Каждое побережье, каждое правило.

Recreational spearfishing ('peche a la nage dite peche sous-marine') is legal in Algeria but tightly regulated. It is classified as a form of recreational fishing ('peche recreative') under Law 01-11 of 3 July 2001 on fishing and aquaculture, and its detailed conditions are set by Executive Decree 03-481 of 13 December 2003 fixing the conditions and modalities for the exercise of fishing. Spearfishing requires a fishing authorisation from the fisheries administration; it is forbidden for persons under 16 years of age; any breathing apparatus (autonomous or not) allowing an immersed person to breathe without returning to the surface is prohibited (i.e. no spearfishing on SCUBA); explosive/compressed-gas propulsion is banned except where compression is produced manually by the user; spearfishing at night (between sunset and sunrise) is prohibited; a marker buoy must be carried; and catch is for self-consumption only and may not be sold. Marine protected areas such as the Habibas Islands Marine Nature Reserve restrict or prohibit fishing. Enforcement is reported to be weak in practice.

Recreational and sports spearfishing ('pesca submarina') is legally recognised and permitted in Angola, but tightly regulated by the Regulation on Recreational and Sports Fishing (Presidential Decree 146/13, 30 Sep 2013), issued under the Law on Aquatic Biological Resources (Law 6-A/04). Spearfishing may be practised only in free-diving / apnea with mask and snorkel; the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (scuba / escafandro autónomo) for spearfishing is prohibited (it is allowed only for exploration, science and archaeology under individual ministerial authorisation). An annual personal, non-transferable licence issued by the Ministry of Fisheries is required for any recreational/sports fishing. Practitioners must be 18+ (nationals and foreigners alike). Recreational spearfishing is limited to 3 specimens/day (max 50 kg total) plus a maximum of 2 lobsters/crayfish/spider-crabs per fisher/day. Spearfishing is banned within 100 m of fishing nets/boats, within 50 m of bathing beaches, and within 20 m of other fishers; spears propelled by chemical/explosive detonation, poison or corrosive substances, or compressed gas (except CO2 recharge) are prohibited, as is the killing of seabirds. Selling the catch is forbidden. Foreign tourists may take part in organised competitions on payment of a fee.

Benin's fisheries are governed by the Loi-cadre n° 2014-19 du 07 août 2014 relative à la pêche et à l'aquaculture. The law does NOT contain any provision that specifically names spearfishing, speargun, harpoon, or underwater fishing (no occurrence of 'pêche sous-marine', 'chasse sous-marine', 'harpon' or 'fusil' in the text). However, recreational/sport fishing is regulated as 'pêche sportive', defined (Art. 2.s) as fishing for recreational, non-profit purposes, excluding only hand-line angling with a hook. Speargun-based recreational fishing therefore falls under 'pêche sportive', which requires a sport-fishing permit (Art. 62); practising sport fishing without authorization is an offence (Art. 113.a) punishable by a fine of 200,000–2,000,000 CFA francs and/or 3–9 months imprisonment. The minister in charge of fisheries may set closed periods/seasons and prohibited zones (Art. 83) and establish protected fishing zones (Art. 84); prohibited gear/methods are fixed by decree (Arts. 73–77). No spearfishing-specific equipment, season, catch or zone rules were found, so the precise practical status for a foreign or local spearfisher is uncertain — hence 'restricted' (permit required) with low confidence.

Botswana is landlocked, so any spearfishing would be freshwater only (Okavango Delta, Chobe River, Limpopo system and inland dams). The governing law is the Fish Protection Act (Cap. 38:04, formerly Act 42 of 1975) and the Fish Protection Regulations 2016, administered by the Fisheries Division of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Ministry of Environment and Tourism). Neither the Act nor publicly available materials specifically authorise or prohibit spearfishing/spearguns by name. The Act bans the use of explosive, poisonous or noxious substances and empowers the Minister to regulate fishing methods, nets, gear, licences and seasons. In practice the recognised fishing methods are gill nets (commercial), hook-and-line, traps and fly/spin angling (recreational); recreational fishing requires a licence and a national closed season runs roughly 1 January to end of February (open season 1 March to 31 December). Fishing is prohibited inside national parks and certain game reserves (e.g. Chobe National Park, parts of the Okavango Delta within reserves). Because no provision squarely addresses recreational spearfishing, its legal status is treated as unknown pending confirmation from the Fisheries Division.

Burkina Faso is landlocked, so there is no marine/sea spearfishing. Inland (freshwater) fishing in public waters is governed by Book III (Livre III) of the Forest Code, Loi N°003-2011/AN of 05 April 2011. Article 175 expressly prohibits fishing by means of explosives, firearms or bladed/edged weapons ("armes a feu ou d'armes blanches"), as well as toxic substances and electric methods. A speargun or harpoon used to take fish falls within the prohibited categories (firearm/bladed weapon), so recreational underwater spearfishing is effectively not a lawful fishing method. The authorised artisanal gears in national waters are nets (filet maillant, epervier), longlines (palangre), hook-and-line and traps; the law (Art. 179) further empowers the minister to designate prohibited substances and methods. Any sport or commercial fishing also requires a region-specific fishing permit (permis de peche). Fishing in Burkinabe waters is reserved for nationals, with foreigners admitted only under conditions set by regulation (Art. 189).

Burundi is landlocked; all fishing is freshwater, dominated by Lake Tanganyika and inland lakes/rivers. Fishing is governed by Law No. 1/17 of 30 November 2016 on the organisation of fishing and aquaculture. The law recognises 'recreational/sport fishing' (peche sportive) as a category (Art. 4) and allows it to be practised freely within limits fixed by ministerial ordinance (Art. 32). Spearfishing / harpoon / speargun (peche au harpon / fusil sous-marin) is NOT named or specifically authorised anywhere in the law, and is not in the list of explicitly prohibited gear or methods (Art. 37-39). It therefore falls in a grey area: recreational fishing is permitted, but the specific use of an underwater speargun is unregulated and unaddressed. The law does prohibit attracting fish with underwater lights (Art. 38.6), electrocution/stunning gear (Art. 38.7), explosives (Art. 38.8) and toxic substances (Art. 38.2). A regional annual closed season applies to Lake Tanganyika (15 May to 15 August). Classified as 'restricted' because recreational fishing is allowed but subject to seasonal closures, protected-area exclusions and species protections, while spearfishing itself is not expressly permitted.

Recreational and sport spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Cabo Verde and expressly regulated by Decreto-Lei n.º 54/2005, de 22 de Agosto, which governs amateur fishing in waters under national jurisdiction. It applies to nationals and foreigners alike. Spearfishing requires a licence (Licença de Pesca Recreativa e Desportiva, available monthly, quarterly or annually). Key restrictions: only breath-hold (apnea) diving is permitted (SCUBA / artificial breathing apparatus is prohibited for spearfishing, except a surface snorkel); spearfishing only from sunrise to sunset; minimum 200 m from bathing beaches and 20 m from other spearfishers; minimum age 16 (written guardian consent up to 18); only elastic- or compressed-air-powered spearguns firing a single shaft/harpoon are allowed (explosive/chemical propulsion and explosive tips banned); a maximum of 3 demersal fish per person per day; protected species may not be taken; and catch may not be sold. Spearfishing is prohibited in ports and in legally protected areas such as the Santa Luzia Natural Reserve. A separate 2024 decreto-regulamentar (de 25 de março) created a distinct COMMERCIAL diving-fishing regime (nationals only, allowing compressed-air gear) which is controversial; it does not apply to recreational spearfishing.

Spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) is not banned in Cameroon but is regulated as part of the general fisheries regime. The governing instrument is Law No. 2024/019 of 23 December 2024 to lay down the rules and regulations governing fisheries and aquaculture, which replaced the 1994 fisheries code (Law No. 94/01). The new law expressly recognises 'underwater fishing' (peche sous-marine) and 'sport or recreational fishing' as distinct categories of fishing (Section 15), and it defines underwater fishing as 'a set of activities designed to capture or collect fish resources from the seabed' (Section 11 definitions). Carrying out underwater, river or lake fishing using a self-contained breathing apparatus (e.g. SCUBA), a foil or any other similar equipment requires prior authorization from the Minister in charge of fisheries; doing so without authorization is a criminal offence (Section 88). All fishing is also subject to general prohibitions: it is forbidden to catch fully protected aquatic species (Section 26) or to use explosives, chemicals, poison, electricity, firearms or self-triggered traps (Section 27 f). Boundaries of the zones where each type of fishing may be practised, and the conditions for carrying them out, are set by separate Regulation (Section 15(2)-(3)); detailed implementing decrees for the 2024 law were still being rolled out in 2025, so some operational rules (specific recreational permit, fees, seasons, size limits) are not yet publicly codified. Industrial fishing is additionally restricted near the coast, and a marine protected area (Manyange na Elombo-Campo, created 2021) bans industrial fishing in part of the southern coastal waters.

The Central African Republic is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only freshwater (inland) fishing is possible, in rivers, lakes, ponds, floodplains and other water bodies. Fishing is governed by Loi N° 20.944 portant Code de la Pêche et de l'Aquaculture de la République Centrafricaine, promulgated on 6 August 2020 by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra (replacing the earlier Ordonnance n° 71-90 of 6 August 1971). The Code recognises 'pêche sportive' (recreational, non-commercial fishing) and requires a permit for it, but it does NOT explicitly mention underwater fishing, spearguns, harpoons or 'fusil sous-marin'. The Code prohibits a list of destructive fishing methods (toxic substances, explosives and firearms, electrocution, small-mesh nets, beating/'battage'); the use of a harpoon or speargun is not named among either the authorised or the prohibited gear, so its legality is undetermined in the primary text. Inland fishing is reserved to nationals (Art.20) except under international agreement, sport-fishing requires a ministerial permit (Art.27), and the Minister in charge of fisheries may set closed seasons, prohibited zones and prohibited techniques by regulation (Art.21). No specific spearfishing rule, season or zone could be located. Confidence is low because no provision specific to underwater/spear fishing exists and the implementing regulations setting gear specifications were not retrieved.

Chad is a landlocked Sahelian country with no sea coastline; all fishing is inland (freshwater), mainly on Lake Chad and the Chari and Logone rivers. There is no specific legal regime for recreational underwater spearfishing (chasse sous-marine / pêche au harpon). Fishing is governed by Loi nº 014/PR/2008 du 10 juin 2008 portant régime des forêts, de la faune et des ressources halieutiques (a general framework whose full implementing texts for fisheries are still awaited), supported by the environment framework law (Loi 014/PR/98) and the water code (Loi 016/PR/99). National fisheries regulation permits only artisanal gear (beach seines 'tarou', longlines/palangres, traps/nasses, cast nets/épervier, gill nets) subject to minimum mesh sizes, and it explicitly prohibits destructive fishing methods including firearms ('armes à feu'), explosives, electric devices and toxic/polluting products (except for scientific research). Because firearms and similar devices are banned and no provision authorises underwater spearguns/harpoons, recreational spearfishing has no legal basis and is best treated as not permitted / heavily restricted. A fishing permit is required (Category A for nationals, Category B for foreigners).

There is no dedicated recreational spearfishing law in the Union of the Comoros, but the activity is governed by the national Fisheries and Aquaculture Code. Under the original 2007 Code (Loi N°07-011/AU, Article 33), spearfishing with a harpoon ('peche au harpon') and gleaning on foot were expressly prohibited on coral reefs in Comorian maritime waters. The Code was revised by Loi N°19-05/AU (adopted 25 June 2019, promulgated by Decree N°20-905/PR on 1 April 2020), which re-enacts the Code: it classifies any fishing for recreational purposes as 'peche sportive' (sport fishing) and makes it subject to a prior permit issued by an approved agency/association or the fisheries administration (Article 39). Practising sport fishing without a permit is now a 'grave infraction' (Article 98-1). The administration also levies a specific 'droit sur la peche sous-marine' (underwater-fishing fee) under Article 65. Inside marine protected areas, fishing (and diving with or without fishing gear or weapons) requires prior authorisation and follows each area's management plan (2007 Code Art. 76; 2019 Code Art. 53). Several large marine national parks (Moheli, Coelacanth, Mitsamiouli-Ndroude, Shisiwani) restrict or ban fishing. In practice many coastal villages have locally banned underwater spear guns, nets and traps, though enforcement is weak. Foreigners are not separately addressed; the permit/authorisation regime applies to any person fishing in Comorian waters.

Recreational/sport spearfishing is legal in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) under Loi n° 2-2000 du 1er février 2000 organising maritime fishing. Sport fishing ('pêche maritime sportive', defined as fishing for tourism or leisure) is permitted in all fishing zones (Art. 18). Article 20 expressly allows spearfishing with 'armes sous marines utilisées en apnée' — underwater guns used while freediving — provided the harpoons and projectiles are propelled only by human (muscular) force. SCUBA / compressed-air diving for spearfishing and any speargun whose projectile is not muscle-powered are prohibited (Art. 25, applicable to amateur artisanal fishing). A sport-fishing campaign requires prior authorisation from the maritime fishing authority (Art. 19, 21) and a sport-fishing permit; the tax is a flat 25,000 FCFA per person per campaign (Art. 56). Fishing in prohibited zones, of protected species, or of fish below market/legal size is sanctioned (Art. 87). The large marine sector of Conkouati-Douli National Park is a marine protected area where fishing is restricted. Explosives and toxic substances are forbidden (Art. 90).

Côte d'Ivoire has no statute or decree that specifically names, authorises or prohibits recreational underwater fishing / spearfishing ('pêche sous-marine' / 'chasse sous-marine'). All fishing is governed by Law No. 2016-554 of 26 July 2016 on fishing and aquaculture, which requires authorisation/licences for fishing activity and creates a dedicated 'pêche sportive' (sport fishing) licence (Art. 38) issued by the Minister in charge of fisheries (after consulting the ministers of sport and tourism). The same law prohibits fishing of internationally protected species (Art. 11) and bans destructive methods such as explosives and toxic/anaesthetising substances. Because there is no spearfishing-specific permit and the activity falls under general fishing-authorisation rules plus area- and species-based restrictions, spearfishing is best classified as RESTRICTED rather than freely allowed. Additional spatial restrictions apply inside the Grand-Béréby Marine Protected Area (decree adopted 6 July 2022), where fishing and hunting are regulated. Sport/charter sea fishing (marlin, tuna, etc.) is actively practised out of Assinie, Grand-Bassam and Abidjan, with operators obtaining the required permits in advance.

There is no statute in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that specifically regulates recreational spearfishing or underwater fishing (chasse sous-marine). The fisheries sector is still governed by the colonial-era Decree of 21 April 1937 on fishing (decret du 21 avril 1937 sur la peche), under which fishing is generally permitted throughout the territory (Art. 57), subject to private-water rights (Art. 58) and customary indigenous fishing rights (Art. 59). The decree does not mention spearguns, harpoons, diving or underwater fishing, but it empowers the governor general and provincial authorities to prohibit certain fishing modes, traps or gear (Art. 65), to close seasons for chosen species (Art. 61) and to create reserves where fishing is wholly or partly prohibited (Art. 62); destroying spawn/fry and fishing in spawning grounds is prohibited (Art. 60). The DRC's only marine protected area, the Mangroves Marine Park / Parc Marin des Mangroves at Muanda (Kongo Central, Atlantic coast, est. 1992, Ramsar site 1996, managed by ICCN), restricts fishing to conservation-compatible traditional use. A modern framework law on fishing and aquaculture (proposition de loi portant principes fondamentaux relatifs a la peche et a l'aquaculture) was declared admissible by the National Assembly in May 2025 but was not yet promulgated as of mid-2025. Because spearfishing is neither explicitly authorised nor explicitly prohibited, and is potentially caught by general gear-restriction and protected-area powers, its status is classified as restricted/unclear.

Spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) is prohibited throughout Djibouti's territorial waters. Decree No. 85-103/PR/AG of 28 October 1985 'temporarily' banned underwater hunting in any form and prohibited even the possession of a speargun (fusil sous-marin) aboard any vessel or on the beaches. This prohibition has never been lifted and remains in force. Djibouti also bans trawling and restricts all fishing to artisanal methods; professional fishing licences are reserved to Djiboutian nationals and Djibouti-registered vessels under the 2002 Fisheries Code and its 2007 implementing decrees. Non-professional (recreational/pleasure) fishing licences are available to residents but the authorised gear is limited (hook-and-line, hand gaff) and does not include any underwater hunting equipment. Additional protections apply inside the national marine protected areas created by Law No. 45/AN/04/5e L of 27 March 2004.

Recreational spearfishing is heavily restricted and in practice effectively prohibited across most of Egypt's waters, especially the Red Sea. Egypt has no specific recreational spearfishing licence regime; underwater fishing is governed by the general fisheries framework (Law No. 146 of 2021 for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fisheries), which bans fishing without a licence and prohibits destructive methods. Since 1 May 2024 a sweeping prohibition suspended ALL recreational fishing and competitions for five years across the Red Sea, Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba. Spearfishing inside the network of Red Sea marine protected areas / national parks (Ras Mohammed, the Brothers / El Ikhwa Islands, and other declared protectorates) is forbidden as these are no-take zones. Protected species - including all sea turtles, all sharks, marine mammals (dolphins, whales) and, per dive-industry guidance, Napoleon wrasse - may not be taken under any circumstances. Where any underwater fishing is tolerated, scuba spearfishing is illegal (freediving only). Enforcement varies by area but penalties include heavy fines, gear confiscation and, in Ras Mohammed National Park, possible imprisonment. Travellers and operators are advised not to spearfish.

Equatorial Guinea has no spearfishing-specific statute, but recreational/sport fishing ('pesca deportiva') is a defined, licensed category under national fisheries law. The governing law (Ley Nº 10/2003, Reguladora de la Actividad Pesquera) and its implementing regulation (Decreto Nº 130/2004) require any sport fishing — whatever the vessel or gear — to hold a fishing licence/permit issued by the Ministry of Fisheries. The 2004 regulation explicitly recognises and charges an annual registration fee for 'underwater fishing equipment' (equipos de pesca submarina, 5,000 FCFA/year), which is the closest direct legal reference to spearfishing gear. Practically, spearfishing is therefore permitted only with the proper licence and gear registration. Note: secondary sources report a newer fisheries law, Ley Nº 11/2017 (Reguladora de la Actividad Pesquera y Acuícola), which may supersede the 2003 law, but its verbatim text could not be retrieved, so the cited provisions are from the 2003/2004 instruments. A new protected-areas law (Ley Nº 6/2025) restricts activities inside the national protected-area system, which includes ~730 km² of marine areas. No data was found on closed seasons, catch limits, scuba restrictions, or species-specific rules applicable to recreational spearfishing.

Eritrea has no dedicated recreational spearfishing statute. Fishing in Eritrean waters is governed by the Fisheries Proclamation No. 104/1998, which defines 'fishing' as catching or taking fish or other aquatic organisms 'by any method' (Art. 3(d)) and therefore captures spearfishing/skin diving. Spearfishing is not expressly prohibited, but it is restricted by several overlapping controls: the Minister may make regulations requiring a licence for 'any kind of fishing, with or without the use of a vessel' (Art. 19); the Minister may declare protected areas where fishing is prohibited or restricted (Art. 13); fishing for protected species and any taking/destruction of coral or shells without the Minister's written permission is prohibited (Art. 12); and the Minister may prescribe closed seasons, closed areas, prohibited fishing methods and gear, and size limits (Art. 9). The Dahlak Marine National Park is a declared protected area where activity is controlled. In practice, the activity is further constrained by Eritrea's strict internal-travel and coastal-access permit regime: travel to the coast/islands and any diving require permits from the authorities, and recreational scuba diving in the Dahlak archipelago is operated only through state-sanctioned dive operators. A draft 1993 FAO model 'Fisheries Regulations' contained an explicit spear-gun licensing clause (Art. 18 of the draft regulations: a spear gun could be used only with written permission of the Department), but that draft regulation has not been confirmed as part of the enacted law; the enacted Proclamation 104/1998 controls spearfishing through the general provisions above rather than a named spear-gun rule.

Eswatini is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only inland freshwater fishing (rivers and dams) is possible. No statute or regulation names 'spearfishing' / underwater fishing specifically. Inland fishing is governed by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2019 (Act 16/2019), which repealed and replaced the Protection of Fresh Water Fish Act No. 75 of 1937. Under the 2019 Act, anyone undertaking commercial or sport (recreational) fishing needs a fishing licence issued by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Board plus a fishing permit issued by the Principal Secretary; subsistence fishers and fish farmers are exempt from the licence. The Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare specific fishing practices to be 'prohibited fishing practices' (section 19), so the legality of any particular method such as spearing depends on Ministerial declarations and on individual permit conditions rather than on an explicit statutory ban. The 2019 Act's general commencement is to be proclaimed by the Minister by Gazette notice, creating some uncertainty over which provisions are already in force. In practice, tourism authorities advise that a fishing permit or rod fee is required, and most fishing is fly fishing / angling for trout, bass, bream, yellowfish and (seasonally) tiger fish.

Ethiopia is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only inland fresh waters (lakes, rivers, reservoirs) are relevant. There is no spearfishing-specific law. All fishing is governed by the federal Fisheries Development and Utilization Proclamation No. 315/2003, which applies to all water bodies within Ethiopia. Under that law, 'fishing' covers taking fish by ANY method (Art. 2(5)), but 'recreational fishing' is legally defined narrowly as fishing solely for pleasure using a single hook and monofilament nylon line (Art. 2(8)), and 'fishing gear' is defined as net, trap, sieve, monofilament nylon line and hook (Art. 2(14)) - spears and spearguns are not included. Spearfishing is therefore not a recognised recreational method and has no clear legal basis as recreational angling. It is not explicitly named or banned; commercial fishing requires a legal permit (Art. 5(1)), fishing in national parks or protected fishery areas requires a written permit (Art. 5(3)-(4)), and explosives, poisons and electric-current devices are forbidden (Art. 5(7)). In practice, recreational fishing in Ethiopia is rod-and-line angling (fly fishing, spinning, bait, trolling) arranged with a guide and permission from the Ministry of Agriculture or regional/local offices; spearfishing is not offered or mentioned by operators. Status is best described as restricted/legally unrecognised rather than clearly permitted.

Spearfishing (pêche sous-marine) is a regulated activity in Gabon, not banned. It is treated as a form of recreational/sport fishing ('pêche sportive', defined in Law No. 015/2005 Art. 5 as fishing for recreational purposes) and therefore requires a prior sport-fishing permit issued for a natural or legal person by the Ministry in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Art. 18 and Art. 37). The law explicitly recognises underwater fishing as a taxable category by listing 'le droit sur la pêche sous marine' (the duty on underwater fishing) among fisheries fees in Art. 108. Spearfishing is prohibited or subject to special authorisation inside Gabon's extensive aquatic protected areas (marine parks, aquatic reserves and sanctuaries): under Art. 41 and Art. 57 sport fishing in marine parks requires prior ministerial authorisation, and under Art. 68 entering protected aquatic areas with fishing gear or weapons, and diving, require prior authorisation. Fishing is also prohibited in certain zones (river mouths, estuaries, bays - Art. 98), and during closed/biological-rest periods (Art. 24/98). Gabon designated a very large network of 20 marine protected areas in 2017 (9 marine parks and 11 aquatic reserves, ~53,000 km2, ~26% of its waters), so large stretches of the coast are off-limits or restricted. No separate stand-alone spearfishing statute or detailed implementing decree (defining gear, bag limits, size limits or scuba rules for spearfishing specifically) was located; many specifics are set 'par voie reglementaire' (by regulation) and were not retrievable. Practical recreational fishing in Gabon (e.g. Loango / Sette Cama) is overwhelmingly rod-and-line sport fishing, largely catch-and-release inside national parks.

Spearfishing with spear guns is prohibited in The Gambia. The Fisheries Regulations, 2008 (Regulation 69(1)(d)) state plainly that 'no spear guns shall be used for fishing in the fisheries waters'. Separately, the conditions attached to a sports fishing vessel licence require that fish be taken by angling with a hook or lure on a line/rod, and expressly forbid the use of a spear (Regulation 60(e)-(f)). The primary Fisheries Act, 2007 (No. 20 of 2007) at section 105(g) empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations prohibiting the use of spear guns and underwater breathing apparatus for night fishing, which is the enabling power exercised in the 2008 Regulations. Possession or sale of speared lobster is also prohibited (Reg. 70(4)). There is no licensing pathway for recreational underwater spearfishing; the only recreational sea-fishing instrument is the sports fishing vessel licence, which mandates rod-and-line angling. Spearfishing should therefore be treated as not permitted in The Gambia's fisheries waters.

Ghanaian fisheries law does not mention recreational spearfishing, spearguns or harpoons by name. There is no explicit prohibition of spearfishing, but there is also no recreational/sport-fishing exemption: under both the former Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) and the new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146) it is an offence to fish in Ghana's fishery waters without a fishing licence (Act 1146 ss. 56, 67, 72). Several harvesting methods are banned outright (explosives, poisons/noxious substances, light attraction, pair-trawling), but a hand-thrown spear or speargun is not among the listed prohibited methods. Ghana's first marine protected area, the Greater Cape Three Points MPA (~700 km2, designated 14 April 2026 under Act 1146), adds zonal restrictions where fishing may be prohibited or regulated. Because no source explicitly addresses recreational underwater hunting, the practical status is treated as restricted/uncertain: a licence requirement applies and zone/season rules must be observed.

Guinea has no statute that names spearfishing (chasse/pêche sous-marine) explicitly. It is governed indirectly by the Maritime Fishing Code (Loi Ordinaire L/2025/019/CNT of 30 May 2025, promulgated by Décret D/2025/159/PRG/CNRD/SGG of 19 Aug 2025), which replaced the 2015 code. The Code distinguishes 'pêche sportive' (sport fishing, by members of a sporting organisation or holders of a national sporting licence) from 'pêche récréative / de loisir' (recreational/leisure fishing by non-members). Under Article 44, any sport-fishing activity in Guinean maritime waters requires an authorisation issued by the Minister in charge of maritime fishing, subject to a fee. Under Article 45, subsistence and recreational fishing are free at all times and carry no tax or fee, provided applicable conservation and management measures are respected. Speargun harpoons are not listed among the gear banned by Article 47, and they are not 'firearms' for the purposes of the Article 46 ban on explosives/firearms/toxic substances; spearfishing is therefore not prohibited as a method. Spearfishers must nonetheless respect protected-species rules (Article 49: marine mammals, turtles, seabirds, certain rays and sharks), shark-finning ban (Article 48), minimum sizes (Article 51), and closed seasons/zones set by regulation (Articles 50). Whether a given outing needs an Article 44 authorisation turns on whether it is treated as 'sportive' (e.g. through a fishing camp / club) or purely recreational. Marine protected areas (Iles Tristao, Alcatraz, Iles de Loos, Konkouré delta, Rio Pongo, Kapatchez) impose additional restrictions. Detailed implementing regulations (taille minimale, zones/périodes, sport-fishing authorisation procedure) are 'fixées par voie réglementaire' and were not located verbatim.

Guinea-Bissau has no statute that explicitly names recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / caça submarina). It is governed indirectly by the general fisheries law, Decreto-Lei nº 6 A/2000. That law recognises 'pesca desportiva' (sport/leisure fishing) as a category (Art. 4(5)) and, like all fishing in waters under national sovereignty, it requires a licence except for traditional subsistence fishing. The law bans certain methods - explosives, toxic substances, electric/light-attraction means and suction gear (Art. 26) - and protects marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds (Art. 27). A breath-hold speargun is not itself a prohibited gear under the verbatim law text retrieved, but secondary fishing-operator sources report that in practice SCUBA-assisted spearfishing is banned and only apnea (breath-hold) spearfishing is tolerated, that a recreational licence is required for boat-based fishing, and that the richest grounds lie inside the Bolama-Bijagos Biosphere Reserve and its marine national parks where extra permits/guides are mandatory and turtle/shark/ray protections apply. Verbatim statutory text confirming a SCUBA/spearfishing-specific rule could not be retrieved, so confidence is low; field rules should be confirmed with the Ministry of Fisheries (Ministério das Pescas) and the protected-area authority (IBAP) before any trip.

Spearfishing with a spear gun is effectively prohibited in Kenya. Spear guns were declared a prohibited fishing gear nationally by Kenya Gazette Notice No. 7565 Vol. CIII No. 69 of 9 November 2001, and the use of scuba gear or spearguns to take lobster and beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) in territorial waters is also banned. Within the four Kenya Wildlife Service marine national parks all extractive activity (including any fishing) is prohibited, and in the marine national reserves only regulated hook-and-line fishing is allowed while spear guns are not permitted. Recreational/sport fishing is legally limited to angling (hook and line, trolling, rod and reel) and fly fishing: the Fisheries (General) Regulations sport fisherman's licence entitles the holder to catch fish with only a rod and line, and the 2024 Recreational Fisheries Regulations list only angling and fly fishing as permitted methods. Spearfishing is therefore not a lawful recreational method anywhere in Kenya fishery waters, though it is still practised illegally by some artisanal fishers on the coast.

Lesotho is a landlocked country with no marine waters, so all fishing is freshwater (rivers, the Katse and Mohale reservoirs, and high-altitude streams stocked with introduced rainbow and brown trout). Freshwater fishing is governed by the Protection of Fresh Water Fish Proclamation No. 45 of 1951 and the Fresh Water Fish Regulations No. 112 of 1951, administered by the Ministry of Agriculture (Livestock/Fisheries Division). A permit is required to fish. Permitted methods are restricted to rod, line and artificial non-spinning flies; landing nets, gaffs, gillnets, other nets, electrofishers and explosives are prohibited for non-research purposes. Spearfishing / underwater fishing is not among the authorised methods and there is no provision permitting it, so recreational spearfishing is effectively not allowed. No source confirms that spearfishing is explicitly permitted anywhere in Lesotho.

Liberia has no statute that names 'spearfishing' directly, but it is governed under recreational fishing. Recreational fishing (fishing for sport or pleasure, not for commercial gain, from land or vessel) is lawful only when carried out 'using authorized gear as prescribed in regulations' and requires a valid licence/authorization from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Development Law of 2019. The Act expressly empowers NaFAA, by regulation, to regulate or PROHIBIT 'the use of any diving apparatus, spear guns or other similar devices for fishing or related activities' (Section 17 rule-making power). Therefore the legality of spearguns/diving gear is conditional on NaFAA regulations and licensing rather than being an unqualified right. Explosives, firearms, electrical devices and poisons are flatly banned as fishing methods. The 6/4-nautical-mile Inshore Exclusion Zone is reserved for subsistence, artisanal and semi-industrial fishing only. Recreational fishing vessels (river/ocean) must be registered and licensed by NaFAA. Because spearfishing-specific gear authorization rules were not located in retrievable text, the status is classified as restricted.

Libya has no spearfishing-specific legislation. Marine fishing is governed by Law No. (14) of 1989 on organising the exploitation of marine resources, which requires a licence only for commercial exploitation (Article 3) and prohibits destructive methods such as explosives, poisons and narcotic substances (Article 15); spearguns/harpoons are not explicitly addressed. No public regulation expressly permits or bans recreational underwater fishing, so the recreational status is genuinely unclear and must be treated with caution. Fishing is barred in ports, berths and their sea lanes (Article 3) and in any area designated as a protected area by the General People's Committee for Marine Resources (now the Ministry / General Authority for Marine Wealth) under Article 4. Several declared marine protected areas (e.g. Ain Al-Ghazala lagoon and Elba Island) restrict fishing. A nationwide seasonal breeding-season ban on the fishing, sale and trade of certain species is enforced, and minimum catch sizes are set under the 1989 law. Given persistent political instability and the absence of a published recreational/sport-fishing framework, would-be spearfishers should obtain authorisation locally before any activity.

Recreational and sport fishing (which includes spearfishing/chasse sous-marine) is legal in Madagascar but regulated under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Code (Loi n° 2015-053). The Code does not name 'chasse sous-marine' explicitly, but classifies it within recreational fishing ('pêche récréative') and sport fishing ('pêche sportive'). Sport fishing requires a 'licence sportive'; all scientific, sport and recreational fishing activity must be the subject of a fishing protocol with the Ministry in charge of Fisheries, and any vessel/boat used must hold a fishing licence (Articles 41-42). Critically, Article 17 prohibits the use of any diving device allowing an immersion longer than natural breath-hold can sustain, which effectively bans spearfishing on scuba/compressed air (breath-hold/freedive spearfishing remains permitted). Explosives, toxic substances/baits and electric methods are also prohibited. Article 18 bans at all times the take of all protected and threatened species, corals, marine mammals, sea birds and sea turtles. Fishing/spearfishing is forbidden inside marine protected areas and fishing reserves (Article 89); in practice operators obtain a local Fisheries-office permit. Enforcement and implementing regulations are administered by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (MPEB).

Malawi is landlocked; the only relevant waters are inland lakes and rivers (notably Lake Malawi). Spearfishing is governed by the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Cap. 66:05) and the Fisheries Conservation and Management Regulations (G.N. 32/2000). Regulation 35 makes it an offence to use an aqualung or other underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) when fishing with a spear, spear gun, harpoon or net, whether commercially or for sport, UNLESS a written permit is granted by the Director of Fisheries. Breath-hold (freedive) spearfishing is not specifically prohibited by reg. 35, but any sport fishing of controlled species or with controlled gear requires a sport fishing licence (reg. 21). General prohibited-methods rules (no explosives, poison or electric devices) apply under section 42 of the Act. Fishing is heavily restricted or prohibited inside Lake Malawi National Park, where resident cichlid fish are protected. No nationwide outright ban on spearfishing was found, hence 'restricted'.

Mali is a landlocked country with no sea coast, so marine/recreational spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) does not exist and is not addressed by any law. All fishing in Mali is inland (pêche continentale): artisanal fishing on the Niger and Senegal rivers, lakes (Sélingué, Manantali, Faguibine), ponds and reservoirs. It is governed by Loi n°95-032 du 20 mars 1995 fixant les conditions de gestion de la pêche et de la pisciculture, a general framework law under which the right to fish belongs to the State and decentralised territorial collectivities, which grant it through a fishing permit (permis de pêche) or authorisation; detailed gear and season rules are set locally through conventions locales de pêche. The law does not contain any specific provision on recreational underwater spearfishing or speargun use. Harpoons (harpons) appear only as a traditional artisanal capture gear (engins par blessure) used in drying ponds and during collective fishing, not as a regulated sport-spearfishing activity. No dedicated recreational spearfishing/diving regulation was found, so the status of recreational spearfishing as understood elsewhere is best described as not applicable / unknown.

Mauritania's Maritime Fisheries Code (Loi n° 2015-017 of 29 July 2015) does not name spearfishing / underwater fishing (pêche sous-marine, chasse au harpon) as a distinct, regulated activity. The closest category is 'pêche sportive' (sport fishing), which Article 6 allows only for non-commercial recreational purposes, using gear whose composition and conditions of use are defined by an order (arrêté) of the Minister in charge of fisheries, and only in zones the Minister has designated. No publicly retrievable ministerial order specifically authorising or framing recreational spearfishing was found, so the practical legality is treated as restricted/unclear. General prohibitions apply: use of explosives or toxic substances is banned (Art. 38), and the capture/retention of all marine mammals, marine turtles and all seabird species is prohibited everywhere (Art. 39). The most important coastal areas — the Banc d'Arguin National Park (UNESCO World Heritage, est. 1976) and the Diawling National Park — bar modern/recreational fishing and motorboats; in the Banc d'Arguin only the indigenous Imraguen community may fish, using sail boats and traditional gear. Recreational spearfishing by tourists/foreigners is not documented as a permitted, licensed activity, and the marine national parks effectively prohibit it within their boundaries.

Recreational spearfishing with a speargun is prohibited in Mauritius. National fisheries law makes it an offence to fish with, or have in one's possession, a speargun. 'Underwater fishing' (fishing by diving or using a snorkel, flippers, goggles, diving belt, compressed air cylinder or similar equipment) requires written authorisation/licence, and such a licence may only be issued for catching ornamental fish or other approved purposes - it is not available for recreational spearfishing. Possession of a diving cylinder for underwater fishing is separately prohibited, and being found with fish together with a diving cylinder is deemed to be underwater fishing. The prohibition is identical under the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 2007 (the long-standing consolidated law) and the newer Fisheries Act 2023 (Act No. 15 of 2023). A narrow exception in the law lets the authorities grant written approval for a speargun, but in practice no recreational spearfishing permits are issued. Hand-propelled fish spears combined with a catapult/elastic band are also a prohibited harmful fishing method without a licence.

Mayotte is a French overseas department, so recreational spearfishing (peche sous-marine / chasse sous-marine) is governed by the French Code rural et de la peche maritime (articles R921-90 et seq.) supplemented by the prefectural arrete of 28 June 2018 regulating maritime fishing in Mayotte's waters. Spearfishing is strictly PROHIBITED inside the entire lagoon (up to the start of the outer slope of the barrier reef) and in all the reef passes, and within a 1-mile radius of any fish-aggregating device (DCP). It is only permitted OUTSIDE the lagoon, in breath-hold apnea, by day, and without any underwater breathing apparatus (no scuba/hookah). Spearfishing is additionally banned even outside the lagoon within the Saziley protected site. Professional spearfishing is not authorised, and all spearfishing competitions are prohibited in Mayotte's internal and territorial waters. The whole of Mayotte's territorial waters and EEZ lie within the Parc naturel marin de Mayotte (created 2010), managed by the Office francais de la biodiversite (OFB).

Recreational spearfishing (pêche à la nage, dite « pêche sous-marine ») is legal in Morocco but tightly regulated. It is governed primarily by décret n° 2-61-227 of 25 July 1962 (kept in force by article 57 of dahir portant loi n° 1-73-255 of 23 November 1973). Spearfishing is permitted all year, from sunrise to sunset, but is forbidden within 100 m of fixed fishing gear/nets and fishing boats and within 50 m of beaches and bathing areas. A special authorization is required: applicants must be at least 18 (16+ with written parental consent), pass a medical fitness assessment, hold third-party insurance and pay a fixed fee of 250 dirhams; non-resident tourists are exempted from the fee during their stay. Permitted gear is the band/elastic speargun or the pneumatic (compressed-gas) gun whose release occurs inside a sealed cylinder; spearguns propelled by an explosive/chemical charge, guns with a light source, and the use of any breathing apparatus (scuba) while spearfishing are prohibited; carrying a loaded gun out of the water is forbidden. The catch may never be sold and is subject to closed seasons and minimum commercial sizes. The Ministry's maritime fishing delegation (délégation des pêches maritimes / chef de quartier maritime) issues authorizations. Spearfishing is or may be prohibited in certain coastal zones for safety/conservation reasons, including the marine area of Al Hoceima National Park.

Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is explicitly legal in Mozambique as one of the two recognised categories of recreational and sport fishing under Decree No. 82/2021 (Regulation on Recreational and Sport Fishing), which implements the Fisheries Law (Lei das Pescas, Law No. 22/2013). It is restricted: an individual fishing licence is mandatory for both nationals and foreigners; only freediving / apnea is permitted (use of artificial breathing apparatus such as scuba is prohibited, except a surface snorkel); spearguns must be powered only by elastic (rubber) or compressed air; underwater fishing may only be practised during daylight; a daily bag limit of 5 fish per fisher applies; protected species (Annex VIII) and size/quantity restrictions (Annexes V and VII) must be respected; and fishing is prohibited inside marine protected areas' no-take zones and within set distances of corals, estuaries, mangroves, ports and bathers.

Recreational marine harvesting in Namibia is governed by the Marine Resources Act 27 of 2000 and the Regulations relating to the Exploitation of Marine Resources (GN 241 of 2001). A recreational fishing permit is compulsory. Regulation 6 limits the means of recreational harvesting to (a) a hook and line, (b) a ring net, or (c) diving; spearguns / spearfishing are NOT listed among the authorised means, and the use of artificial breathing apparatus other than a snorkel is prohibited (Reg 13(5)(a)(i)), so scuba-assisted underwater fishing is not allowed. The legal position on spearfishing is therefore ambiguous: the verbatim law does not expressly permit a speargun, while a secondary Namibian guide (NamibWeb) describes breath-hold spearfishing as tolerated (snorkel only, no scuba). Because spearfishing is neither expressly authorised as a 'means of harvest' nor expressly named as prohibited, it is best treated as restricted/legally unclear. A CMAS-affiliated Namibia Underwater Federation exists. Strict bag limits (10/day of the main line-fish species), minimum/maximum sizes (Annexure J), prohibited coastal areas (Reg 10) and a closed rock-lobster season (1 Nov-30 Apr) apply. Confirm current status with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources before spearfishing.

Niger is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing and no specific legal category for recreational underwater (scuba/freedive) spearfishing. Fishing is freshwater-only (Niger River and tributaries, Lake Chad, ponds/mares, dam reservoirs). Harpoon fishing (la peche au harpon) is a traditional, widely used and lawful fishing method in Niger's inland waters: FAO/Government sources list 'harpons' among the most common artisanal gears used in 'active fishing'. The national fishing law (Loi N98-042 du 07 decembre 1998 portant Regime de la Peche, since modernised by Loi N2021-003 of 16 March 2021 and amended by Loi N2023-17 of 15 May 2023) requires a fishing permit for anyone fishing in public-domain waters and prohibits specific destructive methods (explosives, poisons/intoxicants, electric fishing, fine-mesh nets, certain seines, unauthorised barriers), but does NOT list harpoons among prohibited gear. Thus harpoon/spear fishing is permitted but 'restricted' in the sense that it requires a permit, is subject to fishing reserves, closed seasons and gear rules, and there is no dedicated recreational underwater-hunting regime.

Nigerian federal law does not specifically mention, license, or prohibit recreational underwater fishing (spearfishing). The two principal fisheries statutes - the Sea Fisheries Act 1992 (No. 71) for marine/territorial waters and EEZ, and the Inland Fisheries Act 1992 (No. 108) for inland waters - are framed around licensing of motorised fishing craft/vessels and commercial trawling. Their licensing duties attach to 'motor fishing boats' and 'motor fishing craft', not to an individual swimmer using a hand-held speargun. Neither Act lists spearguns or spearfishing among prohibited methods; the prohibited-method provisions target explosives, noxious/poisonous matter and (inland) electricity. No dedicated recreational/sport-fishing licence regime, season, catch limit or speargun rule for individual spearfishers was found in official sources. Practical constraints that do apply: the Sea Fisheries (Fishing) Regulations 1992 bar 'motor fishing boats' from fishing within the first five nautical miles of the continental shelf (this restriction is written for motorised boats, not shore-access free-divers), and minimum sizes exist for lobster (7 cm) and crab (6 cm) with mandatory release of berried (egg-bearing) crabs/lobsters. Because no provision squarely addresses recreational spearfishing, its legality is best described as legally unaddressed / unknown rather than clearly permitted or prohibited; anyone using a motorised boat to access spearfishing grounds in territorial waters would fall under the boat-licensing regime.

Réunion is a French overseas department, so French national marine recreational fishing law (Code rural et de la pêche maritime), EU rules and French prefectural arrêtés apply. Recreational spearfishing (chasse/pêche sous-marine en apnée) is legal but heavily regulated. Practitioners must be at least 16, may only freedive (scuba bottles forbidden together with a speargun), must carry a signalling buoy, and may not spearfish at night or use a light. Most of the populated west and south-west reef coast lies within the Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion (created by Décret n° 2007-236, 21 Feb 2007), where spearfishing is banned in the reinforced-protection zones (zones de protection renforcée), in the integral-protection zones (zones de protection intégrale) and in the passes, and the foëne (trident/pole spear) is prohibited reserve-wide. Spearfishing remains permitted on roughly 43% of the reserve perimeter and in open waters outside the reserve, subject to a 5 kg per fisher per day catch limit inside the reserve, a 10 cm minimum size, protected-species rules and the langouste (spiny lobster) closed season of 1 December to 31 March.

Rwanda is landlocked, so spearfishing concerns only inland freshwater bodies (mainly Lake Kivu, Lakes Burera/Ruhondo, the Eastern Lakes of Akagera/Bugesera/Muhazi and connected rivers). There is no spearfishing-specific authorisation in Rwandan law. Fishing is governed by Law n°58/2008 of 10/09/2008 and Ministerial Order n°001/11.30 of 11/12/2020 (published 14/12/2020), which use a positive-list (only listed gears allowed) approach. The only authorised fishing gears are nets (lift nets, gill nets) and long-line hooks; recreational/sport fishing is legally defined as fishing with hooks (sport fishing uses not more than five hooks; an individual uses one hook). Spearguns, harpoons and underwater spearfishing are not among the recognised legal methods, and 'spearing/shooting' is described in field reports as a traditional artisanal method rather than a permitted one. Any fishing in public waters requires a licence. Because no legal pathway exists for recreational spearfishing and only listed net/hook gears are permitted, spearfishing is treated as restricted (effectively not permitted under the current gear regime).

Recreational/amateur fishing (pesca amadora) is a category of fishing expressly recognised in Sao Tome and Principe's national fisheries law (Lei n.º 9/2022, Lei das Pescas e da Aquacultura, as amended by Lei n.º 07/2025). No statute specifically names or prohibits spearfishing or underwater fishing (pesca submarina), so it is treated under the general amateur-fishing regime. Amateur fishing is exempt from the commercial fishing licence (Art. 30) but is subject to a mandatory authorisation and registration (Art. 40-41); fishing without the required registration is a minor infraction (Art. 140). Detailed operational rules for amateur fishing (gear, methods such as spearguns, areas, catch limits) are to be set by a Regulamento da Pesca Amadora foreseen in Art. 13(2)(f), which had not yet been published as of the latest source. Fishing is forbidden inside marine protected areas / reserved maritime areas (Art. 137); a network of eight such areas was announced in 2025 but the establishing Decreto-Lei was still awaiting presidential signature and publication as of the latest source, so its zone boundaries are not yet legally in force. Capture of corals, ornamental aquatic species, sea cucumbers and seahorses is prohibited nationwide, and lobster capture is suspended (Decreto n.º 19/2020). Because the implementing amateur-fishing regulation is still pending, the practical legality of spearfishing for an individual diver is best described as restricted/uncertain.

Recreational spearfishing (la pêche sous-marine, practised à des fins récréatives) is a recognised and lawful fishing activity in Senegal under the 2015 Maritime Fishing Code (Loi n° 2015-18 du 13 juillet 2015 portant Code de la Pêche maritime), but it is restricted. The Code treats spearfishing alongside sport fishing as a recreational category (Art. 9). Recreational/sport fishing is subject to a permit or authorisation issued by the Ministry in charge of maritime fishing (Art. 58 'permis de pêche sportive', Art. 61 'autorisation de pêche de loisirs'). Critically for spearfishers, Article 65(c) prohibits the use, when practising underwater fishing, of any equipment such as scuba gear (autonomous or not) allowing a submerged person to breathe without returning to the surface — i.e. only breath-hold (apnea) spearfishing is permitted, scuba spearfishing is banned. Article 67 bans at all times and in all places the taking, possession and sale of all marine mammals, all marine turtles (and their eggs), all seabirds (and their eggs) and the sawfish (poisson-scie). Selling the products of sport fishing is prohibited (Art. 60). Detailed operational rules (categories of permit, fees, fishing closures) are set by ministerial arrêté. The exact age limit, civil-liability insurance and declaration requirements that circulate in some secondary summaries appear to derive from French regulation and could not be confirmed verbatim in the Senegalese Code, so they are not asserted here.

Spearfishing is effectively banned in Seychelles. The sale and possession-for-fishing of spear guns has been prohibited since 1972 (Fisheries (Spear-guns) Regulations 1972), and the current Fisheries Act 2014 (s.32(1)) prohibits using a spear gun for fishing or possessing one in circumstances raising a reasonable inference it is used or intended for fishing in Seychelles. The Seychelles Fishing Authority confirms that 'the use of spearguns, explosives, poisons, and noxious substances is prohibited across all fisheries in Seychelles, including the recreational fishery.' The prohibition applies to residents and foreigners alike. Use for approved scientific research may be authorised under regulation/permit.

Sierra Leone has no spearfishing-specific statute. Recreational fishing is governed generically by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2018 (No. 10 of 2018) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations, 2019. Recreational fishing is recognised and is reserved (together with artisanal fishing) for the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) near the coast. Under section 14 a valid licence or authorisation from the Director of Fisheries is required when a fishing vessel (national or foreign) is used for fishing or related activities 'including diving for commercial fishing purposes, commercial sport fishing and recreational fishing'. The Act does not name spearguns or spears; the only explicitly banned methods are explosives, chemicals, poisons, noxious substances and electrical devices (section 40). Fishing is also prohibited or restricted inside the four designated Marine Protected Areas (Sierra Leone River Estuary, Sherbro River Estuary, Scarcies River Estuary and Yawri Bay) and during ministerial closed-season bans. No public guidance specifically addresses shore-based / breath-hold spearfishing without a vessel, so the precise legality for a foreign visitor spearfishing from shore is not clearly documented; treat as restricted and confirm with the Ministry.

Recreational spearfishing is not specifically prohibited or specifically named under Somali law. The governing federal statute is the Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023 (Federal Republic of Somalia). It exempts vessels used exclusively for non-commercial recreational fishing, non-motorized vessels, and motorized vessels up to 4 m from licensing (Art. 72(3)), while commercial sport fishing requires a licence (Art. 72(1)(k)). Spear/harpoon fishing is a recognised artisanal gear in Somali waters (confirmed by NOAA's 2025 fisheries review). However, several practical restrictions apply: the Fisheries Restricted Zone (0-12 nautical miles) is reserved exclusively for artisanal fishing by Somali citizens, effectively excluding foreigners from inshore waters (Art. 4); fishing with explosives, poisons or other noxious substances is banned (Art. 30); and marine turtles, cetaceans/whales, sharks (finning) and any declared protected/endangered species are strictly protected (Arts. 19, 27, 28, 29). Governance is fragmented: the federal law applies through the Federal Member States, while Puntland (Fisheries Regulation, 2006) and Somaliland (Fisheries Law, 2018, replaced October 2025) operate their own regional fisheries regimes. Enforcement capacity is weak and large parts of the coast are affected by insecurity, so practical access for visiting spearfishers is severely limited. Classified as 'restricted' because of zone exclusivity for foreigners, protected-species rules, and the absence of a clear permissive regime, rather than an outright ban.

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.

South Sudan is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; the only relevant context is freshwater fishing in the White Nile, the Sudd wetland, and associated rivers and lakes. There is no spearfishing-specific legislation. The fishery is overwhelmingly artisanal and subsistence-based, and traditional gear such as spears, bows and arrows, traps and baskets has long been used. The governing statute is the colonial-era Freshwater Fisheries Act 1954 (inherited from Sudan), whose legitimacy is itself described as doubtful in the country's own official policy document. A modern Fisheries Bill (drafted 2006, re-edited as the draft Fisheries Bill 2012) has not been enacted, and as of recent reporting the sector still suffers from a lack of an up-to-date legal framework. Under the 1954 Act, the Minister has regulation-making powers over closed seasons, prohibited areas and methods, and gear limitations, and licences are issued for fishing, sport fishing and sport-fishing clubs, but no provision specifically addresses recreational underwater (spear) fishing. Recreational spearfishing as a regulated activity is effectively undefined; legality is therefore best characterised as unknown.

Sudan has a Red Sea coastline regulated primarily by the Marine Fisheries Ordinance of 1937 and its 1975 amendment (Marine Fisheries Regulation). The 1975 by-law specifically prohibits the use of 'water guns' (spearguns) in fishing without an issued permit, and FAO's regional review describes the framework as banning dynamite, poisons and spearguns in fishing. As a result, spearfishing is not freely allowed: it requires an official permit and is effectively prohibited for unlicensed and recreational use. All fishing, including spearfishing, is entirely banned inside the no-take Sanganeb Marine National Park, and is restricted in the Dungonab Bay / Mukkawar Island Marine National Park. There is no evidence of a recreational spearfishing licensing scheme aimed at tourists; the licensing regime is built around fishing craft and artisanal/commercial fishers. Enforcement at sea is reported to be weak. No verbatim primary legal text could be retrieved (the official ordinance PDF is a scanned image), so confidence is low; the legal status is sourced from FAO and UNEP/ECOLEX secondary summaries.

Togo has no specific statute that names recreational spearfishing (chasse/peche sous-marine). Fishing in all Togolese waters is governed by Law No. 2016-026 of 11 October 2016 regulating fishing and aquaculture. Under that law the State owns the fishing right and may authorise its exercise (Art. 5). Recreational/leisure fishing ('peche de loisir') in State waters is explicitly subject to a prior authorisation from the competent authority (Art. 53), and sport fishing ('peche sportive') and leisure fishing are listed among the recognised purposes of fishing (Art. 7). The most spearfishing-relevant prohibition is Art. 60, which bans holding on board or using firearms, explosives, detonators, poisons, baits and toxic lures for fishing; a speargun (fusil-harpon, mechanically powered) is not a firearm ('arme a feu') and is not expressly named, so its status is legally undefined rather than clearly banned. Killing/wounding protected aquatic mammals and amphibians is prohibited, and all sea turtles and all marine birds (plus their derived products) are fully protected (Art. 61). Technical limits (minimum mesh, minimum species sizes, closed periods, closed/restricted zones, protected-species lists) are delegated to ministerial decrees (arretes) and fishery management plans (Art. 25/Art. 32), which were not retrievable, so concrete numeric limits are unknown. Treat spearfishing as permitted only with prior authorisation and subject to the Art. 60/61 prohibitions; verify with the Ministry in charge of the maritime economy and fisheries before diving.

Recreational spearfishing (pêche sous-marine / chasse sous-marine) is legal in Tunisia but tightly regulated. The framework is Loi n° 94-13 du 31 janvier 1994 relative à l'exercice de la pêche and its implementing arrêtés (notably the arrêté du ministre de l'agriculture du 28 septembre 1995 réglementant l'exercice de la pêche, several times amended). Law 94-13 prohibits fishing with firearms and explosives (Art. 10) but does NOT ban the spear/speargun, so apnea spearfishing remains permitted. Sport and recreational fishing units must not impede professional fishers, and the competent authority sets the detailed conditions for that activity by arrêté (Art. 21). Operationally (per implementing rules and dive-community reporting): spearfishing must be done in free-diving (apnea) only — any breathing apparatus (scuba / scaphandre) is forbidden; night spearfishing (between legal sunset and sunrise) is prohibited; spearguns may not be used by minors under 16; divers must stay clear of fishing vessels and marked fishing gear; civil-liability insurance is expected; catch is for personal consumption (sale of catch is prohibited). Fishing is banned inside Tunisia's marine protected areas and national parks (e.g. La Galite, Zembra/Zembretta, Kuriat, Kneiss). Closed zones, closed periods and protected species are fixed by ministerial arrêté under Articles 7 and 12 of Law 94-13.

Uganda is landlocked, so all fishing is in fresh water (Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake George, Lake Mburo, the Nile and minor lakes/rivers). There is no provision that authorises recreational spearfishing or underwater fishing with spearguns. Fishing is governed by the Fish Act (Cap. 197) and the Fish (Fishing) Rules, 2010. The Fish Act defines 'to fish' as to capture, kill, injure, snare or trap fish, and defines an 'appliance' to include a spear or harpoon, so spearing fish falls squarely within the regulated definition of fishing. Lawful recreational fishing is defined in the 2010 Rules as 'fishing with a rod and line', and requires a recreational fishing permit (UGX 150,000). Spearfishing is not a 'rod and line' method, so it is not covered by the recreational permit; commercial/artisanal fishing is restricted to licensed nets, long lines, hand lines and (in named lakes) baskets. Manufacture, importation, sale or use of any net or other 'fishing appliance' (which would include a spear) requires written authorisation from the Chief Fisheries Officer (Rule 19), and the Minister may prohibit any otherwise lawful method deemed unduly destructive (Fish Act s.8). On this basis recreational spearfishing is effectively not permitted; it is marked 'no' rather than 'restricted' because no permit pathway for it exists. There is no explicit ban that names 'spearfishing' or 'speargun', so confidence is medium.

Tanzania is a union of two legal jurisdictions with separate fisheries laws: Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba). On the Mainland, the Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations, 2009 (made under the Fisheries Act, Cap. 279) prohibit possessing, storing, selling or using harpoon guns and spear guns to fish (reg. 66(1)(c)), and prohibit using SCUBA / self-contained underwater breathing apparatus to capture fish or marine resources (reg. 66(1)(q)), although SCUBA may be used for 'sport fishing', live aquarium-fish capture, training and research (reg. 66(2)). Dive-industry sources report that sport (non-commercial) spearfishing is permitted in Zanzibar under the Zanzibar Fisheries Act, 2010, which bans spear/harpoon guns for commercial gain but allows licensed recreational sport spearfishing through a registered, government-authorised service provider with a specific sport spearfishing licence from the Department of Fisheries Development. All marine protected areas (marine parks and marine reserves) of both the Mainland and Zanzibar are closed to spearfishing. Because the Mainland regulation flatly bans possession/use of spear and harpoon guns 'except where authorised by Regulations made under the Act', anyone intending to spearfish should treat it as illegal unless they hold a specific written authorisation/licence.

Zambia is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; the country's fisheries are entirely freshwater (Zambezi, Kafue, Luapula and Chambeshi rivers; Lakes Kariba, Tanganyika, Mweru, Bangweulu, Lusiwashi and the Lukanga/Bangweulu swamps). The governing law, the Fisheries Act, 2011 (No. 22 of 2011), does NOT mention 'spear', 'speargun', 'harpoon' or 'gaff' anywhere, and these are not among the prohibited methods of fishing listed in section 15 (which bans explosives, firearms, poisons/noxious substances, electrical devices, trawl/drag nets, river-spanning nets and non-conforming gear). Spearfishing is therefore not specifically prohibited. However, it is also not specifically permitted or regulated as a recognised activity, and the general fisheries controls still apply: under section 27 it is an offence to fish in any declared fisheries management area without a fishing licence; the Minister may impose closed seasons and prohibited methods by Gazette notice under section 14; and an annual nationwide closed (breeding) season runs each year from 1 December to the end of February on most inland waters. No published Zambian source documents recreational spearfishing being practised, licensed or banned, so the activity is best treated as legally tolerated-but-unregulated and subject to the general licence and closed-season rules. Set expectations accordingly and verify locally before diving.

Zimbabwe is landlocked, so all spearfishing is freshwater (rivers, dams and lakes such as Lake Kariba). Fishing is governed nationally by the Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14]. Section 93 of the Act expressly lists 'a spear' and 'a spear gun' among the authorized fishing gear that may be used in any waters, so spearfishing/underwater hunting of fish is legal in principle. However, it is restricted: under section 85 a person generally must hold a fishing permit issued by the appropriate authority for the waters concerned, and under section 93(2) that authority may, when issuing a permit, restrict which of the listed gear types (rod and line, hand line, spear, spear gun, basket trap) may be used. Section 87 separately prohibits killing fish with explosives, firearms, chemicals, poisons, jigs or electrical devices except under a special permit. No national statutory provision was found that imposes a blanket prohibition on the spear or spear gun, nor specific rules on use of breathing apparatus (scuba) for fishing; such conditions, where they exist, are set per-water by the appropriate authority and/or by Statutory Instruments and were not retrievable in full.

Spearfishing is heavily restricted. A spear gun may not be used for fishing in Antigua and Barbuda waters without prior written permission (a permit) from the Chief Fisheries Officer, and its use is prohibited entirely in designated conservation/marine reserve areas. In practice the Fisheries Division issues spearfishing permits only to nationals (citizens/local fishers), so visiting tourists and other non-citizens are not permitted to spearfish; pole-spearing of invasive lionfish is generally tolerated. Spearing of lobster is explicitly prohibited (lobster may only be taken by hand, loop, pot or trap, and speared/impaled lobster may not be possessed or sold). Collection of conch and lobster using scuba/hookah is restricted. Marine reserves declared under the Fisheries Act and restricted areas under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act ban fishing without permission. The governing instruments are the Fisheries Act 2006 (No. 22 of 2006), the Fisheries Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 2 of 2013, which replaced the Fisheries Regulations S.I. 10/1990 under Cap. 173) and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Cap. 259).

Recreational marine spearfishing (pesca/caza submarina) is practiced legally along Argentina's Atlantic coast and is a recognised competitive sport governed by the Federacion Argentina de Actividades Subacuaticas (FAAS, CMAS member). Coastal hotspots include Las Grutas, San Antonio Oeste and Playas Doradas (Rio Negro) and Puerto Madryn and Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut), which have hosted national and Pan-American championships. However, the activity is regulated at the provincial level (the national fisheries law focuses on commercial sea fishing), and it is explicitly PROHIBITED in continental/freshwater Patagonian waters under the Reglamento de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagonico (Art. 22, which bans 'la caza subacuatica' and the use of 'arpones'), and harpoons are prohibited for sport fishing in National Parks. There is no single nationwide statute that affirmatively authorises marine spearfishing; legality therefore depends on the province and whether the water is marine or continental, hence the 'restricted' classification.

The import, possession and use of underwater hunting weapons (harpoons / spearguns) is prohibited in principle under the Landsbesluit verboden onderwaterjachtmiddelen (AB 2001 no. 115), a decree issued under Article 9 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance (Natuurbeschermingsverordening, AB 1995 no. 2). Since November 2020, Aruba operates a tolerance policy (gedoogbeleid) that in practice allows spearfishing with a harpoon provided the spearfisher holds a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Dienst Landbouw, Veeteelt en Visserij, 'Santa Rosa'). Spearfishing is forbidden in the designated red zones (which overlap the Marine Park Aruba protected areas), harpoons may not be carried into a red zone unless properly stowed in a boat in transit, and swimming/diving from shore with a harpoon is prohibited. The Coast Guard and Police enforce these rules; breaching the underlying decree is punishable by detention up to three months or a fine up to AWG 10,000 (Article 19(3) of the Ordinance). Lionfish (an invasive species) is treated as an exception and its removal is encouraged. Recreational line fishing requires no licence and billfish must be released.

Spearfishing is legal in The Bahamas but tightly restricted. Spear guns are banned outright; only a Hawaiian sling (and, in practice, a pole spear) may be used, and a visitor must have the spear endorsed on a sport fishing permit. Any underwater breathing apparatus other than a snorkel (SCUBA, hookah, air compressors) is prohibited for spearfishing, so all spearfishing must be on breath-hold (free-diving). Spearfishing is banned within 1 mile of the coast of New Providence, within 1 mile of the southern coast of Freeport (Grand Bahama), and within 200 yards of the coast of every other (Family/Out) Island, and is entirely prohibited inside national parks and no-take marine reserves such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Spearfishing tournaments/competitions in the exclusive fishery zone are prohibited. Catch and size limits, closed seasons and species protections apply.

Recreational spearfishing is generally permitted in Barbados outside protected areas, but it is regulated and subject to important restrictions. The primary fisheries statute is now the Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025 (enacted 12 May 2025), which repealed the Fisheries Act, Cap. 391 (1993). That Act bans destructive methods (firearms, electric-shock devices, explosives, poisons and other noxious substances) but does not prohibit spearguns outright; instead it empowers the Minister to make regulations on the 'use of underwater breathing apparatus, spear guns or other similar devices' (s.438(1)(k)). Under the still-relevant Fisheries (Management) Regulations, 1998 it is illegal to use SCUBA to take sea eggs (sea urchins), and harvesting egg-bearing lobster, turtles, coral and ornamental fish is prohibited or requires written permission. All non-commercial fishing vessels require a recreational fishing licence (s.134). Spearfishing and all fishing/extraction are prohibited inside the Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve near Holetown - the country's only legislated marine protected area - where spear guns are expressly not permitted. The sea egg fishery has been closed by moratorium since 2005, and Caribbean spiny lobster is subject to an annual closed season.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Belize ONLY while free-diving (breath-hold). It is illegal to harvest any marine life while using SCUBA or any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, and it is illegal to use spear guns or take any marine life inside marine reserves and other marine protected areas. A fishing licence is required for everyone, including tourists, and licences are administered together with the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI). Numerous species are fully protected (e.g. parrotfish and other grazers, bonefish, tarpon, permit, turtles, whale sharks, nurse sharks) and may never be speared, and closed seasons and size limits apply to commercially important species such as lobster, conch and Nassau grouper. The governing statute is the Fisheries Resources Act, No. 7 of 2020, which defines spear guns, Hawaiian slings, spears and spearfishing apparatus as regulated 'fishing gear'.

Spearfishing is legal in Bermuda only under a licence, and licences are issued to Bermuda residents only. Only a pole spear may be used: spearguns and Hawaiian slings are illegal, and SCUBA/aqualung may not be used to take fish. Spearfishing is prohibited within one nautical mile of the shore of any island of Bermuda, banned year-round in 30 designated protected dive-site areas, and banned seasonally (15 April to 14 August) in the South Western and North Eastern protected areas. A bag limit of two fish of any one species per person per day applies, spearing of lobster is prohibited, and speared fish may not be sold. Many species (all parrotfish, several groupers, marine turtles, mammals, corals, molluscs) are fully protected and may never be taken.

Bolivia is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; the only relevant context is freshwater (rivers, lakes such as Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon/Plata basins). Recreational/sports fishing ('pesca deportiva') is explicitly legal and recognised under Law No. 938 (Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura Sustentables, 2017) and the earlier Reglamento de Pesca y Acuicultura (DS 22581, 1990). However, neither the law nor the regulation specifically names underwater spearfishing, harpoons ('arpón') or spearguns ('fusil submarino') — they are neither expressly authorised nor expressly prohibited. Law 938 Art. 17 prohibits explosives, firearms, toxic/chemical substances and bottom-trawling, and lets the competent authority (IPD-PACU) declare any other method 'noxious'. Sports fishing must use 'authorized fishing gear and methods', requires a licence, and IPD-PACU regulates specialized fishing activities. Because spearfishing is not addressed by name and its legality depends on IPD-PACU authorising it as a method, the specific status of spearfishing is unknown/restricted in practice.

The Caribbean Netherlands consists of three special municipalities, each with its own marine-environment island ordinance, so the rules differ sharply by island. BONAIRE: spearfishing (including hand spearing) is totally prohibited in the Bonaire National Marine Park, which covers all waters around the island from the high-water line to 60 m depth; the ban has existed since 1971 and is codified in Article 10 of the Marine Environment Ordinance (A.B. 1984/1991). The only exception is hunting the invasive lionfish, allowed for permitted users with a STINAPA-issued ELF tool. SABA: spearfishing with SCUBA or Hookah equipment is prohibited, and spearfishing is reserved for residents of Saba (non-residents/non-Sabaans are prohibited), under the Saba Marine Environment Ordinance (A.B. 1987, no. 10). SINT EUSTATIUS (Statia): spearfishing is permitted in the marine park ONLY when free-diving (no SCUBA or Hookah) and never with poison, chemicals or explosives; all fishing is banned in the two designated marine reserves (north and south), under the Marine Environment Ordinance of St. Eustatius (A.B. 1996, no. 3). Each ordinance is an Eilandsverordening (island ordinance) enforced by the respective park-management foundation (STINAPA Bonaire, Saba Conservation Foundation, STENAPA on Statia).

Recreational spearfishing (pesca subaquatica) is legal in Brazil but tightly regulated. It is classified as a form of amateur fishing (pesca amadora), so the sale of the catch is forbidden. It may only be practised in free-diving / breath-hold mode (apneia): the use of any artificial breathing apparatus (scuba tanks, compressors, hookah) while spearfishing is prohibited by federal rule (Portaria IBAMA 4/2009, Art. 3o, Categoria C). Allowed equipment includes the speargun/arbalete (espingarda de mergulho/arbalete), trident and similar gear. An amateur fishing licence (Licenca de Pesca Amadora) issued by the federal fisheries authority is mandatory. Capture of nationally threatened aquatic species is banned; the goliath grouper / mero (Epinephelus itajara) is listed as Criticamente em Perigo (CR) in the official threatened-species list (Portaria MMA 445/2014, updated by Portaria MMA 148/2022), and the dedicated mero moratorium (Portaria Interministerial MPA/MMA 13/2015) ran for eight years (2015-2023). Additional state and zone restrictions apply (e.g. Santa Catarina apnea-only rules with coastal exclusion areas, native-species bans in the Parana basin, prohibitions inside conservation units / marine protected areas).

Spearfishing is prohibited in the British Virgin Islands. Under section 50(1) of the Virgin Islands Fisheries Act, 1997 (No. 4 of 1997), no person may use a speargun, SCUBA diving equipment, explosive, poison or other noxious substance for fishing in the fishery waters. It is illegal to even use or carry on board a fishing vessel any spear gun or SCUBA equipment for fishing or harvesting marine products. According to the official Government of the Virgin Islands notice, where such prohibited gear is found on a vessel a presumption arises (under s.50(2)) that the persons intended to fish in the fishery waters unless the contrary is proved; the same notice states the offence carries a maximum fine of USD 15,000 on summary conviction (attributed to s.63(a)). The exact statutory wording of s.50(2) and s.63 could not be verified against the consolidated Act (the 1997 Act is not yet published on the official Virgin Islands Laws Online portal and is not on FAOLEX), so those provisions are described from the official notice rather than quoted verbatim. The prohibition applies to residents, foreigners and tourists with no recreational exception, and spearguns/Hawaiian slings may be confiscated by Customs on arrival. The Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022 contemplates allowing spearfishing, but as of February 2025 it had not been brought into force by notice in the Gazette and the supporting regulations remained in drafting, so spearfishing remained illegal under the 1997 Act and the 2003 Fisheries Regulations.

Spearfishing is legal in Canada but heavily restricted and governed by a layered system of federal regulations made under the Fisheries Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-14). Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) manages tidal (saltwater) recreational fishing nationwide and most freshwater fisheries via province-specific federal regulations, while several provinces co-manage freshwater rules. Rules vary sharply by region and species. In tidal waters of the Pacific (BC) region, spears may NOT be used for salmon, trout, char, sturgeon, octopus or shellfish other than shrimp, and all fishing is prohibited inside Rockfish Conservation Areas (additional area closures may apply in some Marine Protected Areas). In the Maritimes (NB/NS/PEI), spearing is permitted in tidal waters only for eels, smelt and tomcod (NOT Atlantic cod), and is prohibited for all species in inland waters. In Ontario, spear guns are prohibited outright; only certain species may be taken with a hand spear under the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007. In Quebec, spearfishing while snorkelling or diving is permitted in most zones but banned for Atlantic salmon, striped bass, landlocked salmon, muskellunge, lake trout, sturgeon and walleye, and forbidden in several zones and salmon rivers. A valid recreational fishing licence (federal tidal or provincial freshwater) is generally required.

Spearfishing with a speargun (broadly defined to include Hawaiian sling, pole spear, harpoon, etc.) is illegal in Cayman waters unless the user holds a licence from the National Conservation Council / Marine Conservation Board. Licences are granted only to Caymanians over 18. There is no recreational spearfishing access for foreigners or non-licensed residents. Even licensed users face strict limits: a maximum of three fish per day and six in possession, no use in marine parks, replenishment zones or environmental zones, no use in lagoons/sounds or water 20 feet or shallower, no use within ~200 yards of a vessel flying a dive flag, and no use within one mile of a Designated Grouper Spawning Area (Nov 1 - Mar 31). Nassau grouper and parrotfish may not be taken by speargun. Importing spearguns or speargun parts is prohibited. The licence regime is administered by the Department of Environment under the National Conservation Act, 2013 (which replaced the Marine Conservation Law) and the National Conservation (Marine Parks) Regulations, 2021. As of the March 2026 Conservation Council vote, the DoE was preparing to resume issuing/renewing speargun licences with education and enforcement measures in place.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Chile and is expressly governed by Law No. 20.256 on Recreational Fishing (2008). It is defined as the capture of marine fish fauna by sport free-diving (apnea) using one or more elastic or compressed-air spearguns/spears. Anyone (nationals, foreign residents and foreign tourists) must hold a personal, non-transferable licence issued by SERNAPESCA and carry it while fishing and transporting catch. Selling the catch is prohibited. Spearfishers must respect general conservation measures and the specific recreational/spearfishing catch limits, minimum sizes and mandatory-release rules set nationally by Res. Ex. N° 443-2025 of the Subsecretaría de Pesca, the closed seasons (vedas) of the General Fisheries and Aquaculture Law No. 18.892, and the prohibition on extractive fishing inside marine reserves and marine parks.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca deportiva con arpón / pesca submarina) is legal in Colombia but tightly restricted. It is regulated by AUNAP (Autoridad Nacional de Acuicultura y Pesca) under the recreational-fishing framework set by Resolution 0549 of 2022, issued under the General Fishing Statute (Law 13 of 1990) and Decree 1071 of 2015. A personal AUNAP recreational-fishing permit (carné) is required for nationals and foreigners alike. Spearfishing must be done by free diving in apnea only; per news reporting of the resolution, only one elastic/spring speargun per person is allowed, night spearfishing is prohibited, and hooks, gigs/tridents and light-attraction devices are banned. Recreational fishing must be non-commercial (catch-and-release oriented, with retention only for self-consumption above minimum sizes); selling the catch is prohibited. Spearfishing is banned inside National Natural Parks and other marine protected areas, where the environmental authority (Parques Nacionales Naturales) governs. The resolution rules apply across the whole national territory except protected areas.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca deportiva subacuatica / pesca submarina) is legal in Costa Rica and is recognized as a form of sport fishing that may be carried out underwater (Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura No. 8436, Art. 70.c). It is restricted: a valid sport-fishing card (carne de pesca deportiva) issued by INCOPESCA is required for anyone fishing underwater (Art. 75), the fisher must be at least 16 years old (Reglamento Decreto 36782, Art. 69), and the catch is for self-consumption or taxidermy only (no commercial sale). Practice is widely understood (national authorities and the dive community) to require freediving (breath-hold/'a pulmon') only, with the use of SCUBA / autonomous diving (breathing) equipment for spearfishing prohibited. Spearfishing, like all sport and commercial fishing, is absolutely prohibited inside national parks, natural monuments and biological reserves (Ley 8436, Art. 9), and restricted in other protected areas per their management plans. INCOPESCA sets minimum sizes, catch limits, closed seasons (vedas) and zones (Art. 73 of the Law).

Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Cuba as a sub-category of recreational fishing (pesca recreativa), but it is tightly restricted by Ley No. 129/2019 (Ley de Pesca) and its Regulation (Decreto No. 1/2019). It may only be practised on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, only in the designated maritime areas of Chapter V of the Decree, and only by free-diving (apnea) with spring/rubber, pneumatic or pneumatic-oil spearguns and harpoons, in single units. The use of artificial breathing equipment (scuba) for spearfishing is prohibited, and competitive spearfishing events are banned nationwide. A personal, non-transferable annual spearfishing licence is required (issued by the Oficina Nacional de Inspeccion Estatal of the Ministry of the Food Industry); applicants must be at least 17 years old. Catch is for personal/family consumption only, not for profit. Certain species are reserved for state commercial fishing (e.g. spiny lobster Panulirus argus, queen conch Lobatus gigas) and others are fully protected (e.g. sea turtles, manatee, black coral). Spearfishing is also prohibited inside marine protected areas / national parks such as Jardines de la Reina.

Recreational spearfishing with spearguns or Hawaiian slings has been prohibited throughout Curaçao's waters since 1976 under the Reef Management Ordinance (Rifbeheersverordening Curaçao, A.B. 1976 no. 48), which bans spearfishing alongside the breaking and removal of live coral. The only commonly cited legal exception in current practice is the hunting of the invasive lionfish, and only with a hand-powered pole spear (rubber-band-propelled, no trigger); divers/operators need permission for this. Trigger spearguns and Hawaiian slings remain illegal even for lionfish. Fishing of any kind, including any spearing, is additionally prohibited inside the Curaçao Marine Park (Jan Thiel to Oostpunt) and other marine protected areas. The primary statute text was not retrievable verbatim from an official gazette source; legal citations below rely on authoritative NGO/conservation-authority compilations (WIDECAST, DCNA, CARMABI).

Recreational spearfishing is not prohibited nationwide in Dominica, but it is regulated under the Fisheries Act (Chap. 61:60, Act 11 of 1987) and its subsidiary regulations. Section 38(1)(h) of the Act expressly empowers the Minister to regulate or prohibit the use of spear guns. Spear-gun fishing is specifically and explicitly prohibited inside the Soufriere/Scott's Head Marine Reserve under the Fisheries (Marine Reserve) Regulations 2001 (S.R.O. 7 of 2001), where the fish-nursery zone is fully no-take. Fishing in any declared marine reserve is also an offence under section 22(2) of the Act unless permitted in writing. Outside protected/reserve areas, no verbatim national text prohibiting recreational spear-gun use generally was located, so the activity appears legal but subject to general fisheries controls and licensing/sport-fishing rules made under section 38; confirmation should be sought from the Fisheries Division.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in the Dominican Republic but regulated by Law 307-04 (which created CODOPESCA, the Dominican Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture) and by ministerial resolutions/presidential decrees. Key restrictions: in the national fishing reserve zone (waters within 100 km / 54 nm of the coast, where all industrial fishing is banned), the use of air compressors for dive fishing and nighttime spearfishing are prohibited (Art. 64). A fishing licence from CODOPESCA is required to fish commercially or for profit; sport/recreational fishing is also licensed. Compressor/hookah-assisted dive fishing is explicitly prohibited in the reserved zone (Art. 64), so spearfishing is in practice carried out by freediving; the law does not explicitly ban self-contained scuba per se. Several species important to spearfishers are protected: sharks and manta rays are under permanent veda; parrotfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, butterflyfish and sea cucumbers were under a national two-year moratorium under Decree 281-23 (2023-2025); lobster and conch (lambi) have closed seasons and minimum sizes. Spearfishing is prohibited inside marine protected areas / national parks without a permit from the Ministry of Environment.

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.

El Salvador has no statute that names 'pesca submarina' (spearfishing) or 'arpon' (speargun) specifically. Recreational underwater fishing falls under 'pesca deportiva' (sport fishing), classified as a non-commercial extraction activity ('extraccion no comercial') under the Ley General de Ordenacion y Promocion de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decree 637, 2001). Art. 39 states such activity 'shall be promoted' but must comply with minimum sizes, fishing gear, specific zones, catch limits and other rules set by regulation, and requires an authorization/license from the competent authority. Use of poisons and explosives is banned (Art. 31); a harpoon/speargun is a selective method and is not among the banned gear, but only methods authorized by the competent authority are lawful. Spearfishing is prohibited or tightly restricted inside the declared aquatic reserve areas (Art. 28), within 1 nautical mile of the lowest-tide line along the entire Salvadoran coast, and inside marine protected areas such as Complejo Los Cobanos and the Golfo de Fonseca (Art. 29), which fall under a special regime and (for Los Cobanos) under MARN authorization. As of 2026 the regulatory authority is the Autoridad Salvadorena de Economia Azul (ASEA), which replaced and liquidated CENDEPESCA. Spearfishing-specific provisions (license fee for an individual diver without a vessel, exact catch/size limits for sport divers) are not published as a distinct regime, hence confidence is medium.

Greenland (an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark) does not recognise recreational spearfishing as a permitted fishing method. Its fisheries law operates a positive-list ('may only be done with') regime: the species-specific Self-Government orders for non-commercial/recreational fishing list only hooks/rods and nets (and pots/traps for shellfish) as legal gear. Spear or harpoon (lyster/harpun) are not among the listed recreational fishing methods, so taking fish with a speargun or spear is not legally provided for. Harpoons in Greenland are a hunting tradition used for marine mammals (seals, whales) under hunting (fangst) legislation reserved for residents, not for sport fishing of fish. No source describing legal recreational spearfishing of fish in Greenland was found. A fishing licence (fisketegn) is required for tourists/visitors. Confidence is medium: the absence of spearfishing from the exhaustive permitted-gear lists is well documented, but no single provision explicitly names and bans spearfishing by tourists.

Spearfishing is permitted in Grenada but tightly restricted. Spear guns may only be used by Grenadian citizens; a non-citizen (foreigner) may not use a spear gun in the fishery waters except with the written permission of the Chief Fisheries Officer (Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 1996, reg. 25(1)). Using a spear gun while on SCUBA or Hookah (surface-supplied) equipment is prohibited for everyone (reg. 25(2)). Spear guns are also banned outright inside all four declared Marine Protected Areas, where taking any animal or plant and fishing from shore or vessel is prohibited (Fisheries (Marine Protected Areas) Regulations, SRO 78 of 2001, reg. 6). Annual closed seasons (set by Ministerial notice) protect lobster, turtle, sea urchin and conch, during which they may not be taken by any method including spearing. Protected/undersized lobster, immature conch and turtles must not be taken. Breaches carry a fine up to EC$5,000 and/or up to 2 years imprisonment.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Guatemala as a form of sport fishing (pesca deportiva). The General Law of Fishing and Aquaculture (Decreto 80-2002) expressly authorises the speargun/harpoon ('arpon') as a permitted gear for sport fishing (Art. 40, item 5.1). Sport fishing requires a licence from MAGA/DIPESCA and may be exercised by both nationals and foreigners (Arts. 26-27). The billfish/sailfish (pez vela, Istiophorus platypterus) is reserved exclusively for catch-and-release sport fishing and cannot be retained (Arts. 28 and 80(j)). Toxic substances and explosives are prohibited fishing methods (Art. 80(c)). The catch-and-release sailfish reserve aside, species-specific catch quantities, sizes, weights, gear, locations and methods for sport fishing are to be set by MAGA through the competent authority in the regulation (Art. 29), and closed seasons (vedas) may be imposed by the authority (Arts. 78-79). Spearfishing is prohibited inside declared protected/reserve areas and during vedas (Art. 80(b)).

Guyana has no published recreational spearfishing licensing regime and no explicit ban. The Fisheries Act 2002 (Act 12 of 2002, consolidated as Cap. 71:08) governs all fishing in Guyana's fisheries waters. It does not outlaw spearfishing as such, but Section 79(2)(g) and (h) empower the Minister to make regulations regulating the use of underwater breathing apparatus and regulating or prohibiting the use of spear guns or other similar devices, and Section 79(2)(f) covers the organisation and regulation of sport fishing. Section 14(1) requires a valid commercial fisher's licence to fish in the fisheries waters (with no separate recreational licence published), so any spearfishing is in principle subject to licensing. Fishing is prohibited inside marine reserves (Section 27) and the Shell Beach Protected Area (Protected Areas Act 2011) without permission, and explosives/poisons are banned (Section 29). Sea turtles are protected. In practice, marine recreational spearfishing is essentially non-existent because Guyana's Atlantic coast is extremely turbid from Amazon/Orinoco sediment mud banks, giving near-zero underwater visibility; the country is a freshwater/river sport-fishing destination (e.g. arapaima) rather than a spearfishing one. Status is best treated as restricted/uncertain pending confirmation that no spear-gun regulation has been issued under Section 79.

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.

Recreational/sport fishing (pesca deportiva) is legally recognised in Honduras under the Ley General de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto No. 106-2015). The national law does not specifically name 'pesca submarina' (spearfishing); it classifies non-commercial fishing as scientific, sporting (recreation) and subsistence, and the only methods it expressly prohibits are explosives and poisons (Art. 45). However, most of the country's prime reef diving lies inside marine protected areas, above all the Bay Islands National Marine Park (Roatan, Utila, Guanaja). Inside these protected areas spearfishing is prohibited, with one practical exception: hunting the invasive lionfish (pez leon) under a Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License issued by the Roatan Marine Park, using only a Hawaiian sling or pole spear of up to ~3 feet (no spearguns). Closed seasons (vedas) protect lobster, queen conch and other high-value species. Overall: restricted - allowed in principle for sport but heavily constrained in practice by protected-area rules; spearguns are effectively not used and only lionfish may be speared in the main dive areas.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Jamaica but heavily restricted. A valid fishing licence/registration from the National Fisheries Authority is required (the Fisheries Act, 2018 mandates licences for recreational fishing). Spearfishing with impaling devices (spearguns, Hawaiian slings) is prohibited at night, between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010 (government-funded replacement with Hawaiian slings) and night diving for spearfishing was banned from the same date; a special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical underwater-breathing devices used for fishing. All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited inside designated Special Fishery Conservation Areas (fish sanctuaries) and marine parks (e.g. Montego Bay Marine Park) except under licence/permission. Closed seasons apply to spiny lobster (Apr 1 – Jun 30) and queen conch (declared annually). Spearfishing is widely cited as the single greatest threat to Jamaica's marine biodiversity.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca deportivo-recreativa subacuatica) is legal in Mexican federal waters but tightly regulated. A federal sport-fishing permit issued by CONAPESCA is mandatory for every spearfisher, including foreigners. Underwater fishing is allowed only by free-diving (breath-hold / buceo a pulmon); the use of scuba/compressed air or autonomous diving gear (escafandra autonoma) is not permitted for the activity. Only a single rubber- or spring-powered speargun (arpon de hule o resorte) is allowed per fisher, and hooks (ganchos) and tridents/gigs (fisgas) are prohibited. Spearfishing may target only fish (peces), not crustaceans or mollusks (squid excepted), and is capped at five specimens per fisher per day. The activity is prohibited inside no-take marine protected areas (e.g. Cabo Pulmo National Park, Revillagigedo National Park), in/around closed-season (veda) zones, within 250 m of swimming beaches, and within 250 m of commercial fishing vessels. Sale of the catch is forbidden under the sport permit.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Nicaragua as a form of sport fishing (pesca deportiva). Law No. 489 on Fishing and Aquaculture (2004) expressly allows sport fishing to be conducted underwater (de manera subacuatica), but only under a permit issued by the State (MIFIC, administered through the fisheries authority, now INPESCA), and subject to authorized seasons, minimum sizes, gear rules, specific zones and catch limits, under a catch-and-release principle. Billfishes (picudos: marlin, sailfish) are reserved exclusively for sport fishing and may not be sold. Spearfishing is prohibited inside protected areas such as the Cayos Miskitos Marine Biological Reserve. Note a separate, important regime: commercial spiny-lobster (langosta) harvesting by autonomous diving has been targeted for prohibition under the Central American regional regulation OSPESCA OSP-02-09 (2009) for safety/conservation reasons, though enforcement has been repeatedly delayed in Nicaragua. A seasonal closure (veda) on Caribbean spiny lobster runs annually from 1 March to 30 June. Exact recreational spearfishing licence fees and detailed foreigner procedures were not retrievable from official sources and should be confirmed directly with INPESCA.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Panama as a form of sport fishing (pesca deportiva). Law 204 of 2021 explicitly defines sport fishing as an activity that may be carried out by breath-hold diving ('inmersion por apnea') and expressly recognizes underwater (spearfishing) tournaments ('torneo de pesca... submarina'). A sport-fishing licence/authorization issued by the Autoridad de los Recursos Acuaticos de Panama (ARAP) is required, catches may not be sold, and activity is restricted in marine protected areas such as Coiba National Park (no-take zones). Since Executive Decree No. 10 of 10 June 2026, billfish (marlins and spearfish/sailfish group) may only be taken under sport/tourist sport fishing or authorized scientific research, on a catch-and-release basis, and not commercialized. Spearfishing is breath-hold only under the sport-fishing definition; scuba-assisted underwater fishing is not contemplated as recreational sport fishing under the law.

Paraguay is a landlocked country, so all spearfishing would be freshwater (rivers, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs). National law (Ley Nº 3.556/08 de Pesca y Acuicultura) does not specifically name spearfishing (pesca subacuática/submarina), but it strictly defines the only permitted gear for recreational ('sport') fishing as hooks and lines or a rod with/without reel ('anzuelos y liñadas o caña con o sin reel'). Spearguns/harpoons are therefore not among the authorised sport-fishing methods, and the law generally prohibits non-selective and destructive fishing arts. Commercial sale of catch is forbidden under a sport licence. In practice recreational spearfishing is not a recognised or permitted modality in Paraguay. An annual, non-transferable fishing licence issued by MADES is mandatory for any sport fishing, and a nationwide closed season (veda) suspends all sport and commercial fishing for several weeks each year (typically early November to late December/January).

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / pesca deportiva) is legal in Peru and widely practised along the Pacific coast; Peru even hosted the CMAS World Spearfishing Championship. Under the General Fishing Law (Decreto Ley 25977, 1992) and its Regulation (Decreto Supremo 012-2001-PE), recreational/sport fishing is a 'non-commercial' category carried out for recreational or tourist purposes, and individual recreational fishing carried out WITHOUT a vessel does NOT require a fishing permit (Art. 29 of the Regulation). Sale of the catch is not permitted for this category. There is, however, no dedicated national regulation specifically tailored to recreational spearfishing: rules on scuba use, daily bag limits, minimum sizes and a diver registry have been recommended by experts (SPDA) but a comprehensive 'reglamento de pesca deportiva' has not yet been enacted. Species-specific rules do apply: under DS 009-2008-PRODUCE and the infraction regime added by DS 013-2009-PRODUCE, sport fishing of the billfishes (black, blue and striped marlin and sailfish) requires a specific sport-fishing permit and the captured specimen must be released (catch-and-release); their commercialization is prohibited. Industrial/large-scale fishing is prohibited inside marine protected natural areas (e.g. Reserva Nacional de Paracas), while small-scale non-commercial extraction inside ANPs is allowed only under approved management plans. Confidence is medium: the framework laws are confirmed verbatim from official sources, but a single consolidated spearfishing-specific instrument does not exist.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca con arpon en apnea) is legal in Puerto Rico but tightly regulated. In Puerto Rico jurisdictional (territorial) waters it is governed by the DRNA Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico. Spearfishing is allowed only while freediving/breath-hold (en apnea): it is illegal to use a speargun and a diving tank (SCUBA) at the same time. Spear-fishing is prohibited at docks, designated bathing areas, marine reserves and artificial reefs, prohibited at night (sunset to sunrise), and prohibited within 100 feet (30.48 m) of the coast where the spear must be kept unloaded. A recreational saltwater fishing license from DRNA is required for anyone 13 or older. In adjacent federal waters (the EEZ around Puerto Rico, generally beyond 9 nm) NOAA / 50 CFR 622 applies: powerheads may not be used to take reef fish, Nassau and goliath grouper, three parrotfish species, queen conch and certain rays are fully protected, and several spawning-area and species seasonal closures apply.

Spearfishing in Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily restricted and in practice prohibited for most people. Multiple secondary sources (including a Caribbean cruising/fishing law compendium and the St Kitts tourism community) report that fishing with scuba, hookah or spearfishing equipment is prohibited, and that it is specifically illegal for non-citizens (foreigners/tourists) to spearfish in the waters of St Kitts or Nevis. The governing statute is the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act, 2016 (Act No. 1 of 2016, 'FAMRA'), which repealed the Fisheries Act 1984. The Act itself does not contain a single blanket clause naming 'spearfishing'; instead it empowers the Minister to prohibit fishing 'using a specified method or gear' (s.21(3)(a)(iv)) and to set conservation measures, and it requires a licence/authorisation for all recreational, commercial sport and diving-for-fishing activity (s.63(1)(a)). The detailed gear prohibitions (including spear/scuba) sit in the subsidiary Fisheries Regulations (finalised 2024, with provisions coming into effect June 2025). The exact verbatim spear/scuba prohibition clause from those Regulations is not published in full online and is therefore not reproduced here. Confirm current rules with the Department of Marine Resources before any activity.

Spearfishing (use of a spear gun or fishing gun) is legal in Saint Lucia's fishery waters but tightly regulated. Under Regulation 44 of the Fisheries Regulations 1994, no one may use a spear gun for fishing without first obtaining written permission (a spear gun permit) from the Chief Fisheries Officer, subject to any conditions imposed. Spear guns may NOT be used while diving with SCUBA or Hookah gear, and are completely prohibited inside any Marine Reserve. Sport (recreational) fishing under a sportsfishing licence is restricted to angling and does not authorise spearing unless the licence specifically permits it. Speared lobster is banned outright, and closed seasons apply to lobster, turtle, conch and sea urchins. The spear gun permit costs EC$25.00 and is issued by the Department of Fisheries.

Spearfishing is heavily restricted. It is strictly forbidden to visitors/foreigners, and fishing with spearguns, scuba or hookah gear is treated as illegal under the Fisheries Act 1986 (Cap. 52) and Fisheries Regulations 1987 (S.R.O. No. 1 of 1987). The Act empowers the Minister to regulate scuba use and to regulate or prohibit spear guns. Spearing lobster is prohibited nationally. All fishing (including spearfishing) is banned inside marine protected areas such as the Tobago Cays Marine Park, the South Coast Marine Conservation Area and the Bequia/Devil's Table reserves. Residents may fish for their own consumption outside protected areas; any non-resident fishing requires a permit from the Chief Fisheries Officer.

No spearfishing-specific (underwater fishing / harpoon) legislation could be located for Suriname. The country's Atlantic coast is extremely turbid (Amazon-influenced mud plume) with near-zero underwater visibility, there is no developed dive or spearfishing industry, and no registered marine dive sites. Fisheries are governed by a commercial-oriented framework (Sea Fisheries Act 1980, amended 2017; Fish Stock Protection Act/Decree 1961; Coastal Fisheries Decree 1981) under which fishing is only permitted with a valid licence issued by the LVV Fisheries Department (Visserijdienst); these instruments target commercial vessels and do not explicitly address recreational spearfishing. Freshwater sport fishing is traditionally informal (free or for a small fee). Fishing of any kind in nature reserves is prohibited without written permission under the Nature Protection Act 1954 (Art. 5), and sea turtles and marine mammals are protected under the Game Act. Because no source explicitly permits or prohibits recreational spearfishing, legality is marked unknown; divers should treat coastal protected areas as no-fishing zones and confirm requirements with the LVV Fisheries Department before any underwater fishing.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Trinidad and Tobago and is widely practised, especially in Tobago where parrotfish, rockfish and other reef species are taken by free divers and scuba divers. The official Institute of Marine Affairs states plainly that spearfishing in Tobago is unregulated: there is no permitting system, no gear restrictions, no size or catch limits and no open or closed seasons for the activity itself. The key legal constraint is geographic: fishing of any kind (including spearfishing) is strictly prohibited inside declared marine protected/restricted areas, most notably the Buccoo Reef Marine Park / Bon Accord Lagoon complex in Tobago, designated under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Ch. 37:02). The general Fisheries Act (Ch. 67:51) bans poison and explosives, empowers the Minister to declare prohibited areas and to restrict harpooning/taking of fish, and absolutely prohibits taking, killing or harpooning any marine turtle. Visitors generally need a fishing permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, though enforcement of permits for shore/free-dive spearfishing is light and reporting is inconsistent.

Recreational spearfishing is illegal throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. Under the Fisheries Protection Regulations (Cap. 104), it is an offence to be in possession of a spear gun anywhere within the fishery limits (or within fifty feet of any tidal water, on any beach or foreshore, while swimming, or in any vessel). Hawaiian slings may only be used by holders of a commercial fishing licence, so no recreational spear of any kind is permitted. Taking marine products with scuba equipment is also prohibited except under a specially endorsed licence. The single exception is the invasive lionfish: lionfish are the only species that may be legally speared recreationally, the only marine product that may be taken with scuba gear, and the only product that may be taken inside national parks and nature reserves — and only under a lionfish licence issued by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources / Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management. Penalties for breach are up to a $50,000 fine and/or twelve months' imprisonment.

Recreational spearfishing is broadly legal in the United States but is governed by a layered system. In federal waters (generally 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore, the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone), NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service) regulates harvest under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and species-specific rules, while individual coastal states regulate their own waters (generally out to 3 nautical miles, or about 9 nautical miles for Texas and the Gulf coast of Florida). Rules therefore vary substantially by state and by site. Spearfishing is permitted in most marine waters of states such as Florida, California, Hawaii and Texas, subject to gear restrictions, protected-species lists, closed areas (national marine sanctuaries, marine protected areas, marine reserves, swimming-beach/pier buffers), and license requirements. Powerheads, bangsticks and explosive devices are commonly prohibited. Freshwater spearfishing rules vary by state and are often more restrictive (e.g. Florida bans it entirely), while some states permit it for non-game fish only. Federal law independently protects marine mammals (Marine Mammal Protection Act) and endangered/threatened species (Endangered Species Act) from take by any method, including spearing; billfish are protected from commercial sale and custody-for-sale under the Billfish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1827a), while recreational take of billfish is regulated by NOAA Fisheries' Highly Migratory Species rules.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in the U.S. Virgin Islands in most Territorial waters (shore to 3 nautical miles). Spear fishing is statutorily defined and permitted gear, but it is heavily restricted: it is prohibited inside National Park Service waters (Virgin Islands National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Salt River Bay, V.I. Coral Reef National Monument) and inside the territorial marine reserves and no-take/recreational zones of the St. Croix East End Marine Park. Spears/hooks may NOT be used to take spiny lobster anywhere in Territorial or Federal (EEZ) waters, and SCUBA/hookah (compressed-air) gear may not be used to harvest marine resources in Territorial waters. Hookah gear is expressly banned. Numerous protected species (sea turtles, Goliath and Nassau grouper, blue/midnight/rainbow parrotfish, corals) may not be taken by any method, and several species have seasonal closures. A recreational fishing license (via GoOutdoors USVI / DPNR) became a requirement under rules signed October 7, 2022, with enforcement scheduled to begin in mid-2026.

Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is legal in Uruguay as a form of recreational/sport fishing (pesca deportiva). Under Article 44 of the Responsible Fishing Law (Ley N° 19.175 of 2013), sport fishing 'may be exercised freely' except where particular zones, species, periods or fishing gear require a prior fishing permit, as regulated by the Executive Power on the proposal of DINARA. There is no general national spearfishing-specific statute; the activity is governed by the general recreational-fishing framework plus species-specific closures (notably the recurring annual precautionary closure on corvina negra, Pogonias chromis) and minimum landing sizes. Uruguay has an active CMAS-affiliated underwater federation (FUAS) that organises spearfishing competitions and hosted the 2021 World Spearfishing Championship. No retrievable source confirms a national statutory ban on scuba/autonomous breathing apparatus for spearfishing specifically; the FUAS page describes pneumatic spearguns, lights and night spearfishing as prohibited 'in many countries' generically rather than citing a Uruguayan prohibition, so these points are marked unknown rather than asserted.

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).

Afghanistan is landlocked, so no marine spearfishing exists. There is no dedicated fisheries or fishing statute and no spearfishing-specific regulation. Inland (freshwater) fishing in rivers, streams and lakes is largely informal and unregulated; the only relevant national legal instrument is the Environment Law (2007), whose Chapter Six (Articles 47-49) regulates the taking of wild species through harvestable/protected species lists and permits. Destructive fishing methods (dynamite/explosives and electrofishing) are illegal in practice and are explicitly banned in Band-e-Amir National Park. No source addresses recreational spearfishing or speargun use, so its legality is genuinely unknown; in practice it is not regulated as a distinct activity.

Armenia is a landlocked country with no sea coast, so there is no marine spearfishing; the only possible context is freshwater (Lake Sevan, reservoirs and rivers). Armenian legislation does not separately name or regulate spearfishing / underwater hunting (подводная охота). All taking of fish is treated as a 'use of fauna objects' under the Law on Fauna (HO-52, 2000), which makes fishing a chargeable, licensed activity; amateur (recreational) fishing is one permitted category of social-purpose use. Fishing on Lake Sevan, the country's main fishery, is tightly restricted by annually updated Government/Ministry of Environment decrees: catching trout (ishkhan) and crayfish is banned, whitefish (sig) is subject to closed spawning seasons and quotas, and per-person permissible quantities are set each year. Because no instrument expressly authorises spearfishing and the dominant water body is heavily restricted, the practical legality of recreational spearfishing is unclear and likely de facto not provided for. No verbatim provision permitting or prohibiting spearfishing as a method was found.

There is no Azerbaijani statute that explicitly names spearfishing (underwater hunting / podvodnaya okhota). It is practised as a form of recreational/sport fishing, which the national Law on Fishing (No. 457-IQ, 27 March 1998) permits for personal needs and leisure in all water bodies except reserves, fish-reproduction zones and fish-breeding enterprises (Article 11). A spearfishing community exists and is active on the Caspian Sea and inland canals/reservoirs (e.g. the Caspian Hunters Club, 200+ members, registered with the Youth and Sports Ministry). Recreational/sport fishing does not require a licence and is permitted year-round, but several constraints apply: a spawning-season ban (1 April - 1 September) on the Kur River, Lake Sarisu and the Mingachevir, Shamkir, Araz and Yenikand reservoirs; an absolute prohibition on taking species listed in Azerbaijan's Red Book; a moratorium on all sturgeon catch (extended through 2026 across the Caspian littoral states); and a statutory ban on 'prohibited hunting devices' and methods causing mass fish death. Sport/leisure fishing must follow regulations approved by the relevant executive authority. Because no provision squarely authorises or bans spearfishing and significant seasonal/area/species restrictions apply, the activity is best classified as restricted.

Recreational and commercial spearfishing is illegal in Bahrain. Legislative Decree No. 20 of 2002 on the Regulation of Fishing, Exploitation and Protection of Marine Resources defines 'Marine Rifles' as any fishing gear that uses spears or the like, and Article 20(C) expressly prohibits possessing or using Marine Rifles for fishing for marine life on board ships or at/near fishing sites. Violations are penalised under Article 33(B) with imprisonment of up to one month and a fine of 300-1,000 Bahraini dinars (or one of the two), with possible confiscation of equipment under Article 34. There is no recreational spearfishing permit; the law only provides for fishing and diving licences, and general fishing is governed by closed seasons, minimum-size limits and protected-species rules issued by the Supreme Council for the Environment and the Directorate of Fisheries.

Bangladesh has no dedicated recreational spearfishing regime, and the practice is effectively prohibited by general fisheries law. The Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 (as amended) empowers the Government to prohibit the destruction of fish by 'explosives, electrofishing device, gun, bow and arrow' in inland water, coastal territorial waters and Bangladesh marine fisheries waters — wording that covers spearguns, harpoons and similar projectile gear. The Marine Fisheries Act, 2020 (which repealed the Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983) regulates commercial and artisanal fishing through licences and permits and contains no provision authorising recreational or sport spearfishing; legal scholars note recreational fishing is simply not covered by the marine law. Large Marine Protected Areas (St Martin's Island, Swatch of No Ground) and Ecologically Critical Areas further restrict or ban fishing activity. There is no licence pathway under which a recreational diver could lawfully spearfish, so the activity is treated as not allowed.

Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan country, so there is no marine spearfishing. For inland (freshwater) waters, all fishing requires a valid government permit/licence issued by the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS). The only authorised recreational capture method is rod-and-line angling, strictly catch-and-immediate-release, using a single barbless hook with artificial flies/lures; live bait is banned. The Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017 (Rule 392(7)) prohibit destructive/harvesting fishing methods such as poisoning, dynamite/explosives, electrical devices, firearms, large/closed nets, splashing or laving of water, traps, snares and live bait. Spearing / underwater fishing is not an authorised method and no permit is issued for it; spearfishing is therefore effectively prohibited as a recreational activity in Bhutan.

Spearfishing is effectively prohibited in Brunei Darussalam. Under the Fisheries Order, 2009 (No. S 25), the governing fisheries law (which repealed the older Fisheries Act, Chapter 61), a 'spear gun' is expressly classed as a 'prohibited gear' (section 2 interpretation). Section 31 makes it an offence to use, attempt to use, carry, or have in one's possession or control any 'prohibited gear' for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish, with possession presumed (unless the contrary is proved) to be for that purpose. There is no recreational spearfishing licence regime; the only sport-fishing provision (Part VIII, section 23) is a licence to hold or organise a sportsfishing event/tournament, and 'fishing' as licensable activity is defined to exclude 'sportsfishing'. Additionally, the older repealed Chapter 61 had defined a spear gun as a device 'made for the purpose of catching or killing fish'. Because the spear gun is listed as prohibited gear at national level, recreational spearfishing has no lawful pathway. Marine reserves and marine parks (Part X) further prohibit fishing without a licence, and most of Brunei's coral reefs were placed inside a no-take Marine Protected Area network from 1 January 2012.

Cambodia has no statute that names recreational spearfishing as a distinct activity. Under the Law on Fisheries (NS/RKM/0506/011, 2006), simple spears are treated as small-scale / family-scale (subsistence) fishing gear and are not banned per se: Article 20(4) and the law's definitions only prohibit a 'spear in combination with projected light' (i.e. spearfishing with an attracting lamp, typically at night). MAFF Proclamation No. 319 (2015) expressly lists the 'Multi-pronged barbed spear' and the 'One-pronged barbless spear' among the family-scale fishing gears PERMITTED in the marine fishery domain. So daytime spearfishing with a bare spear/speargun is broadly tolerated as subsistence fishing, but: (a) all non-subsistence marine fishing requires a licence (Art. 45); (b) all fishing is prohibited inside fishery conservation areas (Art. 19) and in the no-take/conservation zones of the Koh Rong Marine Fisheries Management Area / Koh Rong National Marine Park; (c) night spearfishing with a light is illegal and carries penalties (Art. 101 point 10); and (d) fishery exploitation by foreigners requires an agreement with MAFF plus Royal Government approval (Art. 38). In practice the activity is a legal grey area for tourists, enforcement is inconsistent, and gear confiscation by local authorities/community-fishery patrols has been reported around Koh Rong.

There is no Chinese law that expressly names recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing with a speargun/pole spear). It falls under the general Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China, which is built around a licensing regime for inland and inshore fishing and a list of prohibited gear/methods. The Fisheries Law (Art. 16/23) requires a fishing licence for inland-water or inshore fishing; the law and its implementing regulations empower the fishery authorities to ban specific gear and methods, and prohibit fishing in closed areas and during closed seasons (Art. 20/30). In practice recreational marine fishing in China is lightly developed and region-specific: provinces and localities set their own rules and most permitting is aimed at commercial fisheries, so recreational sea-angling is often unregulated while underwater spearfishing is uncommon and not provided for. All of coastal China is subject to the annual summer fishing moratorium (休渔期), during which essentially all forms of fishing other than hand line/rod angling are banned in the Bohai, Yellow, East China and South China Seas. Spearfishing is also prohibited inside marine nature reserves and national parks (e.g. the Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve). Treat spearfishing as restricted/uncertain: legality depends on local provincial rules, the moratorium calendar and whether the site is a protected area; importing a speargun may be treated as a regulated/weapon item by Chinese customs. No source was found that confirms an explicit national permit or framework for recreational spearfishing.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in the Republic of Cyprus but tightly regulated. A separate 'Spear Gun' amateur (recreational) fishing licence issued by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) is compulsory. Only apnea (breath-hold / free-diving) spearfishing is permitted: the use of SCUBA gear, artificial lights and night spearfishing are prohibited. Spearfishers must carry a marker buoy with a red flag, stay at least 100 m from organised swimming areas and 500 m from marinas and ports, and must not fish in marine protected areas (e.g. Lara-Toxeftra, Cape Greco) during their restricted periods. National catch and minimum-size limits and lists of protected species apply. Note: this record covers the Republic of Cyprus; the northern part of the island administers separate rules not covered here.

Spearfishing (underwater hunting, წყალქვეშა ნადირობა) is legal in Georgia as a form of amateur/sport fishing, but only on breath-hold (no aqualungs or autonomous breathing devices). The governing instrument is the Technical Regulation on Fishing and Fish Stock Protection, approved by Resolution No. 423 of the Government of Georgia, 31 December 2013 (in force 1 January 2014, consolidated text). This regulation replaced the earlier Order No. 512 of 7 December 2005 of the Minister of Environment, which lost legal force on 7 April 2011. Under Resolution No. 423, amateur and sport fishing is defined to include 'underwater hunting and the gathering of hydrobionts, without aqualungs and breathing devices' (Art. 2(3) and Art. 13(2)). There is therefore no licence for amateur underwater hunting, but it must be conducted on a single breath. The regulation no longer contains the old explicit ban on harpoon use with aqualungs (former Decree 512 Art. 9(2)(e)) nor the former ban on pneumatic/compressed-air weapons; instead the breath-hold requirement flows from the definitional exclusion of aqualungs/breathing devices, and Article 6 bans fishing with firearms, explosives, poisons, electric current and electroshock devices. A closed season applies in the Georgian Black Sea (1 May to 1 July), but Article 4(3) expressly exempts amateur and sport fishing from the fishing prohibitions in that article (the closed season binds commercial/industrial fishing); confirm current practice with MEPA. Year-round protected species (sturgeons, sea mammals/cetaceans, Black Sea salmon, river and lake trout, river crayfish) may not be taken at all (Art. 5(1)), and turbot/kalkan is protected 1 May to 1 July. Numerous waterway-specific closures apply in rivers and lakes.

Spearfishing occupies a legally precarious position in Hong Kong. There is no fisheries licence regime or closed season for recreational sea fishing generally (rod-and-line sea fishing is unlicensed and unrestricted in quantity). However, the speargun itself is the problem: under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Cap. 238), the statutory definition of 'arms' expressly includes 'any harpoon or spear gun, however powered'. Possessing a speargun without a licence for possession granted by the Hong Kong Police Force is therefore a serious offence (section 13: fine at level 6 and imprisonment for 14 years). Separately, all fishing, hunting, injuring or removing of marine life by any means is prohibited in Hong Kong's marine parks and marine reserve under the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A), and a 'spear gun' is one of the fishing/hunting devices that may not even be possessed inside those protected areas (Schedule 3). In practice spearfishing is not actively offered or promoted, the legal status of the speargun makes lawful recreational spearfishing effectively dependent on obtaining a police arms licence, and it is outright banned in all marine protected areas. Treat as restricted/effectively prohibited without a police arms permit.

India has no dedicated national law that defines or expressly licenses recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing / подводная охота). It is not a recognised, regulated sport at the national level and there is no national recreational-fishing permit system. Practice is governed indirectly by a patchwork of laws: the Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 (bans destruction of fish by explosives, poison and noxious substances), the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (prohibits hunting/taking of scheduled marine species such as corals, sea cucumbers, seahorses, certain sharks and rays, sea turtles, and bans destruction/exploitation/removal of any wildlife inside Sanctuaries and Marine National Parks without a permit), and state Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (which license fishing vessels and ban destructive methods and the take of WLPA-protected species). Fishing is a State subject within territorial waters (up to 12 nm), so rules vary by coastal state and Union Territory. Inside Marine Protected Areas (e.g. Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the Andamans) any spearing/removal of marine life is prohibited. Spearfishing is generally reported as not permitted in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and is not formally sanctioned in Lakshadweep. Where no MPA and no protected species are involved, recreational spearfishing is not specifically prohibited by name, but it is legally grey rather than clearly permitted.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Indonesia and broadly practised at popular destinations such as Bali, Lombok and Java. No national recreational spearfishing licence exists for locals or tourists. Two hard national constraints apply: (1) spearfishing must be done on a single breath (freediving) - using SCUBA or a surface-supplied compressor to fish is prohibited (Law No. 31/2004 as amended by Law No. 45/2009, Art. 9, bans possession/use on a fishing vessel of catching gear/aids that disturb and damage fish-resource sustainability, with the elucidation expressly naming the compressor; penalty under Art. 85); and (2) spearfishing of nationally protected species (manta rays, all sharks in many regions, whale shark, Napoleon/humphead wrasse, sea turtles, dugong, sawfish) is forbidden anywhere. In addition, spearfishing is entirely prohibited for tourists/visitors inside Marine Protected Areas and marine national parks (e.g. Raja Ampat MPAs, Bunaken, Komodo, Nusa Penida, Wakatobi); only local communities may use traditional methods (jubi, senapan molo) in designated Sustainable Fisheries / Aquaculture zones. Rules vary by province and regency, so local zoning must always be checked.

There is no Iranian statute that explicitly authorises recreational spearfishing (underwater hunting with a speargun/harpoon), and no civilian recreational spearfishing licence regime exists. Iranian fisheries law is built around licensed commercial and artisanal fishing only. Under the Law of Protection and Exploitation of the Fisheries Resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1995, Art. 6) no natural or juridical person may exploit fisheries resources without a valid licence issued by the Iranian Fisheries Organization (Shilat), and Article 12 prohibits carrying and applying 'illegal fishing gears'. The older Temporary Regulations of 1973 (Art. 19) state that 'sport fishing should be done according to Shilat Jonoub's rules' and list only authorised gears (nets, traps, hooks, personal gear such as Mashk and Salik); spearguns/harpoons are not among the listed authorised gears, and Article 32 bans catching with explosives, chemicals or poisons. Foreign nationals are barred from fishing operations in Iranian waters except under contract/agreement (1973 Art. 8; 1995 Art. 13). In practice underwater hunting is widely understood to be not permitted for tourists/recreational divers, and scuba/diving activity is concentrated at organised dive centres (Kish, Qeshm) focused on coral reef sightseeing rather than spearfishing. Several marine protected areas (national marine parks, wildlife refuges, the Hara biosphere reserve) restrict or prohibit fishing/extraction under the Department of Environment. Treat spearfishing as restricted/effectively not permitted absent specific authorisation from Shilat and the relevant island/free-zone authority; verify locally before any attempt.

Iraq has no spearfishing-specific legislation. Spearfishing (underwater hunting with a speargun/harpoon) is treated as ordinary 'fishing' under the national fisheries statute, Law No. 48 of 1976 'for regulating and exploitation of aquatic life and its protection', which defines fishing as 'catching of aquatic life from the public waters by any means and for any purpose' (Article 9). Under that law a personal fishing licence is required for anyone practising fishing (Article 12), and mass-destruction methods (poisons, explosives, chemicals, electricity) are categorically banned (Article 1) - none of which targets spearguns. Recreational/amateur fishing and fishing clubs are permitted but governed by separate ministerial instructions that are not publicly published (Article 12(3)). Iraq's marine waters are confined to a very small Persian Gulf coast and EEZ near the Al-Faw Peninsula / Khawr Abd Allah heavily influenced by the Shatt al-Arab outflow; most fishing is freshwater (Tigris, Euphrates, Shatt al-Arab, Mesopotamian marshes). The General Authority for Fish Resources Development (Ministry of Agriculture) administers the law. No dedicated speargun ban, scuba restriction, closed season or zone targeting spearfishing was found in retrievable sources, so the activity is best classified as legally permissible but only loosely regulated under the general fishing-licence regime.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Israel but only when carried out by free-diving (breath-hold) with a valid personal sport fishing license. Fishing while using SCUBA / artificial breathing apparatus is prohibited everywhere, so SCUBA spearfishing is banned nationwide. The use of a spear gun is additionally prohibited entirely in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and in the Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea), meaning lawful spearfishing in practice takes place along the Mediterranean coast. Firearms may not be used to take fish anywhere. A general 5 kg / 2-large-fish daily bag limit, minimum landing sizes, Mediterranean spawning-season closures and no-take marine reserves and harbour zones all apply. Rules derive from the Fisheries Ordinance, 1937 and the Fisheries Rules made under it, significantly amended in 2016.

Recreational spearfishing in Japan is heavily restricted. Spearguns and underwater guns (水中銃) are prohibited for recreational fishers nationwide because they are not among the gear/methods permitted for recreational fishing (遊漁) under the prefectural Fishery Adjustment Regulations; their use is reserved for licensed commercial fishery. Using diving equipment (including simple/scuba apparatus) together with a spear or hand collection is also prohibited. What recreational fishers MAY use is a hand-held pole spear (やす/もり) where the tip is fixed to the shaft and there is no launching mechanism; a power rubber is only allowed if it is weak enough to keep the handle in the user's hand on release. Thus only basic free-dive pole-spearing (from shore or a boat, without scuba) is lawful, while powered spearguns and scuba-assisted spearing are illegal. Detailed gear, season, size and area rules are set by each prefecture, so local Fishery Adjustment Regulations must be checked. Foreigners may not engage in fishery that requires a fishing licence and may not harvest species subject to common fishing rights (e.g. shellfish, lobster, sea cucumber). Violations carry up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine up to 30 million yen.

Jordan has a single short coastline (~27 km) on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), administered by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). Recreational/amateur fishing from shore and by tourist boats is prohibited, and spearfishing (harpoon hunting by divers) is not permitted along the Aqaba coast. Fishing of all resident species is governed by Instructions No. (Z/1) of 2020 on the regulation of fishing of fish and aquatic life in the Gulf of Aqaba, which lists permitted gear (bait nets, lines and hooks) and bans metal traps (sakhawi) and gill nets (shawarat); spearguns/harpoons are not among the permitted gear. The Aqaba Marine Reserve (Jordan's first marine protected area) bans fishing in all forms within its boundaries. A four-month total closed season (1 January to 30 April) applies each year. There is no marine spearfishing fishery and no recognised recreational spearfishing regime; the dead Sea and inland freshwater bodies have no spearfishing provision either.

Spearfishing (подводная охота) is legal in Kazakhstan as a form of amateur (sport) fishing. Under Article/paragraph 19 of the national Fishing Rules (approved by Order No. 18-04/148 of 27 February 2015), spearguns ('ружья для подводной охоты') may only be used in areas designated for recreational fishing, outside public recreation/swimming zones, and on assigned (leased) fishery water bodies in places marked by the wildlife user. All amateur fishing must use only gear permitting individual, piece-by-piece catch (поштучный лов) for personal consumption; commercial/industrial gear, explosives, poisons and firearms are prohibited. A permit (путевка) is required on assigned (leased) fishery water bodies; on reserve-fund waters fishing up to 5 kg per fisher per visit is free without permits. Seasonal spawning bans apply, and sturgeon (осетровые) are under a year-round catch ban plus a multinational Caspian commercial moratorium. There is no dedicated separate speargun licence; spearfishing follows the general amateur fishing regime.

Recreational spearfishing is effectively prohibited in Kuwait. Decree No. 22 of 1980 (issued under Law No. 46 of 1980 on the Conservation of Fisheries Resources) makes it unlawful to catch fish or other living marine organisms in Kuwaiti territorial waters using 'harpoon guns' (i.e. spearguns), alongside explosives, poisons, barbed gear, electric means and hooks. The prohibition applies across all Kuwaiti territorial waters. Independently, only licensed Kuwaiti fishing vessels may fish at all (Law No. 46 of 1980, Arts. 3-4); recreational/leisure fishing is banned within three nautical miles of all Kuwaiti coasts and islands (Decree No. 11 of 1983), and Article 100 of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 prohibits hunting/catching marine organisms outside designated seasons and areas. Combined, there is no lawful avenue for recreational underwater spearfishing.

Kyrgyzstan is landlocked, so all spearfishing is freshwater (lakes, reservoirs and rivers). Underwater hunting with spearguns is explicitly LEGAL for recreational/amateur and sport fishing: the Rules of Amateur and Sport Fishing permitted 'ружья для подводной охоты' (spearguns) outside designated public recreation zones (point 9), and the general ban on firearms/pneumatic weapons explicitly excepts 'ружей и пистолетов для подводной охоты' (spearguns and underwater pistols) (point 16(1)). However it is restricted: it requires paid fishing tickets/permits (point 4) or a путёвка issued by the water-body user (point 5); it is closed during species-specific spawning seasons; it is banned in protected/closed zones; and a list of protected species (Issyk-Kul trout, Issyk-Kul bare osman, pike-asp, Turkestan barbel, whitefish, peled) may never be taken. Note: the 2015 Rules (Government Decree No. 410) and the 1997 Law 'On Fisheries' were repealed in 2025 by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 237 of 25 April 2025 as part of a fisheries-law overhaul; the umbrella framework is now Law No. 35 of 17 March 2021 'On aquaculture, fisheries and protection of aquatic biological resources'. The post-April-2025 replacement Rules were not retrievable at the time of research, so the verbatim provisions captured here are from the last published (25.04.2025) edition of the 2015 Rules; substantive treatment of spearguns has been consistent historically but the current edition should be re-verified.

Laos is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only freshwater (rivers, reservoirs, lakes, rice fields) fishing exists. There is no national law that specifically names recreational spearfishing or speargun use. Underwater spearing with hand harpoons/spears is a long-standing traditional and subsistence fishing method and is broadly tolerated as a 'fishing gear'. However, the national Fisheries Law No. 03/NA (2009) prohibits using 'weapons', explosives, electric devices and other noxious substances to catch aquatic organisms, prohibits fishing inside fish conservation zones, fish breeding/spawning areas and during the closed season, and prohibits taking protected species. Concrete lists of permitted/prohibited gears, closed seasons and conservation zones are not set nationally but are defined locally by village Fisheries Management Committees (FMCs) and village-level fisheries regulations, so legality of spear/harpoon fishing depends on the specific water body and village. Subsistence family fishing generally needs no licence; fishers register in the village fisher's book. There is no recreational-spearfishing licensing regime aimed at tourists, and rules for foreigners are not separately defined.

Recreational/sport underwater fishing (freediving spearfishing) is permitted in Lebanon but is regulated. Lebanese fisheries law explicitly recognises 'sport fishing while under water' and sets restrictions on it: it is prohibited to take sponges, to catch lobsters with spear guns, or to fish during night hours (Resolution No. 42/1 of 24 March 1999). Crucially, fishing using scuba diving equipment is banned (Decision 346/1 of 2010), so spearfishing is in practice limited to breath-hold/freediving. No spearfishing or any fishing is allowed inside the two declared marine nature reserves (Palm Islands and Tyre Coast). Protected species (turtles, monk seals, whales/cetaceans) may not be taken. Fisheries fall under the Ministry of Agriculture; enforcement at sea is by the Ministry of Defense (navy/coast guard). Enforcement of these rules is widely reported to be weak.

Macao (Macau SAR) has no spearfishing-specific legislation and no known recreational spearfishing scene. Its 85 km2 of jurisdictional waters (delegated by the PRC State Council in December 2015) are highly turbid, industrialised Pearl River estuary / harbour waters with poor visibility, used mainly for navigation, reclamation and commercial fishing. The maritime area is governed by Law 7/2018 (Basic Law on the Management of Maritime Areas), which sets principles of marine-environment protection, conservation and lawful, regulated use, and delegates detailed regulation to the government. The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) prohibits fishing and the placing of fishing gear in navigation fairways and surrounding waters. A 2026 bill on the use of maritime areas makes private use of the maritime area subject to prior RAEM authorisation. China's annual South China Sea summer fishing moratorium (noon 1 May to 16 August) applies to the region, banning fishing operations other than rod-and-line. The Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis), present in these waters, has first-class national protection in China. No source confirms that recreational spearfishing is specifically permitted, licensed or practised; legality of an individual spearfishing in these waters is therefore unknown and likely effectively impossible/unauthorised without permission.

Spearfishing is not banned nationwide in Malaysia, but it is heavily restricted. It is absolutely prohibited inside the country's gazetted marine parks and marine reserves: under section 44 of the federal Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317) no person may carry, use or possess a spring-gun, spear gun, spearfishing equipment, harpoon or suction gun within a marine park or marine reserve in Malaysian fisheries waters. Marine parks extend two nautical miles seaward (one nautical mile around certain islands) from the islands' low-water mark and cover most of the prime reef diving spots (e.g. Tunku Abdul Rahman, Pulau Payar, Pulau Tioman, Redang/Perhentian, Pulau Tinggi). All fishing inside a marine park is an offence carrying a fine up to RM20,000 or up to two years' imprisonment. Outside marine parks, spearfishing by free-diving is generally tolerated, but the speargun itself is treated by the authorities like a firearm and ownership/import requires a licence from the Royal Malaysia Police, which is difficult to obtain. Practical effect: recreational spearfishing is legally possible only outside protected areas and with police authorisation for the gun.

Spearfishing is prohibited throughout the Maldives. The General Fisheries Regulation of the Maldives (Regulation No. R-75/2020), made under the Fisheries Act of the Maldives (Act No. 14/2019), expressly lists the 'use of spear gun to harvest, catch or attack fish' among the activities prohibited in fishery (Section 12(a)), and the fine schedule sets a penalty of 3,000 Rufiyaa (rising to 5,000 for repeat offences) for the use of spear guns for catching or killing fish. A 'spear gun' is defined as anything prepared to discharge/shoot sharp-tipped objects using a sling, air or chemicals for killing or attacking fish. The ban applies nationally and to everyone, including foreign tourists; resorts and charters do not offer spearfishing. In addition, many reef species that spearfishers might target are themselves fully protected (e.g. all sharks, rays, parrotfishes, Napoleon wrasse, sea turtles), reinforcing the prohibition.

Mongolia is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; all fishing is freshwater (rivers and lakes). Fishing is legally treated as taking of 'game animals' and is governed by the Law on Hunting (5 May 2000) and the Law on Fauna (5 May 2000). Spearfishing / underwater hunting is not a recognised or permitted fishing method. The Law on Hunting expressly prohibits taking fish with 'guns, torches, electric shocks, forks, dams, or small nets' (Art. 14.1.6) and bans nets for household fishing (Art. 14.1.7); recreational fishing in practice is restricted to rod-and-line / fly fishing under a paid permit, with strict species protection (taimen catch-and-release for foreigners) and a closed spring spawning season. There is no legal pathway for recreational spearfishing.

Myanmar has no dedicated spearfishing statute and no recreational/sport-fishing licence scheme for individuals. Spearfishing is not named as a prohibited method, but all fishing in Myanmar's marine fisheries waters is licence-based under the Myanma Marine Fisheries Law (Law No. 9/90, 1990): 'Fishing' is defined broadly as 'catching, collecting, inducing, pursuing, stupefying and killing of fish' (sec 2.i), and no person may engage in inshore/offshore fishery, collect marine products, or run a commercial-scale sport fishery without a licence (secs 33, 34, 40, 41). The Director General sets the permitted method of catching, gear, species, sizes and grounds for each licence (sec 22). In practice there is no individual recreational permit, so foreign visitors can only fish/spearfish lawfully through a Department-of-Fisheries-licensed tour or liveaboard operator; independent fishing by tourists or foreign vessels without multi-layered government approval is treated as a serious offence. Large parts of the Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago are marine protected areas (e.g. Lampi Marine National Park, the country's only marine national park) where extractive activity is controlled or banned, and a nationwide three-month offshore closed season applies (1 April-30 June in 2026). Explosives, poisons and chemicals are banned (sec 38). Confidence is medium: the underlying laws are official and verbatim, but no provision explicitly addresses recreational spearfishing, so the restricted status is inferred from the general licensing regime and operator-only access reported by secondary sources.

Nepal is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing; only freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds) underwater fishing is conceivable. No Nepali law specifically names or bans spearfishing or harpoons. The principal statute, the Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960), restricts the METHOD of catching aquatic animals only with respect to electric current, explosive substances and poisonous substances (Section 3); spears are not listed. Section 6 affirms that any citizen may catch or kill aquatic animals in waters other than private water, subject to Section 3 and to any seasonal/area closures ordered by Government under Sections 4 and 5. In practice fishing requires a permit (issued by the local authority / Chief District Officer, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation for park areas, or the Central Fisheries Promotion and Conservation Centre), and fishing is prohibited inside national parks, wildlife reserves and many buffer zones except for designated traditional fishing communities. Spearfishing is therefore not expressly illegal but is heavily constrained by permit requirements and protected-area rules; recreational underwater spearfishing is not an established or commonly permitted activity in Nepal.

There is no recreational or sport spearfishing regime in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The governing instrument, the Fisheries Act (adopted 1995, amended 1999), is built entirely around state organs, enterprises and 'associates' (collectives); all marine production is conducted under national plans and there is no provision for licensing private individuals or tourists for recreational underwater fishing. The Act (Art 37) merely requires citizens to 'observe the stipulated angling regulations'. In practice the entire coastline is under military/coastal security supervision, primarily to prevent defection, so independent access to the sea by individuals (let alone with spearguns) is tightly controlled and effectively barred for the general public and foreigners. Scuba/free-diving by foreign tourists has occasionally been arranged by tour operators only with prior state permission; no spearfishing-specific rules are published. The specific list of prohibited fishing gears and methods, protected species, closed seasons and conservation areas is delegated by Art 32 to subordinate central-organ regulations that are not publicly available, so any spearfishing-specific gear rule is unknown.

Spearfishing in Oman is heavily restricted and is not part of the standard recreational fishing permit. Under the new Executive Regulation of the Living Aquatic Resources Law (Ministerial Decision No. 70/2026, in force 13 April 2026), recreational fishing is allowed only with a licence and restricted to manual line and hook; night fishing (sunset to sunrise) is banned and the catch is capped at 20 kg. Spear/harpoon use falls outside this recreational permit and is treated as a separately regulated activity: reports indicate harpoon fishing requires holding a fishing licence for several years, coastal residency and a dedicated harpoon permit, and some areas of Musandam Governorate may permit it only with a permit from local authorities. Spearfishing while on SCUBA is not permitted. Foreign-flagged commercial vessels are barred unless partnered with an Omani company. Marine protected areas (e.g. the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve) prohibit fishing and have seasonal closures. Underlying law: Aquatic/Living Aquatic Resources Law, Royal Decree No. 20/2019 (which repealed Royal Decree No. 53/81).

There is no Pakistani statute that specifically names or bans recreational spearfishing/underwater fishing, and it is practised at dive sites such as Churna Island near Karachi. However, it is restricted in practice. Marine fisheries jurisdiction is split: provinces (Sindh, Balochistan) govern territorial waters (0-12 nm) while the federal government governs the Exclusive Fishery/Economic Zone (12-200 nm). Fishing within the EEZ requires a licence (Exclusive Fishery Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act, 1975, s.3), and using dynamite, explosives or poison to take fish is prohibited everywhere (Fisheries Act, 1897 ss.4-5; EFZ Act 1975 s.5). Crucially, spearfishing is explicitly banned inside Pakistan's marine protected areas: the Churna Island and Miani Hor MPA notifications ban 'explosives, chemicals, scuba guns and spear guns'. No dedicated recreational spearfishing licence regime, season schedule, catch limits or foreigner rules could be located in official sources, so several blocks are marked unknown.

Recreational spearfishing is generally permitted in the Philippines as a breath-hold (freediving) activity in open coastal waters that are not protected, but it is heavily restricted. National law does not name 'spearfishing' explicitly; instead it is regulated through the Philippine Fisheries Code (RA 8550, as amended by RA 10654), local government unit (LGU) ordinances and marine-protected-area declarations. A spear/speargun is widely treated by fisheries authorities and commentators as 'active gear', and any form of commercial fishing with active gear inside municipal waters is prohibited, so LGUs may ban or zone recreational spearfishing in their municipal waters. Fishing of any kind, including spearfishing, is unlawful inside declared marine protected areas, fishery reserves, refuges and sanctuaries (Sec. 101). The use of scuba or surface-supplied air compressors ('hookah'/compressor fishing) to spear or gather fish is banned pursuant to the Fisheries Code and reinforced by numerous municipal ordinances. Night spearfishing with high-intensity 'superlights' in municipal waters is also unlawful (Sec. 98). Certain species (e.g. humphead/Napoleon wrasse, sea turtles, giant clams) are protected and may not be taken. There is no national recreational spearfishing licence; rules are highly local, so the practical legality depends on the specific municipality and site.

Spearfishing (underwater fishing with harpoon-guns) is legal in Qatar only with permission from the fisheries authority. Under the Executive Regulations No. 2 of 1985 (Article 21(a)), it is unlawful to use any kind of underwater fishing harpoon-gun without permission from the Fisheries Department. A general fishing/diving licence is required (Article 2). In practice, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Marine Protection Department) and the Ministry of Municipality (Fisheries Department) regulate gear: pneumatic (compressed-air) spearguns are prohibited, while non-pneumatic banded/rubber spearguns are restricted - reportedly banned for catching hamour (grouper) during the April-May reproduction season, and harpoons/spears are reported banned from December to April to protect spawning (these last two come from a single secondary source and are not verbatim-backed). SCUBA-assisted fishing is not part of the permitted recreational framework. Fishing is prohibited near petroleum and military installations and inside designated marine reserves and seasonal closure zones. Methods causing mass extermination (poisons, explosives, chemicals, electricity) are absolutely prohibited.

Saudi Arabia has no statute that names 'spearfishing' explicitly, but underwater fishing is governed and heavily restricted by the Law of Fishing, Investment and Preservation of Live Aquatic Resources within Territorial Waters (Royal Decree No. M/9 of 1408 AH / 1987) and its Executive Regulation (Ministerial Resolution No. 21911 of 1409 AH). Diving and fishing both require a licence issued by the competent Ministry (today the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, MEWA) plus security approval from the Ministry of Interior / Border Forces. A licensed diver may not exploit living aquatic resources or extract coral except with prior Ministry approval (Article 81), solo diving is forbidden (Article 82), and divers must use only open-circuit self-contained gear (Article 83). Recreational 'hikers'/picnickers may fish only by rod and hook (Articles 6 and 70). Spearfishing while on scuba is reported in the press as illegal in practice and offenders can be handed to the coast guard, and spearguns are frequently confiscated at airports. The net effect is that recreational speargun/pole-spear fishing is at best a restricted activity requiring permits and is in practice prohibited in the most common (scuba, unlicensed) forms; freediving with a pole spear is sometimes tolerated locally but has no clear legal authorisation. Fishing is outright banned in protected areas, ports and sea lanes, and near petroleum, industrial and military facilities (Article 73).

Recreational spearfishing is heavily restricted and effectively impractical in Singapore. The primary legal obstacle is weapons law, not fisheries law: spearguns are classified as 'guns' under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA, in force from 1 July 2025, replacing the Arms and Explosives Act 1913), so possessing, importing or using one requires a gun licence from the Police Regulatory Department. Only rubber band-powered (band) spearguns may be licensed; pneumatic / compressed-air spearguns are prohibited outright. Separately, fishing is only permitted within NParks/PUB-designated fishing areas, and is banned in marine parks and nature reserves such as Sisters' Islands Marine Park; fishing outside designated areas is an offence carrying fines up to S$3,000. The combination means there is no readily accessible, lawful recreational spearfishing in Singapore's marine waters: anyone wishing to spearfish would need a gun licence for a band speargun and would still be barred from the protected and most coastal areas. Carrying a speargun in transit/luggage without authorisation can lead to prosecution.

Recreational spearfishing in the sea is effectively prohibited in South Korea. Under the Fisheries Resources Management Act (수산자원관리법), Article 18, a non-fisherman (비어업인 - anyone who is not a licensed/registered fisher) may only catch or take aquatic resources using the gear and methods expressly listed in the subordinate legislation. The closed list of permitted gear (cast nets, dip nets, single-line rod/hand fishing, traps, rakes, tongs, hooks, hoes, bare hands, etc.) does NOT include spears or spearguns (작살/작살류), and the use of scuba diving equipment to catch aquatic resources is separately prohibited. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Coast Guard treat catching fish/shellfish with a spear or while using scuba gear as illegal fishing. The use of a spear/speargun is also not among the permitted methods, so spearfishing as a method has no legal pathway for recreational non-fishers. Coastguard enforcement actions and Ministry FAQ confirm fines apply. In freshwater (inland waters), the Inland Water Fisheries Act Enforcement Decree (내수면어업법 시행령), Article 14, lists 'spear-type gear' (작살류) and scuba diving equipment among gear that may not be used in recreational fishing (유어행위), although a local government head may designate specific areas where such gear is permitted.

Spearfishing is illegal throughout Sri Lankan waters. Under the Prohibition of Use of Spears in Fishing Operations Regulations No. 1 of 2017 (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2008/31, 3 March 2017), made under Section 61 read with Section 28 of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996, no person may use or possess a spear gun, carry one on board any local fishing boat, or engage in any fishing operation using spear guns or hand-held spears anywhere in Sri Lanka Waters. The ban was introduced on the recommendation of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to protect reef fish such as humphead (Napoleon) wrasse and groupers. A 2020 proposal to permit tourist spearfishing was rejected after expert opposition. The ban applies to nationals and foreigners alike, with no recreational exemption. A spear gun is a 'prohibited fishing gear' under Section 28; contravention is an offence punishable under Section 49(2) of the Act.

Palestine's only marine coast is the Gaza Strip's Mediterranean shore (the West Bank is landlocked; the Dead Sea is hypersaline and supports no fish). There is no dedicated Palestinian statute regulating recreational spearfishing as a distinct activity. The foundational fisheries law is the British Mandate Fisheries Ordinance No. 6 of 1937, which is still treated as the legislation in force for Gaza's waters; it requires a licence to take fish and prohibits the use of dynamite, other explosives and poison, but does not specifically address spearguns. Spearfishing is in practice carried out by an estimated ~250 Gazan free-divers (subsistence, depths ~4 m, home-made spearguns) targeting grouper, sea bream and mullet. The decisive constraint is not Palestinian fishing law but external control of the sea: under Oslo II (1995, Annex I, Article XIV) Palestinian fishing was nominally permitted up to 20 nautical miles, but Israel controls actual access, has repeatedly reduced the zone to 3-15 NM, and on 18 January 2025 declared Gaza's waters a 'no-go zone' banning all fishing, swimming and sea access. The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Fisheries) registers fishers and issues licences. Because no marine spearfishing-specific Palestinian regulation could be located and sea access is frequently prohibited by the occupying power, the status is best described as restricted.

Syria has a Mediterranean coastline and a fisheries regime built on Legislative Decree No. 30 of 1964 (on the protection of aquatic life), supplemented by Law No. 31 of 2008 (which created the Public Authority for Fisheries) and several ministerial resolutions. All fishing requires a licence: commercial vessels under Art. 9, foreign vessels under Art. 8, and individual recreational/sport fishers under an individual licence (Art. 35). Authoritative sources (FAO/GFCM comparative study and the Sea Around Us reconstruction) describe the recreational fishing sector as limited to angling, using a maximum of three hooks per line, and do not document a specific recreational speargun / underwater-fishing permit. No source could be retrieved that explicitly authorises or explicitly bans recreational spearfishing as such, so its status is best classified as restricted/unclear: a licence is in principle required for any individual fishing, the recreational framework appears angling-centric, destructive methods (explosives, fine-mesh nets) are prohibited, and the country's single marine protected area (Fanar Ibn Hani, north of Latakia) excludes fishing activity. Practical access is further constrained by the security situation. Treat on-the-water rules as uncertain and verify with the Public Authority for Fisheries before diving.

Tajikistan is a landlocked Central Asian country, so there is no marine spearfishing; only inland (freshwater) fishing in rivers, lakes and reservoirs exists. Recreational/amateur and sport fishing is legal and regulated under the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan 'On Fish Farming' (No. 220, 22 December 2006), with the order of amateur and sport fishing set by the authorized state body (Ministry of Agriculture / Mohii Tajikistan). No located source (national legislation, fisheries authority or dive/fishing guides) specifically mentions underwater hunting (подводная охота), spearguns or harpoons for Tajikistan, so the legality of spearfishing as a distinct method could not be confirmed and is marked unknown. Destructive methods (explosives, poison/chemicals, electric current) are illegal. A general spawning closed season (1 April - 15 June) applies nationwide, and a fishing permit is required.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Thailand in open coastal and inland waters and does not require a recreational fishing licence. However it is heavily restricted: it must be done on breath-hold (apnea/freediving) only — using scuba or other underwater breathing apparatus while spearfishing is prohibited by community practice and is not permitted in protected areas. Spearfishing (and all fishing) is banned inside Thailand's marine national parks and aquatic-species sanctuaries. Use of explosives, poison/intoxicating substances and electric current is criminally prohibited under the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015). Protected/rare aquatic animals (e.g. whale shark, sea turtles, manta rays, sawfish, giant clams) and aquatic mammals (e.g. dugong, dolphins) must not be taken. Enforcement is uneven, and the area falls in a legal grey zone for casual recreational use; commercial taking and sale require appropriate fisheries licensing.

Spearfishing is legal but regulated. Timor-Leste's primary fisheries statute, Decree-Law No. 6/2004, explicitly recognises and regulates 'dive fishing' / 'underwater fishing' (pesca submarina) as a category of recreational angling. Recreational/sport spearfishing requires an individual permit, or a special permit issued to the tourist business when undertaken as a maritime-tourism activity (Art. 75). Spearguns or fishing tools whose propulsive force comes from an explosive/detonating charge, a chemical substance, or artificially compressed gas are prohibited (Art. 76 for recreational, Art. 93(2) for commercial) — this bans powerheads and pneumatic guns, leaving band/elastic spearguns and hand spears. Catches from non-commercial fishing may not be sold (Art. 67); they are for self/household consumption only. Specific gear, conditions and area restrictions are to be set by subordinate regulation (Government Decree No. 5/2004, General Fisheries Regulations). Fishing in national marine parks is in principle prohibited (Art. 98); fishing in bays, estuaries and ports is limited to subsistence and artisanal fishers (Art. 88). On Atauro Island, community 'tara bandu' customary conservation zones impose locally-managed no-take areas, and visitors are asked not to fish in them or to take endangered species or small reef fish. Traditional spearfishing is culturally significant (the Wawata Topu women free-divers of Adara, Atauro). Detailed catch limits, seasons and a published recreational permit fee were not located in retrievable official sources.

Recreational spearfishing with a speargun (sualtı tüfeği) is legal in Türkiye's seas as an amateur fishing method, but only by free-diving (no scuba tank, hookah, or any auxiliary air source beyond a snorkel), only in daylight (between sunrise and sunset), and never with an artificial light source. Divers must display a marker buoy. Spearfishing in inland/fresh waters is prohibited. The activity is governed by Circular No. 6/2 (Tebliğ No: 2024/21) on the Regulation of Amateur (Recreational) Fishing, in force 1 Sep 2024 – 31 Aug 2028, issued under Fisheries Law No. 1380 (1971). Turkish citizens may obtain an optional 5-year Amateur Fisherman Document; resident/official foreigners need a 2-year Guest Amateur Fisherman Document; tourist amateurs may fish from shore in the sea without a permit or via licensed tourism operators/permit slips. Numerous coastal marine zones (around bridges over the straits, marine parks, dalyans, research-institute waters, beaches) are closed to all fishing.

No Turkmenistan law specifically addresses recreational spearfishing (подводная охота). Fishing is governed by the Law of Turkmenistan 'On Fisheries and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources' (adopted 21 May 2011, amended through 11 April 2026), which regulates commercial, amateur and sport fishing but whose verbatim provisions on permitted gear and methods could not be retrieved online. Turkmenistan is a strongly state-controlled country with restricted internet access and little published recreational-fishing guidance. Practical constraints make marine spearfishing on the Caspian effectively inaccessible to the public: sturgeon fishing in Turkmen Caspian waters has been banned since 1946 and a Caspian-wide commercial sturgeon moratorium runs through 2026; the country's only Caspian protected coastal area (Hazar State Nature Reserve, a strict 'zapovednik') prohibits public access and resource use; and foreign access to the Caspian coast and border-zone areas requires special permits. Recreational fishing with a line is reportedly permitted in inland lakes and rivers (Amu Darya, Murgab, Tejen), but no spearfishing-specific rules were found. Legality of spearfishing is therefore genuinely unknown and should be treated as restricted in practice.

Spearfishing is legal in the UAE but tightly regulated and the rules differ by emirate. Fisheries are governed at the federal level by Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 (amended by Federal Law No. 7 of 2016), with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and each emirate's local authority issuing detailed rules. In Abu Dhabi, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) explicitly permits recreational spearfishing under Decision No. 4 of 2023: only spearguns used while free-diving are allowed (scuba-assisted spearfishing is not), a recreational fishing permit is required, the diver must display the international diving flag, and at least three people (a driver plus two holders of a recreational speargun licence) must be on board the boat. Recreational fishing in general requires a free or low-cost permit in every emirate (free 1-week permit in Dubai; AED 50-120 elsewhere). A nationwide breeding-season closure and species-specific bans (sharks, sheri, safi, and protected species such as turtles, dugongs, dolphins, parrotfish) apply. Penalties for unlicensed fishing or taking protected species include heavy fines and equipment confiscation.

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked Central Asian country with no sea coastline, so no marine spearfishing exists; the question is freshwater underwater fishing in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The current legal framework is the Rules for fishing in natural water bodies, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 80 of 09.02.2024 (in force from 11.05.2024). These rules explicitly prohibit 'spearing/piercing fishing gear (gig/острога)' (крючковые орудия лова — острога) along with electric current, explosives and poisons, and only permit amateur fishing with rod-and-line type gear (limited number of hooks). No provision authorizes underwater spearfishing, spearguns or harpoons; spear-type devices fall squarely within the prohibited-gear list. Recreational/amateur line fishing is free for individuals up to 5 kg per day (or one fish heavier than that). Spearfishing as a method is therefore effectively prohibited.

Recreational spearfishing is not specifically prohibited under national law and is practised along Vietnam's coast, but it is heavily restricted in practice. There is no spearfishing-specific statute; the activity is governed by the general Law on Fisheries 2017 (18/2017/QH14) and Decree 26/2019/ND-CP. Spearfishing is prohibited inside marine protected areas (MPAs), national parks, nature reserves and their strictly protected sub-zones (e.g. Hon Mun/Nha Trang Bay, Cu Lao Cham, Con Dao, Phu Quoc), and the use of 'destructive methods, means and fishing tackle' as well as banned substances, explosives, electricity and toxins is forbidden nationwide. Catching endangered/precious/rare aquatic species (turtles, marine mammals, many corals, giant clams, etc.) is banned. No recreational licence is generally required, but importing a speargun can be treated as importing a weapon at customs. Exact recreational catch/size limits and zone boundaries are not centrally published, so divers must check with local authorities.

No located Yemeni source specifically addresses recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing). Marine fishing is governed by Law No. 2 of 2006 (regulating fishing, exploitation and protection of aquatic organisms) and its Executive Regulations (Prime Minister's Resolution No. 296 of 2006), which are framed around artisanal/traditional and commercial fishing; the General Fisheries Authority issues only traditional-fisherman, vessel, seller, transport, export and company licenses, with no recreational or sport-fishing category published. There is no published recreational-spearfishing licensing pathway, prohibition, or permission. In practice Yemen has almost no dive/spearfishing tourism infrastructure and is in protracted armed conflict, so the activity is effectively inaccessible for foreign visitors regardless of the formal legal text. Marine protected areas (notably the Socotra Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site) impose conservation restrictions. Legality of recreational spearfishing is therefore marked unknown pending retrieval of the verbatim gear/method provisions of Law No. 2 of 2006 and Resolution No. 296 of 2006.

Recreational/amateur spearfishing (underwater fishing) is legal in Albania but heavily restricted. It is governed by Law No. 64/2012 on Fisheries (notably Article 45) and Ministry of Agriculture Directive No. 6 of 11.04.2022 on recreational-leisure fishing. Spearfishing is prohibited for persons under 16, from sunset to dawn, with the use of oxygen/scuba cylinders, within 500 m of beaches used by bathers (100 m on rocky shores), and entering tourist areas with a loaded speargun. Catch is capped at 5 kg of fishery products per person per day (exceeded only if a single fish weighs more than 5 kg) and selling the catch is forbidden. Amateur fishing requires authorization from the competent local authority; foreigners may only obtain short-term authorizations and must be members of a national association. A license/authorization is required to fish from a boat (obtained via the e-Albania portal). All fishing is banned in the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park.

Andorra is a landlocked microstate in the Pyrenees with no sea coastline, so there is no marine spearfishing. For inland (freshwater) fishing, spearfishing / underwater fishing is effectively prohibited. Article 27 of the consolidated Fishing and Aquatic Environment Management Act (Llei 26/2021) states that only rod fishing of fish is permitted ('Únicament està permesa la pesca de peixos amb canya'), and it expressly prohibits any other method or the use of instruments such as harpoons, tridents, nets and similar gear ('arpons, tridents, filats, salabres i altres de similars'). Fishing by hand and fishing with firearms are also prohibited (Art. 28). Authorised quarry is limited to salmonids (trout) and the red frog, taken only with a rod, by day, with a fishing licence, during the annually decreed season.

Austria is a landlocked country with no sea coast, so there is no marine spearfishing. All fishing takes place in inland freshwater (lakes and rivers). Fishing law is not federal but is regulated separately by each of the nine federal states (Bundesländer), each with its own Landesfischereigesetz. Across the state fishing laws reviewed, spearfishing is effectively prohibited: harpoons (Harpunen) and fish spears (Fischstecher) are listed as forbidden fishing devices, the methods of spearing/stabbing (Stechen) are forbidden fishing methods, and in some states (e.g. Vienna) fishing while swimming or diving (Tauchen) is itself explicitly prohibited. Recreational angling generally requires a fishing licence (Fischerkarte) plus the permission of the waters' fishing-rights holder, but spearfishing as a method is not a permitted technique. Conclusion: recreational underwater spearfishing is not legal in Austrian waters.

Belarus is landlocked, so spearfishing means freshwater underwater hunting (подводная охота) in inland fishing grounds. It is a legally recognised method of amateur fishing, but heavily restricted. It is allowed only without scuba/autonomous breathing apparatus, only in daylight, and only in water bodies on lists approved by regional executive committees (облисполкомы). A spearfisher must carry a valid membership card of the Republican State Public Association 'Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen' (РГОО БООР) and a 'certificate for the right to underwater hunting' (удостоверение на право подводной охоты) issued by БООР. Speargun harpoons may have no more than 5 prongs. Shooting from shore/pier or from vessels is prohibited; a spring spawning ban and species-specific closed seasons also apply. Foreigners/non-residents may fish by these methods on payment of a fee set by БООР instead of holding membership.

Recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing with a speargun/harpoon) has no legal basis anywhere in Belgium and is effectively prohibited. Fishing is regulated separately for inland waters (a regional competence of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) and for the North Sea (a Flemish fisheries competence within the EU Common Fisheries Policy, with the marine environment a federal competence). In inland waters the only legally permitted gear is the rod/hand line (and an eel 'peur' / crayfish balance net); spearguns are not a permitted fishing gear. Wallonia goes further and explicitly prohibits harpooning fish. At sea, recreational fishing requires no licence but is limited to angling-type methods; there is no recognised recreational spearfishing regime, and gill/tangle nets were banned for recreational use along the whole Belgian coast in 2015. No Belgian authority issues a spearfishing licence.

Spearfishing (underwater fishing with a speargun, spear or harpoon) is prohibited in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fisheries is not a state-level competence; it is regulated by the two entities (the Federation of B&H and Republika Srpska) and by the Brcko District through separate freshwater-fishery laws. Every freshwater-fishery instrument that could be verified expressly forbids catching fish with an underwater gun (podvodna puska), spears (osti) and harpoons (harpuni) and treats this as a punishable offence. B&H has only a very short (~20-24 km) Adriatic coastline around Neum, but it has no marine/sea sport-fishing law or licensing regime; the sea border with Croatia remains unratified (1999 Neum Agreement) and the protected area off Neum (date-mussel ban) further restricts any underwater harvesting. There is therefore no lawful route to recreational spearfishing in either fresh water or the sea.

Recreational spearfishing with a harpoon (speargun) is legal in Bulgaria only in the waters of the Black Sea. The general ban on harpoons in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act (Чл. 35, ал. 1, т. 5) expressly does not apply to recreational fishing in Black Sea waters (Чл. 35, ал. 2); the detailed conditions are set by a ministerial ordinance under Чл. 15, ал. 1. Spearfishing is freediving-only (no SCUBA/oxygen apparatus) and is permitted only during daylight hours. Harpoon use in fresh water (Danube, inland water bodies) remains prohibited. A general spawning-season fishing ban applies annually (issued by order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food / Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture - IARA), and the Black Sea turbot is under a strict closed season (15 April - 15 June). No recreational licence is required for sea fishing for either residents or foreigners; daily retention is limited (up to 3 kg of marine organisms, or one specimen over 3 kg).

Spearfishing (ribolov podvodnom puškom) is legal in Croatia but allowed ONLY under a sport fishing licence (sportska dozvola) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and sold through clubs affiliated with the Croatian Federation for Sport Fishing at Sea (HSSRM). It is not permitted on a recreational (rekreacijska) licence. Strict conditions apply: minimum age 16, free-diving (breath-hold) only with diving apparatus / scuba strictly prohibited, daylight only (from sunrise to sunset), a mandatory signal buoy, and a daily catch limit of 5 kg per fisher (plus one fish exceeding it). Up to two spearguns per fisher are allowed; towing a diver by boat and use of an underwater scooter are forbidden. Spearfishing/fishing is banned in protected national parks (e.g. Kornati, Brijuni, Mljet, Krka), special reserves, certain river estuaries and bays, and in harbours, ports, public beaches and bathing areas (the latter seasonally from 1 May to 1 October).

Czechia is a landlocked country with no marine coastline, so all spearfishing would be freshwater (rivers, ponds, reservoirs). Recreational spearfishing / underwater fishing (podvodní lov) is prohibited under the national Fisheries Act No. 99/2004 Coll. (zákon o rybářství). Section 13(2)(b) of the Act explicitly bans the use of spears/points of any kind (bodce jakéhokoliv druhu) and shooting fish (střílet ryby) when fishing in any fishing district (rybářský revír) or in pond aquaculture. Legal recreational fishing is generally limited to rod-and-line angling (lov na udici). Harpoons/spearguns are therefore not a lawful fishing method anywhere in Czech public waters.

Recreational spearfishing (undervandsjagt / UV-jagt) is legal in Danish saltwater for personal use. It is prohibited in freshwater (lakes, rivers, streams). A valid recreational fishing licence (fisketegn / lystfiskertegn) is mandatory for everyone aged 18 and over. Since 14 August 2019, harpoon hunting is forbidden at night (from sunset to sunrise) and the use of breathing apparatus (scuba / compressed-air tanks) is prohibited - only freediving on a single breath is allowed, in line with EU Regulation 2019/1241. Only muscle-powered hand spears and spearguns (rubber/elastic or hand-pumped pneumatic) are permitted; externally gas-pressurised spearguns are not. Catch may not be sold. Hunters must respect minimum sizes, closed seasons, protected species and protection belts (fredningsbælter), notably the 500 m zone around river/stream mouths. Recreational cod fishing is banned in the western Baltic (subdivisions 22-24) for 2026.

Recreational spearfishing (allveepüük) is legal in Estonia, in both inland waters and the sea, but only on the basis of a paid recreational fishing right (harrastuspüügiõigus). Permitted gear is a harpoon gun and an up-to-five-pronged harpoon. Using a self-contained breathing apparatus (scuba) or artificial lighting during underwater fishing is prohibited, and a harpoon may not be used without a harpoon gun (except for catching flounder/turbot). Spearfishing is banned in listed salmon/trout/grayling spawning and habitat waters, in Paide artificial lake, and is seasonally closed in some areas (e.g. Lake Pihkva 5 May–10 June). General closed seasons, minimum sizes and protected-species rules apply; up to three fishing devices may be used at once and a 15 kg / per-species daily ceiling applies. On Lakes Kuremaa and Saadjärv a separate fishing card (not just the recreational fishing right) is required for harpoon fishing.

Recreational spearfishing (underwater hunting) is practised and not prohibited in the Faroe Islands. There is no spearfishing-specific Faroese statute found in public sources; activity falls under the general framework for living marine resources (Act on Management of the Marine Resources, no. 161/2017) and the general rules for recreational/coastal sea fishing. Coastal and shore sea fishing is generally permitted without a permit, but local exceptions may apply. A commercial spearfishing operator (Spearfishing.fo, Tórshavn) operates legally, and the national tourism board promotes diving and spearfishing. Two general rules clearly apply to all recreational fishing: fish under 30 cm may not be kept (catch-and-release), and any fish caught must be consumed within the Faroe Islands (it may not be taken/exported home). No explicit spearfishing licensing, gear or catch-limit regime specific to underwater hunting was located, so confidence is low; divers should confirm local exceptions and protected-area boundaries before diving.

Recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing with a harpoon/speargun by freediving) is legal in Finland but is not part of the free public 'common fishing right'. Under the Fishing Act (379/2015), only angling and ice fishing are free everyman's rights; lure fishing requires the state fisheries management fee. Spearfishing falls into 'fishing other than angling or ice fishing', so anyone aged 18-69 must pay the state fisheries management fee (47 euros/year, 16 euros/7 days, 6 euros/day in 2026) AND must obtain the permission of the holder of the fishing right (water-area owner), because spearfishing is not covered by the common right and the management fee alone only entitles the holder to lure fishing with one rod. Harpoon/fishgig is prohibited by law in rapids and currents of waters containing migratory fish at all times, and is prohibited everywhere from 15 April to 31 May. Firearms (and therefore firearm/explosive-powered spearfishing devices) are prohibited as a fishing method; band and pneumatic spearguns are not firearms and are permitted. Minimum catch sizes and species protection/closed periods apply. Scuba use is not banned by the Fishing Act, but Finnish spearfishing practice is freediving only.

Recreational spearfishing (chasse sous-marine / pêche sous-marine de loisir) is legal in metropolitan France but only in apnea (breath-hold); the use of any respiratory equipment is prohibited. It is governed nationally by the Code rural et de la pêche maritime (articles R921-83 to R921-92) and the arrêté of 17 May 2011. Practitioners must be at least 16 years old to use a speargun, must carry civil-liability insurance, must signal their position with a marking buoy, may not fish between sunset and sunrise, may not approach within 150 m of fishing vessels or marked gear, and may not sell their catch (personal/family consumption only). Catch must be tagged by removing the lower caudal fin. Minimum landing sizes and protected-species rules apply (e.g. dusky grouper and corb moratoriums in the Mediterranean and Corsica). From 10 January 2026 a new EU-driven declaration/registration regime applies to sensitive species (and, in the Mediterranean, to all spearfishers). Local prefectoral orders can further restrict or ban the activity in ports, estuaries, reserves and certain marine parks.

Recreational spearfishing (Speerfischen / Harpunieren) is prohibited everywhere in Germany. Fishing law in Germany is regulated at the state (Land) level, and the fisheries acts of all 16 Bundesländer ban the use of spears, harpoons and other injuring devices for catching fish (with fishing hooks as the only exception). This applies to both inland waters and the marine coastal waters of the three coastal states (Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen / Lower Saxony). The prohibition is reinforced federally by the Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz), which forbids causing pain, suffering or harm to a vertebrate without good reason and requires killing animals while avoiding pain. Separately, under the federal Weapons Act (Waffengesetz), a speargun/harpoon is classed as a weapon that may be acquired and possessed from age 18, but possession does not make its use for fishing lawful. No state offers a general permit for recreational spearfishing; the only statutory exceptions are narrow (e.g. scientific purposes, or eel fishing in Lower Saxony under a specific exemption).

Spearfishing (defined in law as 'underwater fishing with or without a weapon') is legal in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters but tightly regulated under the Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (made under the Nature Protection Act 1991). It requires a Class C permit issued by the Department of the Environment. A full Class C permit is issued only to residents (proof of residency, 3-year validity); non-residents may obtain a temporary Class C permit (14-day validity), with no more than 5 temporary permits in use across the territory on any given day. Minimum age is 16; a valid medical certificate and insurance are mandatory. Breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited while spearfishing and a demarcation buoy is required. Underwater fishing is banned between sunset and sunrise, banned in the hatched areas of designated Marine Conservation Zones (Schedule 1), and at six named beaches it is permitted only between 1 October and 30 April. Schedule 2 species enjoy special protection and Schedule 4 sets minimum landing sizes.

Recreational spearfishing (ψαροτούφεκο / υποβρύχια ερασιτεχνική αλιεία) is legal in Greece for personal recreation only (sale of catch is forbidden), but is tightly regulated by Presidential Decree 373/1985 (as amended). Only freediving with breath-hold is allowed: any form of compressed-air diving apparatus (SCUBA, hookah) is banned, as are pneumatic/explosive-propelled spearguns, underwater lights, nets and night fishing. Spearfishing is prohibited every May, after sunset to sunrise, for persons under 16, and within 200 m of swimmers, harbour works, navigational marks, vessels, anchored ships and marked nets, and in vessel transit lanes and harbour entrances/exits. A daily catch cap of 5 kg per person applies (one single fish above this weight is exempt; only one grouper/Epinephelus per day). A diver-down buoy with a yellow flag bearing a red diagonal stripe and the letters 'Υ.Δ.' is mandatory, and the diver must stay within 50 m of it. No special spearfishing licence is required since the old paper permit system was abolished (Law 4256/2014), but from 10 January 2026 the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation requires recreational marine fishers (including spearfishers) to register and report daily catches of certain conservation-managed species via the national electronic system. Additional area bans apply inside marine protected areas (e.g. the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades core zone) and military zones.

Guernsey (Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency) has no licensing scheme or explicit prohibition for recreational spearfishing; sea-fisheries licensing applies to commercial fishing vessels only. Recreational spearfishing/freediving for fish is therefore generally permitted, but it is heavily constrained by species rules under the Fishing Ordinance, 1997 and its subordinate orders: minimum landing sizes apply to all prescribed species, the prized ormer (Haliotis tuberculata, a wild abalone) must NOT be taken by diving or while wearing a wetsuit/snorkel/breathing apparatus and may only be gathered by hand on foot during a few permitted 'ormering tides' (Jan-Apr) and never between sunset and sunrise, and certain restricted/controlled inshore waters limit some gear and methods. Scuba (aqualung) spearfishing is in practice not accepted, consistent with surrounding UK/EU practice that spearfishing be done only while freediving/snorkelling. Confidence is medium: minimum-size, ormer and seasonal rules are sourced from official/legislative texts, but no Guernsey statute expressly names 'spearfishing/speargun', so the top-level legality is inferred from the absence of any prohibition and from the species/method rules that do exist.

The Holy See (Vatican City State) is the world's smallest independent state, a landlocked enclave of about 0.44 km2 entirely surrounded by the city of Rome, Italy. It has no sea coastline, no maritime claims, and no rivers or lakes within its territory; it merely lies on the west bank of the Tiber River, which is in Italian territory. The only water features are ornamental fountains and ponds in the Vatican Gardens. There is therefore no marine, coastal, or natural freshwater fishery in which spearfishing could take place, and no Vatican legislation regulating recreational fishing or spearfishing. In practice spearfishing is not possible in the Holy See. Any spearfishing in nearby waters would fall under Italian (and, for the sea, EU) law, not Holy See law.

Hungary is a landlocked country, so there is no marine spearfishing; all underwater fishing would be in inland fresh waters (rivers, lakes such as Lake Balaton, and ponds). Spearfishing is illegal there. Under Act CII of 2013 on fisheries and the protection of fish (a halgazdálkodásrol es a hal vedelmerol szolo 2013. evi CII. torveny), the only lawful form of recreational fish catching is rod-and-line angling (horgaszat), defined in Section 2(16) as catching fish with an angling outfit (rod, line and at most three hooks) or a cast/lift net of up to 1 square metre for baitfish. Section 46(4)e) expressly lists 'the use of a diving spear or other diving equipment suitable for catching fish' (buvarszigony vagy mas, halfogasra alkalmas buvareszkoz hasznalata) as a prohibited fishing tool and method on all fish-management waters. There is therefore no legal pathway, licence or season for spearfishing anywhere in Hungary.

Iceland has no regulation that explicitly authorises recreational spearfishing. Recreational sea fishing for own consumption is permitted without a special licence, but Article 6 of the Fisheries Management Act No. 116/2006 limits such fishing exclusively to a sea rod (sjostong) and hand line (handfaeri) without automatic equipment. A speargun/harpoon is not among the permitted methods, so spearfishing falls outside the lawful recreational fishing exemption and is, in practice, not a recognised or sanctioned method. Anyone fishing commercially (selling/exploiting the catch) needs a general fishing licence from the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa); catch from the own-consumption exemption may not be sold. Salmon and sea trout are protected and may not be taken in the sea. There is no published government guidance specifically permitting or banning spearguns, and community sources (DeeperBlue forum) report no clear official answer, with only anecdotal recreational practice. Treat the status as legally unclear and effectively restricted.

Recreational spearfishing in the sea is legal in the Republic of Ireland and no licence is required for sea spearfishing. It is, however, subject to important restrictions. Spearfishing in freshwater (rivers, lakes) is prohibited. Salmon and sea trout (and other salmonids) may not be taken by spear under any circumstances. Sea bass is heavily regulated: a minimum size of 42 cm, a recreational bag limit of 2 fish per 24 hours from 1 April to 31 December, and a catch-and-release-only / closed period in the early part of the year (March is catch-and-release only). Shellfish (lobster, crab) may NOT be speared and may not be taken by anyone using underwater breathing apparatus (scuba); minimum sizes apply. There is no general national recreational sea-fishing licence, but EU and Irish conservation rules on sizes, bag limits and protected species apply.

Recreational spearfishing is not specifically named or prohibited in Manx law and is generally lawful in the Isle of Man's coastal waters (as in the wider British Isles), but it is constrained by general sea-fisheries rules and marine conservation byelaws. No licence is required for recreational saltwater fishing/angling. However: bass may only be 'fished for and/or taken by recreational rod and line anglers only', which excludes spear-taking of bass; it is an offence to retain any salmon or sea-trout caught in the sea; statutory minimum landing sizes apply to all sea fish and shellfish; and the Manx Marine Nature Reserves Byelaws 2018 impose significant restrictions inside the island's 10 Marine Nature Reserves, including a prohibition on taking scallops and queen scallops by diving in most reserves, protection of numerous listed species/habitats, and complete no-take Eelgrass Conservation Zones (with limited seasonal exceptions). Crab and lobster taken by recreational potting require a hobby potting licence. There is no DEFA document that names 'spearfishing' explicitly; the status is therefore inferred from the general framework and is best described as restricted.

Recreational/sport spearfishing (pesca subacquea sportiva-ricreativa) is legal in Italy in marine waters but heavily regulated. It is permitted only in free-diving / breath-hold (apnea) without any auxiliary breathing apparatus (scuba is prohibited for fishing). A speargun (fucile subacqueo) is permitted but may be held loaded only while submerged. Only persons over 16 years of age may use a speargun. Fishing is banned at night (from sunset to sunrise), within 500 m of beaches frequented by swimmers, and within 100 m of fixed fishing installations, anchored vessels and set nets. The diver must mark his position with a buoy bearing a red flag with a white diagonal stripe visible at 300 m and stay within a 50 m radius of it. Daily catch is capped at 5 kg total per person (plus one larger single fish) with a maximum of one grouper per day. National minimum sizes (EU Reg. 2019/1241) and EU protected-species rules apply. Since January 2026 recreational fishers over 16 must register and (for certain species) declare catches under EU Reg. 2023/2842 / the EU RecFishing system, in addition to the existing free MASAF recreational-fishing registration. Spearfishing is forbidden in no-take Zone A of all Marine Protected Areas and is generally prohibited or restricted to professionals/residents in other MPA zones.

Jersey (a British Crown Dependency) has no law that prohibits recreational spearfishing for finfish, and no licence is required for individual recreational sea angling. However, the Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003 make it an offence to take any SHELLFISH (other than crabs) from the sea while submerged and breathing with breathing apparatus, or while wearing a face visor, mask or goggles. The only exception is scallops, which may be dived for (SCUBA or free-diving) under a scallop diving permit issued by the Minister for the Environment. Recreational spearfishing for fish must still respect species bag limits and minimum landing sizes set under the Sea Fisheries (Bag Limits) (Jersey) Order 2020 and related orders, and the Portelet Bay no-take zone, where all fishing and taking of aquatic resources is banned.

Recreational spearfishing (zemūdens medības, 'underwater hunting') is legal in Latvia but regulated by Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 800 (22.12.2015) 'Regulations on Recreational Fishing, Crayfishing and Underwater Hunting'. It is permitted in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, and with the owner's permission in private lakes where fishing rights do not belong to the state; elsewhere only where licensed underwater hunting is organised. A valid fishing/crayfishing/underwater hunting card (e-karte) is required for persons aged 16-65 (under 16, over 65 and persons with disabilities are exempt). Only muscle-powered spearguns (harpoon tip width up to 10 cm) are allowed; scuba/autonomous breathing apparatus is banned. A closed season applies from 1 March to 30 April in all waters except the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga coastal waters. From 2026, additional Baltic Sea rules ban retaining cod and limit salmon to one clipped-fin specimen per day, also applying to underwater hunters.

Liechtenstein is a landlocked country with no marine waters; the only spearfishing relevant context is its inland/freshwater fisheries (the Rhine, the Binnenkanal and its tributaries, alpine and valley waters, and the Steg reservoir). Under the Fisheries Act (Fischereigesetz, 16 May 1990, LR 923.0) and the Fisheries Ordinance (Fischereiverordnung / FischV, 19 June 2012, LR 923.01), fishing may legally be carried out ONLY with a rod and line (Angelrute). Art. 10(1) of the Act and Art. 9(1) of the Ordinance both restrict fishing to angling with a rod; the Government may only authorise or prescribe other gear by ordinance, and the Ordinance does not authorise spears, harpoons or any underwater/diving capture method. Deliberately taking a fish by any body part other than the mouth is expressly forbidden (Art. 9(3)(b) FischV). Spearfishing (Speerfischen / Harpunenfischen / underwater fishing) is therefore not a permitted method and is effectively prohibited; using non-permitted gear is a punishable offence under Art. 37(b) FischV / Art. 36 of the Act. Additionally, under Swiss-aligned weapons law applicable in the Liechtenstein customs area, harpoon/spear devices are treated as restricted dangerous objects.

Recreational spearfishing (povandeninė žūklė) is legal in Lithuania but tightly restricted. In inland waters it is banned in all state water bodies (rule 15) except (15.1) limited-fishing waters in a statutory list of named lakes/reservoirs and (15.2/16) waters where the fishing-plot user permits it, provided the water body is not in a recreational functional-priority zone of a protected territory; shooting fish with an underwater gun from a boat, while wading or from the bank is prohibited. The currently listed limited-fishing water bodies are Akmena, Alaušas, Asveja, Didžiulis (Daugai), Drūkšiai, Galuonis, Skaistis, Vištytis and the Elektrėnai reservoir. Along the Baltic Sea coast it is permitted year-round except in recreational zones, where it is only allowed from 31 October to 15 April. A clearly visible buoy must be displayed at the fishing site, night spearfishing is forbidden, and forked/multi-pronged arrowheads may be used only for eel. A general amateur-fishing permit/ticket is required; children under 16, persons with disabilities and state social-insurance pensioners may fish without a permit. Rules apply equally to residents and foreigners.

Luxembourg is landlocked, so there is no marine spearfishing. Recreational fishing exists only in inland fresh waters (rivers, the Upper Sûre reservoir, ponds) and is governed by the Law of 28 June 1976 regulating fishing in inland waters and its implementing regulations. The Grand-Ducal Regulation of 21 July 1976 sets the only authorized fishing methods: fishing is allowed solely by hand line (ligne à main) — one or two hand lines in first-category waters and a single hand line in second-category waters — plus casting and fly fishing as authorized procedures. Spearfishing / underwater fishing (pêche sous-marine / chasse sous-marine, with speargun or harpoon) is not among the permitted methods and is therefore effectively prohibited. A personal, non-transferable fishing permit is required for anyone aged 14 or over.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Malta and does not require a dedicated licence, but it is tightly regulated by directly-applicable EU law. Under Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (and previously Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006) spear guns may only be used in recreational fishing WITHOUT an aqualung (underwater breathing apparatus / scuba) and only by day, from dawn until dusk; night spearfishing and spearfishing on scuba are prohibited. Spearfishing is also banned inside marine conservation areas, voluntary marine reserves around wrecks (e.g. Cirkewwa), designated swimmers'/bathing zones and protected archaeological zones at sea. EU minimum conservation reference sizes (Annex IX) apply to catch, recreational catch may not be sold, and bluefin tuna is effectively catch-and-release for recreational fishers. The national framework is the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425.

Moldova is landlocked; all spearfishing is freshwater (rivers, lakes, reservoirs). Underwater hunting ('vânătoarea subacvatică') is explicitly prohibited under the national sport/amateur/recreational fishing rules published by the Environment Agency (Agenția de Mediu). The primary law, Law No. 149/2006 on fish stocks, fishing and aquaculture, restricts amateur fishing to a closed list of permitted gear (rods, casting rods, crayfish traps, landing nets) and, in Art. 38(1)(p), prohibits the use of piercing implements ('unelte înţepătoare'), firearms and pneumatic weapons, which covers harpoons and spearguns. Recreational fishing is only allowed during daylight hours with a personal, non-transferable permit issued by the Environment Agency. Therefore recreational spearfishing is not legal anywhere in Moldova.

Recreational underwater fishing (pêche sous-marine) is permitted in the Principality of Monaco but tightly regulated. A person must be at least 16 years old and must file an annual authorisation/declaration with the Department of Maritime Affairs (Direction des Affaires Maritimes), supported by a medical certificate of fitness for underwater fishing and an unlimited civil-liability insurance policy (or a valid underwater-fishing licence). Spearfishing is banned during the closed season from 15 October to 15 March, must take place at least 100 m from the shore or marine structures and 50 m from fishing nets, and is forbidden in the Larvotto marine reserve, the Spélugues coral reef and in ports. Use of breathing apparatus (scuba), artificial light, bait, and barbed/multi-pronged spears (harpoons, multi-branch spears, tridents) or compressed-gas weapons is prohibited; only single-pointed darts are allowed. The daily catch is capped at seven fish per fisher. The diver must signal their presence with a flagged buoy. The governing framework is the Code de la mer (Loi n° 1.198 of 27 March 1998) and Sovereign Ordinance no. 3.131 of 14 February 2011 on the exploitation of biological resources.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Montenegro but tightly regulated. A sport-recreational fishing licence is mandatory, and a dedicated speargun (podvodna puska) authorisation is required to carry/use a speargun. Spearfishing must be done on breath-hold only: combining a diving/breathing apparatus (scuba/aqualung) with a speargun is prohibited. Night spearfishing (from sunset to sunrise) is banned, as is spearfishing by persons under the relevant minimum age (16 under the consolidated 2009 Law; reported as 18 under the 2025 reform). Catch may not be sold. Fishing is prohibited inside marked bathing areas (1 May - 1 October, by day) and inside declared marine protected areas (Platamuni, Katic, Stari Ulcinj). Date mussel (Litophaga litophaga) and other protected species may not be taken.

Recreational spearfishing (speervissen / onderwaterjacht met de harpoen) is effectively prohibited throughout the Netherlands, in both marine and inland waters. In the sea area and coastal waters (zeegebied en kustwateren), the Uitvoeringsregeling visserij (Article 14, paragraph 1, sub a) explicitly forbids fishing with 'de harpoen' (the harpoon) and any other gear suitable for wounding fish. In inland waters (binnenwateren), the Reglement voor de binnenvisserij 1985 (Article 2) only permits a closed list of fishing gear (rod/hengel, peur, traps, nets, etc.) and the harpoon is not on that list, so its use is unlawful. Separately, under the Wet wapens en munitie a spear gun/harpoon is classified as a category IV weapon, which an adult may possess at home but may not carry in public or use; combined with the fisheries prohibition this leaves no lawful way to practise spearfishing. No license exists for spearfishing because the activity itself is not permitted.

North Macedonia is landlocked, so spearfishing can only concern freshwater (lakes, rivers, reservoirs). It is prohibited. Article 93 of the Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture (consolidated, Official Gazette of RM No. 7/08 with amendments up to 83/18) expressly bans catching fish with spears (ости) and underwater guns (подводни пушки) in recreational fishing, and lists no exception that would allow speargun/harpoon use for sport or commercial fishing in fishing waters. Permitted fishing is limited to defined recreational, sport and commercial fishing carried out with authorised tackle (риболовен прибор/рибарски алат); underwater guns are not among the authorised tackle. There is no marine/saltwater regime because the country has no sea coastline.

Recreational spearfishing (undervannsjakt) in saltwater is legal in Norway without any licence and is treated as 'sportfishing with hand-held gear' (sportsfiske med handreiskapar). Spearfishers must obey the same recreational sea-fishing rules as anglers: minimum sizes, protected and partially-protected species, the 100-metre distance from fish farms and the ban on selling catch. Lobster, anadromous salmonids (salmon and sea trout) and freshwater fish other than pike may not be taken by spear. In freshwater, spearfishing is generally prohibited except for pike, and only with the landowner's consent. Spearfishing is also caught by area/seasonal bans: cod fishing is banned year-round in the inner Oslofjord and all fishing (including while diving) is prohibited in 14 designated coastal-cod spawning areas from Lindesnes to the Swedish border from 1 January to 30 April. Rubber-powered (sling/strikk) spearguns are not regulated by the Weapons Act, but pneumatic (compressed-air) spearguns fall under the Weapons Act with an 18-year age limit and secure-storage requirements. Foreign/tourist spearfishers may only export their catch (max 18 kg, twice per year) if they have fished through a registered tourist-fishing business.

Spearfishing (lowiectwo podwodne / amatorski polow ryb kusza) is legal in Poland but tightly regulated. It is treated as a form of amateur fishing under the Inland Fisheries Act of 18 April 1985 and its implementing regulation of 12 November 2001. A practitioner must hold a karta lowiectwa podwodnego (underwater hunting card), issued from age 18 after passing a state exam, plus a permit (zezwolenie) from the holder of fishing rights to the water. Only a muscle-powered crossbow firing a tethered harpoon is allowed; SCUBA/breathing apparatus is forbidden (breath-hold only); hunting is daytime-only; the diver must stay within 50 m of a yellow surface float of at least 5 litres buoyancy. On State-owned inland waters a closed season runs from 15 October to 15 May, and salmonids and eel may not be taken with a crossbow. Protection periods, minimum sizes and catch limits for individual species apply as for rod fishing.

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / caca submarina) is legal in mainland Portugal and is one of the four recognised modalities of recreational sea fishing (pesca ludica). It requires a specific recreational fishing licence issued by the DGRM (or the 'all modalities' licence). It may only be practised in apnea (breath-hold); the use of any artificial breathing apparatus (scuba / compressed gas) while spearfishing is prohibited, and a speargun may not be carried on board a vessel together with breathing apparatus. The spearfisher must be marked at the surface by a signalling buoy/board flying the international Alfa flag, which must stay within 30 m. Night spearfishing (between sunset and sunrise) is banned, as is the use of speargun propulsion based on chemical detonation or compressed gas. A daily catch limit of 15 kg applies to spearfishing (largest specimen excluded). Selling any recreational catch is forbidden. Spearfishing is prohibited or heavily restricted inside several marine protected areas (Berlengas, Arrabida/Luiz Saldanha, SW Alentejo & Costa Vicentina, Litoral Norte). Capture of the dusky grouper (mero, Epinephelus marginatus) is prohibited. The autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira have their own separate regimes.

Recreational spearfishing is effectively prohibited in Romania. The national fisheries law (OUG 23/2008) legally defines recreational/sport fishing as fishing carried out only with a rod (undița) or a casting rod (lanseta), which excludes spearguns and harpoons. In addition, Art. 64 lit. l) of OUG 23/2008 explicitly criminalises fishing with the ostie, suliță, țepoaică and any other piercing or hooking tools, and fishing by raking (greblare) or harpooning (harponare), punishable by a fine of 6,000-10,000 lei and a 1-3 year fishing ban. There is no recreational permit category for underwater/spear fishing in Romanian Black Sea or inland waters. Historically (1960s) crossbow fishing in the Black Sea was tolerated, but this is no longer the case under current law.

Recreational spearfishing (подводная охота) is legal in Russia and is treated as a method of recreational/amateur fishing (любительское рыболовство). On water bodies of common use citizens may fish freely and free of charge, without a license or permit. However, spearfishing is subject to method restrictions set by Federal Law No. 475-FZ of 25.12.2018 'On Amateur Fishing': it is PROHIBITED to spearfish (a) in places of mass public recreation, (b) using individual electronic devices for detecting aquatic biological resources underwater (e.g. fish-finders), (c) using scuba/aqualungs and other autonomous breathing apparatus, and (d) using spearfishing gear above the surface of the water. In addition, region-specific Fishing Rules (Правила рыболовства) for each of the 8 federal fishery basins impose closed seasons (e.g. underwater hunting banned on inland waters in the Azov-Black Sea basin from 15 November to 31 March), daily catch limits (e.g. 5 kg/day in the Azov-Black Sea basin), minimum legal sizes and protected-species lists. Sturgeon and Red Book species are fully protected. Foreigners may spearfish under the same general rules.

San Marino is a landlocked microstate with no sea coastline, so marine spearfishing is geographically impossible. Inland, only recreational angling (pesca sportiva) in fresh waters is regulated, governed by Law 119/1990 ('Modifica alla legge che istituisce la licenza per l'esercizio della pesca in acque dolci'), which requires a fishing licence issued by the Federazione Sammarinese Pesca Sportiva. The law and the federation make no provision whatsoever for underwater fishing / spearfishing (pesca subacquea); the regulated waters are small streams (e.g. Torrente Marano, Torrente Ausa) and a small artificial lake (Lago di Faetano) that are unsuitable for and not associated with spearfishing. Law 119/1990 expressly prohibits fishing by means of explosives, stupefying/poisonous chemicals, fixed or mobile nets across watercourses, and electric current. On this basis spearfishing is treated as not permitted (no recognised legal framework allowing it).

Serbia is a landlocked country with no sea coast, so all fishing is freshwater (rivers, lakes, reservoirs). Spearfishing / underwater fishing is explicitly prohibited. The Law on Protection and Sustainable Use of Fish Stocks (Official Gazette RS No. 128/2014 and 95/2018), in Article 22(1)(3), bans catching fish with harpoons (harpun), spears (osti), underwater guns / spearguns (podvodna puška), explosives and other prohibited means. Recreational fishing is legally defined (Article 2, point 21) as a non-commercial activity using only rod-and-line tackle and auxiliary net tools. There is therefore no legal route to recreational spearfishing in Serbia, and no spearfishing licence exists. A standard recreational fishing permit is required for ordinary angling but does not authorise spearfishing.

Slovakia is a landlocked country with no sea coastline; only freshwater fishing exists. Recreational fishing is governed by Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (effective 1 January 2019) and its implementing Decree No. 381/2018 Coll. Spearfishing (underwater fishing / podvodný lov) is effectively prohibited: § 15(1)(a) of Act 216/2018 expressly bans the use of harpoons (harpúny), spears/spikes (bodce), the shooting of fish (strieľať ryby), and any method of spearing/snagging fish (akýmkoľvek spôsobom ich podsekávať). The implementing decree (§ 14) lists the only lawful methods of fishing — float, bottom (ledger), spinning/trolling, fly fishing, ice fishing and the landing net (čereň up to 1 m2) — none of which include underwater/speargun fishing. Consequently recreational spearfishing is not a permitted method anywhere in Slovak inland waters.

Recreational spearfishing (sport fishing with a spear gun / podvodna puška) is legal in the territorial waters of Slovenia but tightly regulated. It is allowed only as breath-hold (apnea) diving using one's own force, only in daytime from sunrise to sunset, and requires an annual sport fishing permit with a spear gun issued exclusively by the Sea Sport Fishing Federation of Slovenia (Zveza za športni ribolov na morju Slovenije, ZŠRMS); the applicant must be a member of an affiliated sport fishing society. A diver may use at most two spears or two spear guns. Use of underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited. A signal buoy of at least 10 litres tied to the diver is mandatory. Spearfishing is prohibited in protected areas (notably the Strunjan Landscape Park / Nature Reserve marine area, the only state-protected marine area in Slovenia), within 200 m of marked marine aquaculture facilities, within 50 m of marked bottom-set nets, and at ports and bathing sites between 1 May and 30 October. The legal framework is the Marine Fisheries Act (ZMR-2) and the Rules on Recreational Sea Fishing (Pravilnik o prostočasnem ribolovu na morju, Uradni list RS no. 64/2008).

Recreational spearfishing (pesca marítima de recreo submarina) is legal in Spain but tightly regulated. At national level it is governed by Real Decreto 347/2011 (for exterior waters), which restricts it to breath-hold (free) diving only: any underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited, as are mechanical propulsion devices, night fishing, loaded spearguns out of the water, and explosive/electric points. A spearfishing activity licence issued by the competent coastal Autonomous Community is mandatory; in practice the Autonomous Communities also issue licences for exterior waters by delegation and set additional rules (minimum age, medical certificate of fitness for free diving, signalling buoy, distance from beaches/swimmers, catch caps). Only fish and cephalopods listed in Annex I may be taken, respecting the minimum sizes of Real Decreto 560/1995. Spearfishing is banned inside marine reserves of fishing interest (reservas marinas de interés pesquero) and other MPAs. A federation licence and personal accident insurance are commonly required to use a mechanically-powered speargun.

Spearfishing (undervattensjakt / harpunfiske) is prohibited in Sweden nationwide. The Fisheries Ordinance (Förordning 1994:1716) 2 kap. 6 § bans fishing with 'gear that fish can be impaled with' (redskap som fisken kan spetsas med) as well as with spears/gigs (ljuster) and firearms. The same paragraph also forbids catching lobster or crab while diving. The Swedish authorities consider the method unacceptable from an animal-welfare standpoint. Spearguns/harpoon guns are additionally treated as weapons and are effectively unobtainable: licences technically exist only for target practice but in practice the police issue none. This makes Sweden one of the few European countries with a total spearfishing ban, in contrast to neighbouring Denmark and Norway where it is permitted. Recreational fishing with hand tackle (rod, jig, hook and line) remains free along the coast and in the five large lakes, but spearing/impaling methods are excluded.

Switzerland is landlocked, so only freshwater (lake and river) fishing exists. Spearfishing / underwater hunting is effectively prohibited throughout the country. Federal law (Federal Act on Fishing, BGF, SR 923.0, 1991) sets the principles and leaves the regulation of permitted fishing gear and methods to the cantons; in practice the cantonal and inter-cantonal fishing regulations ban it. They forbid both (a) the use of weapons, harpoons, fish forks and snares and (b) fishing while diving with or without diving equipment and the use of any device intended to harpoon or injure fish. No canton issues a spearfishing licence. Recreational angling, by contrast, is widely permitted under cantonal licences (a SaNa certificate of competence is required for licences of one month or longer).

Spearfishing (підводне полювання) is legal in Ukraine as a form of amateur and sport fishing. It is governed by the Rules of Amateur Fishing approved by Order No. 700 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (19.09.2022, registered as z1412-22). On general-use water bodies amateur fishing, including spearfishing, is free and requires no special permit. A speargun (підводна рушниця) without an aqualung is the permitted tool; using aqualungs or other autonomous breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited and treated as poaching. The spearfisher must mark the location with a signal buoy/flag, must be at least 16 years old to use a speargun, and is fully prohibited from spearfishing inside nature-reserve-fund (природно-заповідний фонд) territories and objects, on spawning grounds, in wintering pits and in numerous other listed protected/technical locations. A spring-summer spawning ban (typically from 1 April through 20 May on rivers and through 10 June on reservoirs/lakes/ponds, with some water bodies starting 5 April) restricts fishing each year. NOTE: Ukraine's Black Sea and Sea of Azov coast is heavily affected by the ongoing war; large maritime areas and the temporarily occupied territories (incl. Crimea) are inaccessible and mined. Practical marine spearfishing along the coast is currently not feasible.

Recreational sea spearfishing is legal in the UK without a national licence or permit, but only in tidal/marine waters - it is illegal in fresh water (rivers, lakes, canals). Divers must freedive or snorkel; using scuba or surface-supplied air to spearfish is not permitted. Salmon, sea trout, eels and a list of protected/endangered species may not be taken; sea bass is subject to a 42 cm minimum size, a daily bag limit, and a February-March catch-and-release (closed) period that effectively bars spearing of bass in those months. Marine protected areas (MCZs/SACs), many harbours, estuaries, marine infrastructure and bathing beaches restrict or prohibit spearfishing. Rules differ between the four UK nations and between local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) districts in England, so local bylaws must always be checked.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is legal and widely practised in American Samoa (a U.S. territory), but is restricted by overlapping territorial and federal rules. Under territorial law (American Samoa Code Annotated / Administrative Code, Title 24 Chapter 9), free-dive (breath-hold) spearfishing is generally lawful; spearfishing while using SCUBA gear is permitted only by hand or spear and is capped at 2 fish or 2 shellfish (or one of each), or a maximum of 5 lbs, per diver per day, and is prohibited at night. Federal National Marine Sanctuary rules (15 CFR Part 922 Subpart J) ban the possession or use of spearguns, Hawaiian slings, pole spears and similar devices while using SCUBA throughout the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (except the Muliava/Rose Atoll unit), and ban all extractive fishing in the no-take Fagatele Bay unit. In village Marine Protected Areas under the Community-Based Fisheries Management Program (24.1024), only approved methods are allowed and SCUBA-assisted taking of fish is prohibited except where exempted by the village and DMWR. Protected species (sea turtles, marine mammals, and certain reef fish) may not be taken.

Recreational spearfishing is legal across Australia but is regulated separately by each state and territory, plus the Commonwealth for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Common rules nationwide: spearfishing must generally be done on breath-hold (snorkel/free-diving) only - taking fish with any underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA, hookah) is prohibited in every state and territory (with narrow exceptions, e.g. NSW permits SCUBA only for scallops, sea urchin and turban shell). Spearfishing in inland/fresh waters is broadly banned. Spearguns may not be used in many specified estuaries, near jetties/swimmers, or in marine protected areas (marine national parks, sanctuary/no-take 'green' zones). Protected species (e.g. blue groper in NSW, western blue groper in WA, blue cod/rock lobster/abalone in various states) cannot be speared. Standard recreational bag and size limits apply. Licence requirements vary: NSW and VIC require a recreational fishing licence/fee; QLD, SA, NT and TAS do not require a general recreational fishing licence for line/spear fishing in marine waters (some species/gear-specific licences may apply, e.g. TAS for rock lobster/abalone). WA requires a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence for boat-based fishing and species/region licences.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in the Cook Islands and there is no national law that bans non-residents from spearfishing, but it is regulated and culturally sensitive. Fisheries are governed by the Marine Resources Act 2005, administered by the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR), with the whole EEZ designated as the Marae Moana marine park under the Marae Moana Act 2017 (50 nautical mile zones around each island restrict large-scale commercial fishing, not artisanal/recreational take). The key practical restrictions are: (1) numerous 'ra'ui' (traditional no-take/no-fishing reserves) on Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the outer islands where all fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited; (2) the use of SCUBA while spearfishing is banned on most islands (notably Aitutaki); and (3) reef-fish consumption is dangerous because of widespread ciguatera, so reef spearfishing is strongly discouraged by local operators. Spearfishing by visitors is legally tolerated but socially frowned upon; dive companies do not rent spear equipment or permit spearing on SCUBA dives. Bluewater (offshore pelagic) spearfishing is the form most commonly practised.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is legal in Fiji and is one of the few methods that does not require a fishing licence: under the Fisheries Act (Cap 158) s.5(3)(a) a person who takes fish with a spear (or a line from the shore) need not hold a licence, and people may fish for subsistence with such gear anywhere in Fiji. However, it is heavily restricted by gear and area rules. Using any underwater breathing apparatus (scuba, compressors, hookah) to take, collect or dive for fish is banned nationwide under the Fisheries (Restrictions on Use of Breathing Apparatus) Regulations 1997 (reg 4), so spearfishing must be done on breath-hold only unless an exemption is granted by the Permanent Secretary. Use of explosives or poisons (derris/rotenone, chemicals) to take fish is a criminal offence. Sea turtles are fully protected under a national moratorium and cannot be taken by any means. Most inshore waters fall within registered customary fishing grounds (qoliqoli); subsistence spear fishers from the owning community do not need permission, but visitors and anyone fishing commercially require a licence, the chief's/community consent, and must avoid community no-take (tabu) areas and marine protected areas. Minimum size limits and protected-species rules (giant clams, trochus, triton, humphead wrasse, beche-de-mer) apply to all fishers including spear fishers.

Recreational spearfishing (peche sous-marine / chasse sous-marine) is legal and a long-standing tradition in French Polynesia, and no recreational fishing licence is required. It is governed primarily by Deliberation No. 88-183 AT of 8 December 1988 (as amended), Title III of which sets the core rules for underwater fishing. Spearfishing while breathing underwater is prohibited: no scuba tank or hookah (narguile) may be used (except to destroy the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci), and combining autonomous breathing equipment with a speargun is banned (except 'Lupara' powerheads used as defence against sharks). Spearfishers may not approach within 150 m of water intakes, marine farms (pearl/aquaculture) or marked nets/gear, may not keep a speargun loaded out of the water, and may not take animals caught in others' gear. Many lagoon and reef areas are closed to spearfishing via marine protected areas, the Moorea PGEM, and traditional 'rahui' reserves. Species-specific minimum sizes and seasonal closures (e.g. spiny lobster, mangrove crab, mantis shrimp, slipper lobster, river prawns) apply under Deliberation No. 88-184 AT, and several species (burgau, trochus, sea cucumbers, turtles) are fully protected.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Guam but only by breath-hold (freediving / snorkeling). Fishing with SCUBA or any other self-contained or surface-supplied underwater breathing apparatus (including Nitrox, surface-supplied air and rebreathers) was banned territory-wide by Public Law 35-78 (signed 20 March 2020), which added 5 GCA Article 1 Chapter 63 provisions; SCUBA-assisted fishing is a felony. All forms of fishing, including spearfishing, are prohibited inside Guam's five marine preserves (Tumon Bay, Piti Bomb Holes, Sasa Bay, Achang Reef Flat, Pati Point) except as specifically permitted by regulation (5 GCA § 63116.2). No general recreational fishing license is required for residents or visitors. Several species (sea turtles, marine mammals, humphead/Napoleon wrasse) are fully protected under territorial and U.S. federal law.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is generally permitted in Kiribati coastal waters, but is materially restricted by the Fisheries (Conservation and Management of Coastal Marine Resources) Regulations 2019. Spearfishing while using SCUBA or hookah (underwater breathing) gear is prohibited (the gear ban allows it only for licensed aquarium-fish harvest and research). Spearfishing at night using any torch, spotlight or light is prohibited except for subsistence purposes. The Fisheries Act 2010 bans explosives, poisons and other destructive methods nationwide. Minimum size limits and lunar/seasonal closures apply to many target reef species (e.g. bonefish, Napoleon wrasse, emperors, snappers, mullet); giant clam is totally protected. The entire Kiribati EEZ is a Shark Sanctuary where taking sharks is prohibited (limited cultural-permit and inadvertent-catch defences only). On Kiritimati (Christmas Island), the main sport-fishing destination, a pleasure/sport-fishing permit is required, bonefish are catch-and-release only, and a daily limit of 5 fish per species applies; lodges promote fly/spin fishing and spearfishing is not part of the regulated sport offering. Commercial coastal fishing is reserved for local fishing vessels and requires a licence.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is generally permitted in the Marshall Islands and no national recreational fishing licence is required for tourists. However, several restrictions apply. The Fisheries Act (51 MIRC Ch.2) bans destructive fishing methods (poisons, chemicals, explosives) and protects key reef species: sea turtles are tightly restricted (subsistence only, with minimum carapace sizes and a ban on taking on shore), and all shark fishing other than limited subsistence use is prohibited (the RMI is a shark sanctuary). Secondary fishing guidance (citing the Fish Harvest Regulations 2020) states it is illegal to use SCUBA or any underwater breathing apparatus while harvesting fish, day or night. Because all land is privately held under customary tenure, permission from local landowners (alap/iroij) is required for shore access, and many atolls have community-managed 'mo' (taboo) no-take or restricted-take areas and Reimaanlok conservation areas where fishing is limited or banned. Coastal waters out to roughly 5 nautical miles fall under local government councils. No authoritative statutory text explicitly naming spearguns/spears was retrieved, so equipment-specific rules are reported from secondary sources.

Recreational and traditional spearfishing is legal and culturally widespread throughout the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); it is described as one of the most common forms of fishing, especially in the outer islands, and FSM fields breath-hold (freedive) spearfishing teams at the Micronesian Games. There is no national statutory ban on recreational spearfishing. Jurisdiction is split: the national government (NORMA) manages fisheries only beyond the 12 nm Territorial Sea (out to the 200 nm EEZ), where national law targets foreign/commercial/drift-net fishing and protects submerged reefs; inshore reef fisheries where spearfishing actually occurs are governed by the four states (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae). State and municipal law adds restrictions: commercial fishing in Pohnpei state waters is prohibited, poison/explosive/electric-charge fishing is banned in Kosrae, numerous marine protected areas (MPAs) are closed to fishing, and several Yap outer islands have traditionally banned flashlight (night) spearfishing. Competitive spearfishing in the region is freedive-only (no SCUBA); regional fisheries science strongly recommends, and several neighbouring jurisdictions enforce, SCUBA-spearfishing bans, but a specific verbatim FSM/state statute banning SCUBA spearfishing could not be retrieved.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing of reef fish is a widespread traditional practice in Nauru and is not prohibited as such. Coastal (reef and lagoon) fishing is governed by the Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2020 (No. 12 of 2020), which recognises and protects artisanal and subsistence fishing (gleaning, small boats/canoes, spearing). Spearguns are not listed among prohibited methods: Section 62 prohibits only explosives, firearms, poison and other noxious substances. However, the Act gives the Minister broad powers to declare closed seasons (s.24), designate marine protected areas and fisheries management areas (s.8), set catch quotas/size limits and restrict particular gear or fishing methods (s.23), and to prohibit gear by regulation (s.63). Districts may also delineate Community Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs, Part 4) with enforceable plans. As of mid-2026 no nationally gazetted closed season, marine protected area, speargun ban, generally applicable size limit or recreational/spearfishing licence specific to spearfishing has been located in retrievable sources; the CFMA framework is still being implemented. Status is therefore 'restricted': allowed in practice but subject to a discretionary regulatory framework, with rules potentially varying by community area. The wider Fisheries Act 1997 (No. 18 of 1997) governs commercial and foreign fishing in Nauru's broader fisheries waters/EEZ rather than recreational reef spearfishing.

Recreational spearfishing (pêche sous-marine) is legal and widely practised in New Caledonia's lagoon, but it is heavily regulated. New Caledonia is a French sui generis collectivity where marine fishing is regulated at the provincial level: Province Sud, Province Nord and Province des Îles Loyauté each have their own Environmental Code / délibérations. Core rules are broadly aligned across provinces: spearfishing is forbidden from sunset to sunrise; the use of any breathing apparatus that lets a submerged person breathe without returning to the surface (scuba/'bouteilles') is prohibited for non-professional spearfishers; spearguns/harpoons (apneic free-diving gear) are permitted; explosive- or compressed-gas-powered devices are banned. A general non-professional catch quota of 40 kg per boat or shore fisher per day applies (excluding large pelagics, capped at 15 specimens), with minimum sizes and protected/closed species (Napoléon wrasse, sharks, turtles, dugongs, picots in the spawning season, undersized langoustes/crabs/groupers). No personal licence is required for non-professional recreational fishing/spearfishing; a licence is required only for professional coastal/offshore fishing. Many marine protected areas (especially in Province Sud) ban all fishing.

Recreational spearfishing is legal in New Zealand saltwater for most finfish and rock lobster while free-diving, and no licence is required to fish in the sea. It is governed primarily by the Fisheries Act 1996 and the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013, which apply the same daily bag limits, minimum size limits and area rules to spearfishing as to other recreational methods. Key restrictions: rock lobster (crayfish) must NOT be taken by spear (reg 29); paua must NOT be taken using underwater breathing apparatus / scuba (reg 48); spearfishing is prohibited in all marine reserves (Marine Reserves Act 1971) and other no-take protected areas. Freshwater sports fish (trout, salmon, perch) cannot be speared - they may only be taken by angling under Fish & Game sports-fishing regulations made under the Conservation Act 1987. Note that recreational use of scuba/UBA to take most finfish by spear is not banned nationally, but the UBA ban does apply to paua and many regional bylaws apply.

Breath-hold (freediving) spearfishing is legal in Niue's inshore/territorial waters but heavily regulated. Spearfishing with the aid of underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA/hookah) for taking fish is prohibited by section 3(1)(e) of the Domestic Fishing Act 1995. Visitors in practice spearfish only via the small number of licensed charter operators and may not spearfish from shore/reef without authorisation from the relevant village council; spearfishing is banned in traditional fishing (bait/ulihega) areas and around inshore FADs. All fishing, including spearfishing, is banned on Sundays between 4am and 9pm. Offshore, the Domestic Fishing Act and the Maritime Zones Act 2013 marine-park regulations apply: spearfishing is expressly prohibited throughout the Niue Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area (the EEZ zone from 24nm to 200nm), and is only permitted in the Beveridge Reef Nukutulueatama Special Management Area if specifically authorised by Cabinet. Size limits, daily catch limits and a list of protected species (turtles, cetaceans, sharks, rays, giant wrasse, the endemic katuali sea snake, live coral, egg-bearing/soft-shell crustaceans) further restrict what may be taken.

Recreational free-diving (breath-hold) spearfishing is legal in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). However, the use of SCUBA and 'hookah' (surface-supplied air) while fishing — including SCUBA-assisted spearfishing — is expressly prohibited by CNMI Administrative Code Title 85-30.1-401, as are explosives, poisons and electric shocking devices. No license is required to take ordinary finfish by spear or rod for non-commercial purposes (a license is only required for specific regulated takings such as corals, aquarium fish, certain crabs, lobster by means other than hand, and nets). Spearfishing is banned entirely inside the CNMI's designated marine reserves / conservation areas (Managaha, Sasanhaya, Bird Island, Forbidden Island and the Tinian Marine Reserve), which are no-take zones. In the federal Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Islands Unit (around Farallon de Pajaros/Uracas, Maug and Asuncion), commercial fishing is prohibited and non-commercial/recreational fishing is allowed only under a federal permit issued to Guam/CNMI community residents (50 CFR Part 665, Subpart G).

Recreational spearfishing on a single breath (freediving / snorkel) is legal in Palau in open fishing areas, but spearfishing while using SCUBA or any other underwater breathing apparatus is prohibited nationwide under the Marine Protection Act of 1994 (RPPL No. 4-18, Section 4(6)) and reinforced by Koror State law (K4-68-95). No spearfishing or netting is permitted in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (a UNESCO World Heritage area), within designated marine protected areas, conservation/preservation/no-take zones, or within 100 yards of named dive and snorkel sites. Several species are protected (e.g. bumphead/humphead parrotfish Bolbometopon muricatum and Napoleon/humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus) and closed seasons apply to certain groupers and rabbitfish. Anyone fishing in Koror State needs a fishing permit; non-Palauan citizens may only fish from a registered boat (not from land) and pay higher fees. As of 1 January 2026, Koror State tourist/visitor fishing fees are USD 50 per day.

Recreational/sport spearfishing is legal in Papua New Guinea and does not require a national fishing licence. Under the Fisheries Management Act 1998 (s.3(2)), the Act's licensing regime does not apply to fish taken for personal consumption, for sport or pleasure, by customary fishing, or by artisanal fishing - so recreational and subsistence spearfishers need no permit from the National Fisheries Authority. There is no national prohibition on spearguns; only fishing with poisons, chemicals or explosives is banned outright (s.32), and that ban applies to everyone including recreational fishers. The practical restriction is customary marine tenure: roughly 97% of PNG's coastline, reefs and inshore waters are under customary (clan/tribal) ownership, so in practice you must obtain permission from the traditional landowners/village before spearfishing in their waters - this is both customary law and, via reef ownership, effectively binding. The National Fisheries Board may by Gazette notice prohibit specified gear, methods, species, sizes or areas (s.30), and protected species (turtles, dugong, sharks/rays in declared MPAs) must not be taken. New marine protected areas (e.g. the Lovongai and Murat MPAs in New Ireland Province, declared 2023) impose species and area protections.

Recreational and subsistence spearfishing is generally permitted in Samoa (independent Samoa, not American Samoa) and is a long-standing traditional fishing method. No national licence is required for non-commercial fishing from small craft, but spearfishing is subject to several layers of restriction: (1) the Fisheries Management Act 2016 empowers regulations to 'regulate or prohibit' the use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and of spear guns; (2) it prohibits the use of explosives, poisons and other noxious substances; (3) village Fono can make enforceable fisheries bylaws over their declared village fisheries management areas, commonly creating no-take reserves and banning destructive methods; and (4) fishing of any kind is prohibited inside gazetted marine reserves/MPAs such as Palolo Deep, and within the nine new fully-protected MPAs announced under the 2024 Marine Spatial Plan. Local village bylaws and protected-area boundaries are the decisive constraint in practice, so rules vary significantly by location.

Breath-hold (free-diving) spearfishing is permitted in the Solomon Islands and is a common subsistence and small-scale commercial fishing method nationwide. However, the use of any underwater breathing equipment (SCUBA / hookah / compressor) to harvest marine resources is a criminal offence under Regulation 25 of the Fisheries Management Regulations 2017 (made under the Fisheries Management Act 2015, No. 2 of 2015). A SCUBA-for-harvesting ban has been in force since January 2004 and was carried forward into the 2017 Regulations. Spearfishers must also observe the protected-species, size and seasonal limits in the Fisheries Management (Prohibited Activities) Regulations 2018 (e.g. minimum 65 cm for bumphead parrotfish and Maori/humphead wrasse; turtles, dugong, and certain shells fully protected). Provincial governments and community-based management (customary tabu/no-take areas) impose additional local bans, and harvesting is prohibited in protected areas such as the Arnavon Community Marine Park. A recreational 'Sports Fishing' licence category exists in the 2017 fee schedule. Enforcement is generally weak, especially at the local level.

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.

Spearfishing is legal and is a traditional, culturally important fishing method in Tuvalu, practised by day and night on both the lagoon and ocean sides of the nine islands, mostly with homemade sling-type spears (Tuvalu-style spearguns). No national licence is required for subsistence spearfishing: the Marine Resources Act (CAP 48.20) exempts local fishing for subsistence from permit requirements. However, spearfishing is heavily restricted at the island (Falekaupule/Kaupule) level: several outer islands have enacted permanent or seasonal bans on the use of spears under their local-government powers, and spearfishing (like all fishing) is prohibited inside the Funafuti Conservation Area. Centrally, the Minister may by Order designate prohibited fishing areas, closed seasons and prohibit fishing methods, but apart from a 1990 trochus ban very few central regulations restricting methods have been made. SCUBA/hookah for fishing is not specifically banned by national law. On Funafuti all fishers pay an annual licence fee to the island council.

Recreational breath-hold (free-diving) spearfishing is generally permitted in Vanuatu waters and is a common subsistence and leisure activity. It is restricted by national fisheries law rather than banned: (1) no fishing or diving for fish is allowed inside declared marine reserves, marine sanctuaries, community/taboo protected areas or known tourist diving spots; (2) fishing with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) or any compressed-gas / surface-supplied air is prohibited unless the Director of Fisheries issues a breathing-apparatus licence to a certified diver; (3) numerous species are fully protected (turtles, marine mammals/dugongs) or subject to minimum-size limits and method bans (e.g. rock lobster and slipper lobster must not be taken with spears or sharp objects). The governing instruments are the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014 (which replaced the Fisheries Act [CAP 315]) and the Fisheries Regulations Order No. 28 of 2009 made under CAP 315. Many of the most important spatial closures are customary/community-managed locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) declared by chiefs.