Venezuela
Americas · South America
Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / subacuatica) is legal in Venezuela but tightly regulated. It is governed at national level by the Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (2008), which classifies spearfishing as a form of 'pesca deportiva y recreativa' (Pesca de Persecucion de los organismos con arpones) requiring an authorization/permit from INSOPESCA, and specifically by Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 (Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132, 17 April 2017) - 'Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica' - under which recreational subaquatic fishing must be carried out by apnea (free-diving): the use of autonomous (scuba) or surface-supply breathing equipment is expressly prohibited (Art. 31.7), a defined list of protected species (all sea turtles, sharks, rays, guasa, parrotfishes, etc.) may not be taken (Arts. 14-15), and minimum sizes/weights apply to permitted species (Arts. 12-13). Because the speargun (arpon) is legally classed as a weapon, spearfishers must also hold a 'porte de arpon' issued by DAEX (military arms control directorate); in practice the permit is channelled through membership of the Federacion Venezolana de Actividades Subacuaticas (FVAS). Spearfishing is prohibited inside national parks and protected marine areas (e.g. Los Roques, Morrocoy, Mochima) and during closed seasons (e.g. the national lobster veda).
Última atualização junho 16, 2026
Enquadramento legal
- §Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Gaceta Oficial N. 5.877 Extraordinario, 14 March 2008
- §Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132, 17 April 2017
- §Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones (speargun classed as permitted sporting weapon; porte de arpon issued by DAEX)
- §Resolucion DM N. 115, 21 October 2013, Gaceta Oficial N. 40.279 (national lobster closed season)
- Licença obrigatória
- Obrigatória
- 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.
Definition of recreational/sport fishing including spearfishing (pesca de persecucion con arpones)
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
6. Pesca deportiva y recreativa: Es la que se realiza con fines de turismo, recreacion, esparcimiento y competitivos. Las capturas provenientes de esta pesca no tienen como objeto su comercializacion, aun cuando puedan generar otros beneficios, al ofrecer el interesado o interesada los servicios para realizar este tipo de pesca. Hay dos modalidades fundamentales, dependiendo de la estrategia utilizada, la Pesca de Atraccion de los organismos mediante senuelos, carnadas y otros dispositivos y, la Pesca de Persecucion de los organismos con arpones en su habitat especifico.
Recreational and sport fishing permitted to nationals and foreigners with prior authorization
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
Las personas juridicas deberan estar legalmente constituidas y domiciliadas en el pais y, las personas naturales extranjeras deberan estar domiciliadas en el pais. Los buques empleados en el aprovechamiento de los recursos hidrobiologicos deberan estar inscritos en el Registro Naval Venezolano, sin perjuicio de lo establecido en los convenios pesqueros suscritos y ratificados por la Republica. Se permitira ejercer actividades de pesca deportiva y recreativa a las personas naturales venezolanas o extranjeras domiciliadas o no en el pais, previa autorizacion de las autoridades competentes.
Sport and recreational fishing permit (Permiso de Pesca Deportiva y Recreativa)
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
b) Pesca Deportiva y Recreativa: Destinada a la captura de determinadas especies en areas permitidas, siempre y cuando no causen interferencia con otras pesquerias, de conformidad con los reglamentos y normas tecnicas de ordenamiento del presente Decreto con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley, y tendran una vigencia hasta por un (1) ano con caracter renovable.
Ordering norms: minimum sizes/weights and closed periods/zones (veda)
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
El Ministerio con competencia en materia de pesca y acuicultura, en coordinacion con los organos y entes competentes en esta materia, adoptara normas tecnicas de ordenamiento de los recursos hidrobiologicos, entre otras, relativas ha: 1. Tallas o pesos minimos de captura. 2. Periodos y zonas de veda para proteger a los organismos acuaticos, la diversidad biologica y la estructura de los ecosistemas. 3. Nivel de esfuerzo optimo de pesca. 4. Limitaciones en las caracteristicas de las artes, equipos y practicas de pesca. 5. Las caracteristicas de los buques de pesca. 6. Establecer capturas totales permisibles, cuotas globales o individuales, turnos de pesca y declarar pesquerias cerradas. 7. Otras medidas para la proteccion de los caladeros.
General fishing prohibitions: explosives, poisons and harmful substances
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura
Queda expresamente prohibido: 1. La tenencia en los buques pesqueros y la realizacion de actividades de pesca con dinamita, polvora o cualquier otro explosivo, carburo, azufre, cal, acido o barbasco, asi como cualquier otro elemento quimico o natural que pudieran causar danos a los recursos hidrobiologicos. Excepcionalmente, podra utilizarse el barbasco para la pesca cientifica o la pesca indigena de subsistencia.
Spearfishing prohibitions including ban on autonomous diving (scuba) and surface-supply equipment
Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)
Queda expresamente prohibido: 1. La realizacion de actividades de pesca subacuatica con dinamita, polvora, electricidad, puntas explosivas o cualquier otro material explosivo. 2. La realizacion de actividades de pesca subacuatica con sustancias o implementos venenosos, adormecedores, saporiferos, barbasco o cualquier otro elemento quimico o natural que pudieran causar danos a los recursos hidrobiologicos; excepcionalmente, podra utilizarse el barbasco para la pesca cientifica. 3. Mantener armado el fusil fuera del agua o en el buque. 4. El uso de artefactos hidrodeslizadores. 5. Remolcar al pescador o pescadora subacuatica con el buque. 6. El uso de fusiles lanza arpones que no requieren del esfuerzo fisico para armarlos. 7. La practica de la actividad de pesca subacuatica comercial artesanal, deportiva y recreativa con equipos de respiracion autonomos o equipos de respiracion con asistencia de conexion a superficie o compresores.
Species whose capture is expressly prohibited in marine subaquatic fishing
Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)
En el ejercicio de la actividad de pesca subacuatica queda expresamente prohibida la captura de las siguientes especies: 1. Tortugas de cualquier especie; 2. Tiburones (Clase Chondrichthyes) de cualquier especie; 3. Rayas (Clase Chondrichthyes) de cualquier especie, incluyendo a los chuchos (Aetobatus narinari); 4. Guasas (Epinephelus itajara); 5. Cachamas (familia Pomacanthidae) de cualquier especie; 6. Cachuas (Familia Balistidae) de cualquier especie; 7. Candiles (Familia Holocentridae) de cualquier especie; 8. Toritos y chapines (Familia Ostraciidae) de cualquier especie; 9. Mero jabon (Familia Grammistidae); 10. Lijas (Familia Monacanthidae) de cualquier especie; 11. Paguaras (Chaetodipterus faber); 12. Guacamayas (Scarus coelestinus); 13. Loro cotorra (Scarus vetula); 14. Loro azul (Sparisoma chrysopterum); 15. Loro colorado (Sparisoma viride); 16. Loro pardo (Sparisoma rubripinne).
Mandatory safety equipment for the spearfishing operation
Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)
Para el desarrollo de la faena de pesca subacuatica es obligatorio el uso de una boya de senalizacion de color rojo, anaranjado, amarillo u otro color llamativo, con un volumen minimo de cinco litros (5 lts), un silbato y un cuchillo para pesca con punta y hoja de doble filo, a ser empleados para la seguridad del pescador.
Speargun (arpon) classification as a permitted sporting weapon and DAEX porte de arpon for FVAS-registered spearfishers (FVAS account, paraphrase)
Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones (Articulo 18) / DAEX authorization to FVAS
Paraphrase from the Federacion Venezolana de Actividades Subacuaticas (FVAS), not the statutory text of Articulo 18: according to FVAS, the speargun (arpon) is classified as an 'Arma Permitida con Fines Deportivos' and registered FVAS spearfishers holding a porte de arpon issued by DAEX are exempt from the firearm/blade prohibitions (DAEX communication referenced to Gaceta Oficial No. 41.705). The verbatim wording of Articulo 18 of the Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones was not retrievable from an official source.
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.
- DefesoSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus), Panulirus guttatus, Panulirus laevicauda - langostaFev 1 – Set 30
National closed season (veda nacional) for the capture of lobster across the entire national territory, established by Resolucion DM N. 115 of 21 October 2013 (Gaceta Oficial N. 40.279). Reaffirmed annually by INSOPESCA; the 2026 veda entered into force on 1 February 2026.
Autorização para pescar
Licença
O que precisa para estar autorizado na água, quanto custa e como a obter.
Apply at an INSOPESCA office with the form from the INSOPESCA website, RIPAC/Registro de Pesca enrollment, ID copy (100% enlarged), FVAS membership card copy (both sides, 100% enlarged), proof of payment of 2 tax units, and invoice or sworn declaration of speargun ownership. Visit the regional sub-office for speargun inspection and document signing, obtain the Porte de Arpon Deportivo from DAEX, then return to the sub-office to collect the definitive permit.
Obtenha a sua licençaAbre o portal oficial · fvas.com.ve
- Tipo
- Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica (INSOPESCA) plus Porte de Arpon Deportivo (DAEX)
- Custo
- Pago de dos (2) unidades tributarias to the INSOPESCA account (exact monetary amount varies with the tax unit value)
- Validade
- Provisional INSOPESCA permit valid 3 months, within which the definitive DAEX 'porte de arpon' must be obtained; general fishing permits under the Ley de Pesca are valid up to 1 year, renewable.
- Como obter
- Apply at an INSOPESCA office with the form from the INSOPESCA website, RIPAC/Registro de Pesca enrollment, ID copy (100% enlarged), FVAS membership card copy (both sides, 100% enlarged), proof of payment of 2 tax units, and invoice or sworn declaration of speargun ownership. Visit the regional sub-office for speargun inspection and document signing, obtain the Porte de Arpon Deportivo from DAEX, then return to the sub-office to collect the definitive permit.
- Autoridade
- Instituto Socialista de la Pesca y Acuicultura (INSOPESCA), in coordination with DAEX (Direccion General de Armas y Explosivos) and FVAS
Equipamento e técnica
Regras de equipamento
Que equipamento é permitido, como pode ser usado e as condições associadas.
Restrições
- Spearfishing must be done by apnea only; recreational subaquatic fishing with autonomous breathing equipment (scuba) or surface-supply/compressor equipment is expressly prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31.7).
- A signalling buoy (min. 5 litres, bright colour), a whistle and a double-edged pointed knife are mandatory safety equipment for the operation (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 8).
- Spearfishing is only allowed between 05:00 and 19:00 (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 22); fishing within 100 m of line anglers, bathing areas or other water sports/artisanal fishing is prohibited (Art. 31).
- Spearguns must not be kept armed out of the water or on the vessel, and self-arming (non-physical-effort) spearguns are prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31.3 and 31.6).
- The speargun (arpon) is legally a weapon and requires a 'porte de arpon' issued by DAEX; possession without it can lead to confiscation.
- Use of explosives, gunpowder, electricity, explosive tips, barbasco or other chemical/toxic substances for fishing is prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31; Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Art. 39).
- Capture of a list of protected species (all sea turtles, sharks, rays, guasa grouper, parrotfishes, etc.) is expressly prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 14 marine / Art. 15 continental).
Spearfishing is the 'Pesca de Persecucion de los organismos con arpones en su habitat especifico' (Ley de Pesca, Art. 18.6) and, under Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, is conducted by apneistas (free-divers). Apnea-only operation and the safety/equipment and protected-species rules above are core requirements set verbatim in that resolution.
O que pode capturar
Limites de captura e espécies protegidas
Quotas diárias, tamanhos mínimos e espécies que nunca podem ser capturadas.
Limite diário
unknown
Espécies protegidas — não capturar
- ProtegidaSea turtles of any species (tortugas de cualquier especie) - Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 14.1 / Art. 15.1
- ProtegidaSharks of any species (tiburones, Clase Chondrichthyes) - Art. 14.2
- ProtegidaRays of any species (rayas, Clase Chondrichthyes), including eagle rays/chuchos (Aetobatus narinari) - Art. 14.3
- ProtegidaGoliath grouper / guasa (Epinephelus itajara) - Art. 14.4
- ProtegidaAngelfishes / cachamas (familia Pomacanthidae) - Art. 14.5
- ProtegidaTriggerfishes / cachuas (Familia Balistidae) - Art. 14.6
- ProtegidaSquirrelfishes / candiles (Familia Holocentridae) - Art. 14.7
- ProtegidaBoxfishes / toritos y chapines (Familia Ostraciidae) - Art. 14.8
- ProtegidaSoapfishes / mero jabon (Familia Grammistidae) - Art. 14.9
- ProtegidaFilefishes / lijas (Familia Monacanthidae) - Art. 14.10
- ProtegidaAtlantic spadefish / paguara (Chaetodipterus faber) - Art. 14.11
- ProtegidaParrotfishes (Scarus coelestinus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma chrysopterum, Sparisoma viride, Sparisoma rubripinne) - Art. 14.12-16
- ProtegidaContinental species: pavon (Familia Cichlidae), cachama (Colossoma macropomum), curito (Hoplosternum littorale), freshwater rays (Familia Potamotrygonidae) - Art. 15
- ProtegidaQueen conch / botuto (Strombus gigas) - permanent veda, capture only for research (Art. 18)
- ProtegidaLobster (Panulirus argus, P. guttatus, P. laevicauda) - requires special commercial permit (Art. 16) and is under the national closed season (1 Feb - 30 Sep)
Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 (Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132) expressly prohibits the capture of the marine species listed in Art. 14 and the continental species listed in Art. 15 (quoted verbatim in law_texts). The resolution also fixes minimum capture sizes/weights per permitted species in tables within Arts. 12-13; those tables were not cleanly extractable from the scanned official PDF, so specific per-species minimum sizes and daily bag limits remain marked unknown. (The earlier blanket 'endangered / ornamental / coral species' wording came from a FVAS summary and has been replaced by the actual statutory species lists.)
Quem pode pescar
Visitantes e residentes
Como as regras diferem para visitantes estrangeiros e residentes locais.
Visitantes estrangeiros
PermitidoLicença especial obrigatória
Requisitos
- Prior authorization from the competent authorities (Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Art. 10).
- Sport/recreational fishing is expressly permitted to foreign natural persons whether or not domiciled in the country (Art. 10).
- A spearfishing permit and porte de arpon (via INSOPESCA/DAEX) are required as for nationals; in practice this is channelled through FVAS membership.
Restrições
- Spearfishing prohibited inside national parks and protected marine areas.
- Apnea-only; no scuba.
Art. 10 of the Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura explicitly allows nationals and foreigners (domiciled or not) to conduct sport and recreational fishing with prior authorization. Practical procedures for non-residents to obtain the DAEX porte de arpon are not clearly documented in the sources reviewed.
Residentes
Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica (INSOPESCA) + Porte de Arpon (DAEX), generally via FVAS membership
Requisitos
- RIPAC / Registro Integral de Pesca enrollment with INSOPESCA
- Venezuelan ID and RIF
- FVAS membership
- Payment of fee (2 tax units) and speargun ownership proof
- Porte de arpon issued by DAEX
Residents follow the standard INSOPESCA/DAEX/FVAS process described under license.
Onde na costa
Zonas permitidas e proibidas
Áreas designadas abertas ou fechadas à pesca submarina. Veja o panorama completo no mapa interativo.
Áreas proibidas
- Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roquesnational park / marine protected area
National park covering over 1,500 km2 in the Caribbean, approx. 160 km north of La Guaira. Declared a national park on 8 August 1972 (225,153 ha). Fishing is regulated/restricted and spearfishing is not permitted within the protected park; the area is managed by INPARQUES.
- Parque Nacional Morrocoynational park / marine protected area
Coastal national park of 32,090 ha in Falcon State, decreed on 26 May 1974, with mangroves, cays and coral reefs. As a national protected area, spearfishing and extractive fishing are restricted/prohibited; managed by INPARQUES.
- Parque Nacional Mochimanational park / marine protected area
Coastal-marine national park between Anzoategui and Sucre States. A protected area where extractive activities including spearfishing are restricted; managed by INPARQUES.
- Reservas acuicolas, refugios de fauna y zonas de vedaprotected area / closed zone
The Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura prohibits fishing in areas declared as aquaculture reserves, wildlife refuges, protected areas under special regime, and closed (veda) zones (e.g. Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Cuare and other areas under regimen de administracion especial).
Condições na água
Condições em tempo real
Instantâneo marinho e meteorológico em tempo real perto de um ponto de referência costeiro em Venezuela, da Open-Meteo. As condições variam ao longo da costa — encare como indicativo.
Condições marinhas e meteorológicas em tempo real perto de Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques.
A quem perguntar
Autoridades
Os organismos oficiais responsáveis pelas pescas e pelo licenciamento.
Instituto Socialista de la Pesca y Acuicultura (INSOPESCA)
fisheries authority
insopesca.gob.veAdscribed to the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Agricultura Productiva y TierrasDireccion General de Armas y Explosivos (DAEX)
arms control authority (issues porte de arpon for spearguns)
Federacion Venezolana de Actividades Subacuaticas (FVAS)
national underwater activities federation
Instituto Nacional de Parques (INPARQUES)
protected areas / national parks authority
De onde vem isto
Fontes
Cada afirmação nesta página remete para uma destas referências.
- [01]
Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (full text, FAOLEX)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 15 - [02]
Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017) - full official text (FAOLEX)
Oficialfaolex.fao.orgConsultado em Jun 16 - [03]
FVAS - Regulacion Vigente de Pesca Subacuatica en Venezuela (FVAS summary of Resolucion DM/No. 012-17)
Secundáriafvas.com.veConsultado em Jun 15 - [04]
FVAS - DAEX autoriza a los pescadores submarinos federados FVAS a pescar con su porte de arpon vigente
Secundáriafvas.com.veConsultado em Jun 15 - [05]
FVAS - Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica INSOPESCA (requirements and process)
Secundáriafvas.com.veConsultado em Jun 15 - [06]
INSOPESCA - Veda Nacional de la Langosta (national lobster closed season)
Oficialinsopesca.gob.veConsultado em Jun 15 - [07]
Red Iberoamericana de Reservas Marinas - Los Roques (coordinates and area)
Oficialmapa.gob.esConsultado em Jun 15 - [08]
Inparques - Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques
Oficialinparques.gob.veConsultado em Jun 15 - [09]
Wikipedia - Parque nacional Morrocoy (area, decree date)
Secundáriaes.wikipedia.orgConsultado em Jun 15
Notas do investigador
Spearfishing in Venezuela is legal but restricted: apnea-only (no scuba), with a DAEX porte de arpon and an INSOPESCA sport-fishing permit, generally arranged through FVAS membership. The core sport-specific instrument is Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 (Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132, 17 April 2017) - 'Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica'; its full official article-by-article text was located on FAOLEX (ven174264.pdf) and the key provisions (apnea-only / no-scuba prohibition in Art. 31.7, prohibited species in Art. 14, mandatory safety equipment in Art. 8) are now quoted verbatim from that official Gaceta Oficial source, replacing the earlier FVAS blog summary of the 'three principles', which was a secondary paraphrase rather than official article text. The umbrella framework is the 2008 Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto N. 5.930), whose relevant articles were captured verbatim from the FAOLEX official PDF. The one remaining secondary item is the speargun's weapons-law classification (Art. 18 of the Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones): only the FVAS description of DAEX's authorization could be obtained, so it is retained as an explicitly-labelled paraphrase, not as a verbatim article. Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 sets concrete minimum sizes/weights per species in tables (Arts. 12-13) that were not cleanly extractable from the scanned PDF; per-species size limits and daily bag limits therefore remain marked unknown. Practical political/economic instability in Venezuela may affect real-world enforcement and permit availability; users should verify current requirements directly with INSOPESCA and FVAS before diving.
Notifiquem-me quando as regras de Venezuela mudarem
Enviamos-lhe um e-mail quando as épocas ou regulamentação de Venezuela forem atualizadas no nosso conjunto de dados.