming Regulations 2013
- Arpão
- Permitido
- Escafandro
- Proibido
- 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.
Regulation-making power over spear guns, underwater breathing apparatus and night fishing
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition)
101 Regulations (1) The Minister may make regulations for the implementation of this Act. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) the Minister may in such regulations provide for all or any of the following — ... (f) the use of underwater breathing apparatus and under water torches for night fishing and regulating the use of spear guns and other similar devices;
Regulation-making power over recreational/sport fishing and Special Management Areas
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition)
(b) the organisation and administration of Coastal Communities and the conservation and management measures that may be applied in Special Management Areas designated to such coastal communities; (c) prescribing fisheries management and conservation measures, gear standards, minimum and a maximum species sizes, closed seasons, closed areas, prohibited methods of fishing gear and schemes for limiting entry into all or any specified fisheries; ... (e) sport or recreational fishing in the fisheries waters and requiring the holding of licences for persons engaging in sport or recreational fishing;
Exemption of non-commercial sport and subsistence vessels from registration
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition)
(3) The Minister may, by Notice in the Gazette, exempt any local fishing vessel used only for sport fishing other than for reward or profit, or any local fishing vessel or non-motorised canoe used only for subsistence fishing, or a foreign fishing vessel registered on the Regional Register or any other regional register of fishing vessels maintained under a regional fisheries management agreement or arrangement, from the requirements of subsection (2).
Commercial sport (charter) fishing vessel licence requirement
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition)
30 Commercial sport fishing Licences (1) No fishing vessel shall be used for reward or hire for sport fishing in the fisheries waters without a commercial sport fishing vessel licence issued by the Chief Executive Officer.
Spearfishing recognised as a small-scale fishing technique
Tonga National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026
Fishing techniques may involve diving (including spearfishing), hand lining, netting or gleaning (often by women), octopus fishing (a'afeke), drop lining and trolling. ... This Plan applies to ... any fishing activities within that area that include, but are not limited to: i) net fishing ii) trolling, line and reef fishing iii) spear fishing.
Restrictions on protected marine species (turtles, giant clam, mud crab, pearl oyster)
Tonga National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026
5.1 No person shall take, possess, sell or purchase any mud crab (Scylla serrata) carrying eggs. 5.2 No person shall sell giant clam (Tridacna spp) and turtle meat locally without inspection and authorization by the Ministry. ... 5.4 No person shall take, possess, sell or purchase any loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate) meat locally, during the open season, without inspection and authorization by the Ministry. ... 5.6 No person can harvest wing pearl oyster from the wild without the authorization from the CEO, Ministry of Fisheries.
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.
- DefesoSea urchin (Tukumisi)Out 1 – Nov 30
Sea urchin harvest is prohibited from October to November under the National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026 (section 7.1, Closed Season).
Autorização para pescar
Licença
O que precisa para estar autorizado na água, quanto custa e como a obter.
Subsistence and small-scale fishers register with the Ministry of Fisheries (vessel, gear and fisher registration). Net licences and export licences/permits are issued by the Ministry. Commercial sport (charter) fishing vessel licences are issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Fisheries.
Obtenha a sua licençaAbre o portal oficial · tongafish.gov.to
- Tipo
- No dedicated individual recreational spearfishing licence. Subsistence fishers must register with the Ministry of Fisheries; charter/guided sport-fishing operations require a commercial sport fishing vessel licence.
- Custo
- unknown
- Validade
- unknown
- Como obter
- Subsistence and small-scale fishers register with the Ministry of Fisheries (vessel, gear and fisher registration). Net licences and export licences/permits are issued by the Ministry. Commercial sport (charter) fishing vessel licences are issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Fisheries.
- Autoridade
- Ministry of Fisheries (Tonga)
Equipamento e técnica
Regras de equipamento
Que equipamento é permitido, como pode ser usado e as condições associadas.
Restrições
- Use of spear guns and similar devices is subject to regulation by the Minister under the Fisheries Management Act 2002, s.101(2)(f).
- Use of underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) for fishing is prohibited; an exemption can be obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries.
- Use of underwater breathing apparatus and underwater torches for night fishing is subject to ministerial regulation.
- Spearfishing is generally conducted by breath-hold (free) diving.
The Fisheries Management Act enables the Minister to regulate spear guns, SCUBA and underwater torches; secondary sources indicate SCUBA fishing is banned absent a Ministry exemption. Spearguns themselves remain a recognised, legal small-scale fishing tool when used by free-diving.
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 national daily bag limit for subsistence spearfishing identified. Home-consumption export limit for finfish is 20 kg per person; commercial export limits apply per species (e.g. sea urchin/sea hares 50 kg/quarter, arch clams 20 kg/quarter).
Tamanhos mínimos
- Acanthurus triostegus (Manini, convict surgeonfish)mín 17 cm
- Ctenochaetus striatus (Pone 'uli)mín 17 cm
- Naso hexacanthus (Ume atu)mín 54 cm
- Naso lituratus (Ume lei)mín 22 cm
- Naso lopezi (Ume atu)mín 32 cm
- Naso unicornis (Ume / 'Ume kaki)mín 32 cm
- Lethrinus xanthochilus (Ngungutoa)mín 43 cm
- Lethrinus obsoletus (Tanutanu)mín 24 cm
- Lethrinus nebulosus (Koango / 'Ika hina)mín 41 cm
- Lethrinus harak (Tanutanu)mín 22 cm
- Lethrinus olivaceus (Ngutukao / Ngutuloloa)mín 43 cm
- Hipposcarus longiceps (Olomea)mín 32 cm
- Leptoscarus vaigiensis (Ufu)mín 21 cm
- Scarus ghobban (Hohomo)mín 41 cm
- Scarus globiceps (Hohomo)mín 29 cm
- Scarus schlegeli (Hohomo)mín 26 cm
- Bolbometopon muricatum (Sikatoki, bumphead parrotfish)mín 69 cm
- Chlorurus microrhinos (Sikatoki)mín 45 cm
- Siganus argenteus (Ma'ava)mín 20 cm
- Siganus fuscescens (Ma'ava)mín 20 cm
- Siganus vermiculatus (Pongongo)mín 25 cm
- Siganus spinus (oo)mín 14 cm
- Octopus (Feke)mín 60 cm
Espécies protegidas — não capturar
- ProtegidaAll whales and dolphins (cetaceans) — fully protected from hunting/killing (royal ban since 1978; reaffirmed in fisheries legislation)
- ProtegidaGiant grouper (prohibited to harvest or export — Fisheries Management (Conservation) Regulations 2008)
- ProtegidaBumphead / humphead parrotfish (prohibited to harvest or export — Conservation Regulations 2008)
- ProtegidaHumphead (Napoleon) wrasse (prohibited to harvest or export — Conservation Regulations 2008)
- ProtegidaRays (prohibited to harvest or export — Conservation Regulations 2008)
- ProtegidaLeatherback turtle — no take
- ProtegidaSea turtles (loggerhead, green, hawksbill, olive ridley) — take restricted; closed/open seasons and ministry authorization required; size limits apply
- ProtegidaGiant clam (Tridacna spp.) — commercial and home-consumption export prohibited; local sale requires ministry inspection
- ProtegidaMud crab carrying eggs — no take
- ProtegidaWing/winged pearl oyster — no wild harvest without CEO authorization
Size limits and protected-species rules are set out in the National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026 (Tongan vernacular names retained). The Fisheries Management (Conservation) Regulations 2008 additionally prohibit harvest/export of giant grouper, bumphead parrotfish, humphead wrasse and rays (per secondary sources). Turtle minimum sizes listed in the Plan: olive ridley 66 cm, green 108 cm, loggerhead 100 cm, hawksbill 76 cm; leatherback = no take.
Quem pode pescar
Visitantes e residentes
Como as regras diferem para visitantes estrangeiros e residentes locais.
Visitantes estrangeiros
PermitidoRequisitos
- Follow all Tongan fisheries and conservation laws, which expressly apply to all visitors including tourists and boaters.
- Do not fish or spearfish inside any Special Management Area (reserved for registered community members) or any Fish Habitat Reserve (no-take).
- Observe national size limits, the SCUBA fishing prohibition and protected-species rules.
Restrições
- No spearfishing/fishing in SMAs or Fish Habitat Reserves.
- No taking of protected species (whales, dolphins, listed reef fish, turtles, giant clam).
- Charter/guided sport-fishing operators must hold a commercial sport fishing vessel licence.
No specific evidence of a dedicated tourist spearfishing permit was found; visitors fish recreationally under the same national rules as residents. Where there is doubt over local SMA boundaries, boaters are advised to use the Ministry/community SMA chart overlays and to pay community anchorage fees where applicable.
Residentes
Subsistence/small-scale fisher registration with the Ministry of Fisheries; SMA membership for community-managed areas.
Requisitos
- Small-scale fishers undertaking subsistence or commercial fishing must register with the Ministry of Fisheries.
- Small-scale fishing vessels must be on the Ministry's Fishing Vessel Register; cast nets must be on the Cast Net Register.
- Only registered members of a coastal community may fish within that community's Special Management Area.
Benefícios
- Registered SMA community members hold preferential/exclusive access to fish within their community's Special Management Area.
- Non-motorised subsistence canoes can be exempted from vessel registration by Gazette notice.
The Special Management Area (SMA) programme grants coastal communities stewardship and preferential access to adjacent marine areas under the Fisheries Management Act 2002 and the Fisheries (Coastal Communities) Regulations 2009.
Onde na costa
Zonas permitidas e proibidas
Áreas designadas abertas ou fechadas à pesca submarina. Veja o panorama completo no mapa interativo.
Áreas permitidas
Spearfishing (free-diving) is permitted as a small-scale/subsistence fishing method throughout Tonga's coastal waters (out to roughly the fringing reefs and the 12 nautical mile territorial sea), subject to national size limits, protected-species rules, the SCUBA prohibition, and exclusion from Special Management Areas where the diver is not a registered community member.
Free-diving only (no SCUBA without Ministry exemption); national species size limits apply; protected/no-take species may not be taken; must not enter another community's SMA or any Fish Habitat Reserve.
Áreas proibidas
- Special Management Areas (SMAs) — nationwide networkcommunity fishery management area (no fishing for non-members)
Community-managed Special Management Areas exist around most coastal communities across Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u. Within an SMA only registered members of the host community may fish; non-members, including tourists and visiting boaters, may not fish or spearfish. Tonga's fisheries and conservation laws apply to all visitors.
- Fish Habitat Reserves (FHRs) within SMAsno-take marine reserve
Each Special Management Area contains a permanent no-take Fish Habitat Reserve where all fishing, spearfishing and collection of marine life is strictly prohibited for everyone, including community members and visitors.
- Vava'u Special Management Areascommunity fishery management area / no-take zone
SMAs are scattered throughout the Vava'u island group, often near key islands and traditional fishing grounds, with designated 'No Anchoring, No Fishing or Fish Habitat' zones. Fishing and spearfishing by non-members is prohibited. Exact boundaries are published via OpenCPN chart overlays for boaters.
Condições na água
Condições em tempo real
Instantâneo marinho e meteorológico em tempo real perto de um ponto de referência costeiro em Tonga, da Open-Meteo. As condições variam ao longo da costa — encare como indicativo.
Condições marinhas e meteorológicas em tempo real perto de Vava'u Special Management Areas.
A quem perguntar
Autoridades
Os organismos oficiais responsáveis pelas pescas e pelo licenciamento.
Ministry of Fisheries (Kingdom of Tonga)
fisheries authority
tongafish.gov.toNuku'alofa, TongaForum Fisheries Agency (FFA) — regional
regional fisheries body
ffa.intHoniara, Solomon IslandsPacific Community (SPC) — Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture
regional technical agency
cbfm.spc.intNoumea, New Caledonia
De onde vem isto
Fontes
Cada afirmação nesta página remete para uma destas referências.
- [01]
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06, 2016 Revised Edition) — official text (Tonga Trade Portal)
Oficialtonga.tradeportal.orgConsultado em Jun 15 - [02]
Tonga National Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2023-2026 (FAOLEX)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 15 - [03]
Tonga Ministry of Fisheries — official website (regulations & legislation)
Oficialtongafish.gov.toConsultado em Jun 15 - [04]
Fisheries Management Act 2002 — Global Fishing Legislative Database (The Outlaw Ocean Project)
Secundáriatheoutlawocean.comConsultado em Jun 15 - [05]
Fisheries Management Act 2002 (No. 26 of 2002) — ECOLEX record
Secundáriaecolex.orgConsultado em Jun 15 - [06]
Navigating Vava'u Special Management Areas: A Guide for International Boaters in Tonga
communityblog.noforeignland.comConsultado em Jun 15 - [07]
Tonga | SPC Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (CBFM) — Special Management Areas
Secundáriacbfm.spc.intConsultado em Jun 15 - [08]
Whale Watching and Swimming Regulations 2013 — Tonga (Tonga Trade Portal)
Oficialtonga.tradeportal.orgConsultado em Jun 15
Notas do investigador
Spearfishing in Tonga is legal but conditional. Key load-bearing findings, all source-backed: (1) The Fisheries Management Act 2002 (CAP. 42.06) gives the Minister power to regulate spear guns, SCUBA and underwater torches (s.101(2)(f)) and to require recreational/sport-fishing licences (s.101(2)(e)) — verbatim text captured from the official PDF. (2) SCUBA fishing is prohibited unless exempted by the Ministry (per secondary sources, consistent with the Act's enabling power); free-diving spearfishing is the norm and is recognised as a small-scale technique in the 2023-2026 Coastal Fisheries Plan. (3) Nationwide community Special Management Areas (SMAs) reserve fishing to registered community members, and Fish Habitat Reserves within them are full no-take zones — these apply to all visitors. (4) Detailed minimum size limits and protected-species/turtle/giant-clam rules and a sea-urchin closed season (Oct-Nov) come verbatim from the official Coastal Fisheries Plan. (5) The Fisheries Management (Conservation) Regulations 2008 additionally protect giant grouper, bumphead parrotfish, humphead wrasse and rays (confirmed via secondary sources; the primary regulation text was not directly retrieved). Confidence is MEDIUM: the Act and the Coastal Fisheries Plan were read verbatim from official PDFs, but the precise wording of the SCUBA-spearfishing prohibition and the 2008 Conservation Regulations was corroborated through secondary sources rather than fetched primary text. No per-individual recreational spearfishing licence regime was found; visitors fish under national rules. Coordinates for individual SMAs are not publicly itemised (boundaries are distributed via OpenCPN overlays); only an approximate Vava'u group centroid is given.
Notifiquem-me quando as regras de Tonga mudarem
Enviamos-lhe um e-mail quando as épocas ou regulamentação de Tonga forem atualizadas no nosso conjunto de dados.