Jamaica
Americas · Caribbean
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.
Останнє оновлення Квітень 22, 2026
Правова база
- §The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018)
- §The Fishing Industry Act, 1975 (largely repealed/replaced by the 2018 Act)
- §The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
- §The Fisheries (Spiny Lobster) Regulations and amendments (2009, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2026)
- §The Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023
- Потрібна ліцензія
- Потрібна
- Підводна рушниця
- Дозволено
Закон дослівно
Тексти законів
Точні законодавчі та нормативні положення, що регулюють підводне полювання тут, процитовані так, як опубліковані, із посиланням на кожне офіційне джерело.
Fishing prohibited in Special Fishery Conservation Areas except under licence
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012
No person shall fish in a special fishery conservation area except in accordance with a license issued by the Licensing Authority.
Ban on use of impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling) at night
Fishing Industry Act amendment (2011) / Fishing Industry Regulations
A person shall not, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. use for the purpose of harvesting fish, any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device.
Коли можна занурюватись
Сезони та часові обмеження
Закриті, відкриті та обмежені periodи протягом року. Завжди перевіряйте місцево закриття для конкретних видів.
- ЗакритоSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus) - all species of spiny lobsterКвіт 1 – Черв 30
Annual closed season for spiny lobster. Fishing for any species of spiny lobster during the closed season is illegal; possession without special permission is also illegal during this period.
- ЗакритоQueen conch (Strombus / Aliger gigas, Family Strombidae)Серп 30 – Лют 28
Annual queen conch closed season (dates as cited for the 2023 regulations; declared/varied annually by the National Fisheries Authority). During the closed season it is illegal to possess, sell, process or trade any conch products or by-products, under the Fisheries (Conservation of Queen Conch) (Family Strombidae) Regulations, 2023.
Дозвіл на риболовлю
Ліцензія
Що потрібно, щоб мати право перебувати у воді, скільки це коштує та як це отримати.
Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
Отримати ліцензіюВідкриває офіційний портал · fisheries.gov.jm
- Тип
- Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational fishing licence under the Fisheries Act, 2018; spearfishers must hold a valid fishing licence)
- Вартість
- unknown
- Термін дії
- Renewed annually
- Як отримати
- Apply and register online via the National Fisheries Authority IrieFINS online licensing and registration system, or contact the NFA directly. The Fisheries Act, 2018 requires licences for recreational fishing; persons fishing without a valid licence are liable to penalties.
- Орган влади
- National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
Спорядження та техніка
Правила щодо спорядження
Яке спорядження дозволено, як його можна використовувати та умови застосування.
Обмеження
- Impaling devices (speargun, Hawaiian sling or any other impaling device) may not be used to harvest fish between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (night spearfishing ban).
- Mechanical spearguns were officially phased out from 31 March 2010, with a government programme replacing them with Hawaiian slings.
- Night diving for spearfishing was banned effective 31 March 2010.
- A special permit is required for compressors and other mechanical devices used for underwater-breathing purposes for fishing (effective 31 March 2010).
- Zero tolerance for fishing with dynamite, bleach or other toxic substances.
Spearfishing remains legal by day under licence using permitted gear (notably Hawaiian slings). The legal status of mechanical/band spearguns is restrictive: the government ran a buy-back/replacement programme favouring Hawaiian slings, and night use of any impaling device is prohibited.
Що можна виловлювати
Ліміти вилову та охоронювані види
Добові квоти, мінімальні розміри та види, які ніколи не можна брати.
Добовий ліміт
unknown
Охоронювані види — не брати
- ОхоронюванийSpiny lobster (closed season Apr 1 - Jun 30; minimum size and no berried/egg-bearing females under lobster regulations)
- ОхоронюванийQueen conch (Family Strombidae - annual closed season; possession/sale/processing restricted)
- ОхоронюванийMarine turtles and corals are protected under wildlife/environmental law
Parrotfish are heavily advocated for protection and are key reef grazers, but as of the cited reporting they are not nationally banned. Targeting lobster or conch out of season, or undersized, is illegal regardless of method.
Хто може полювати
Гості та резиденти
Як правила відрізняються для іноземних гостей та місцевих жителів.
Іноземні гості
Вимоги
- Same licensing/registration framework applies; a valid fishing licence from the National Fisheries Authority is required to spearfish.
- Permission/letter required to fish within marine parks such as Montego Bay Marine Park.
Обмеження
- All national restrictions apply equally: no night spearfishing with impaling devices, no fishing in Special Fishery Conservation Areas/marine parks without a licence, closed seasons for lobster and conch.
No specific foreigner/tourist spearfishing regime was confirmed in authoritative sources. Tourists are generally expected to fish via licensed charters and are barred from sanctuaries and marine parks; independent confirmation from the NFA is recommended before spearfishing as a visitor.
Резиденти
Fishing licence / fisher registration (recreational or commercial) via the National Fisheries Authority
Вимоги
- Register as a fisher and licence the vessel (commercial or recreational) with the Fisheries Division / NFA.
- Hold a valid annually-renewed fishing licence to spearfish.
The Fisheries Act, 2018 exempts persons fishing from a pond on private property and persons using a fishing line from the seashore from licensing - this exemption does not cover spearfishing.
Де на узбережжі
Дозволені та заборонені зони
Іменовані ділянки, відкриті або закриті для підводного полювання. Повну картину дивіться на інтерактивній карті.
Заборонені ділянки
- Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; all fishing including spearfishing prohibited except under licence (Reg. 4(1)).
- Bogue Island Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. James; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Montego Bay Point Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / marine park
Fish sanctuary in St. James near Montego Bay; fishing prohibited except under licence. Spearfishing is also prohibited within the Montego Bay Marine Park; a permission letter from the authorities is required to fish there.
- Oracabessa Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Boscobel Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Mary; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Discovery Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Ann (Discovery Bay Lagoon); fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Galleon (St. Elizabeth) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Elizabeth; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Three Bays Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in the Old Harbour Bay / Portland Bight area, St. Catherine; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Salt Harbour Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Clarendon; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Orange Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Sandals Whitehouse Bay Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in Westmoreland; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- Port Morant Harbour Lagoon Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary in St. Thomas; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- South West Cay (Pedro Bank) Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / fish sanctuary
Fish sanctuary at the Pedro Bank/Cays offshore; fishing prohibited except under licence.
- East Portland Special Fishery Conservation Areaspecial fishery conservation area / no-take fish sanctuary
No-take fish sanctuary on the northeast coast of Portland, legally gazetted in 2016 under the Fishing Industry Act, managed by the Alligator Head Foundation. Spans ~6 km2 of coastal waters from Folly (west) to Dragon Bay (east), covering coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and deep-water habitat. No fishing (including spearfishing) is permitted.
Умови на воді
Живі умови
Живий морський та погодний знімок поблизу прибережного орієнтира в Jamaica, від Open-Meteo. Умови варіюються вздовж узбережжя — використовуйте як орієнтовні.
Живі морські дані та погода поблизу Bluefields Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area.
До кого звертатись
Органи влади
Офіційні органи, відповідальні за рибальство та ліцензування.
National Fisheries Authority (NFA)
fisheries authority
fisheries.gov.jm+1 876 948 9014; fisheries@nfa.gov.jmMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
government ministry
Maritime Authority of Jamaica
maritime authority
Звідки це
Джерела
Кожне твердження на цій сторінці посилається на одне з цих джерел.
- [01]
The Fisheries Act, 2018 (No. 18 of 2018) - full text PDF (scanned)
Офіційнеfisheries.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [02]
The Fishing Industry (Special Fishery Conservation Area) Regulations, 2012 - Jamaica Trade Information Portal
Офіційнеjamaicatradeportal.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [03]
Legislation - National Fisheries Authority
Офіційнеfisheries.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [04]
Ban on Mechanical Guns Used for Fishing - Jamaica Information Service
Офіційнеjis.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [05]
Jamaica passes new Fisheries Act - FAO
Офіційнеfao.orgОтримано Черв 14 - [06]
Annual Lobster Closed Season April 1 - June 30 - Jamaica Information Service
Офіційнеjis.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [07]
No Changes to Existing Conch Close Season Regulations - Jamaica Information Service
Офіційнеjis.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [08]
Online Licensing and Registration (IrieFINS) - National Fisheries Authority
Офіційнеfisheries.gov.jmОтримано Черв 14 - [09]
Hold the spear - Government pushed to implement new Fisheries Act - Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14)
Додатковеjamaica-gleaner.comОтримано Черв 14
Нотатки дослідника
Spearfishing in Jamaica is legal but restricted, governed primarily by the Fisheries Act, 2018 (which replaced the Fishing Industry Act, 1975 in October 2018) and subsidiary regulations. Confidence is MEDIUM rather than high because the official Fisheries Act 2018 PDF on the NFA site is a scanned/image-only document (JBIG2) that could not be machine-read to extract verbatim spearfishing/equipment sections; the verbatim night-impaling-device clause ('between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. ... any impaling device - including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device') is sourced from the Jamaica Gleaner (2013-07-14) which reported the Fishing Industry Act amendment, and the direct article URL returned HTTP 404 on access (text retrieved via search index); it should be re-verified against the consolidated statute. The verbatim Special Fishery Conservation Area Regulations 2012 Reg. 4(1) text and the 14 named conservation areas were retrieved from the official Jamaica Trade Information Portal. Coordinates for sanctuaries are approximate (town/bay level) and should be treated as indicative. The 2012 regulations list 14 Special Fishery Conservation Areas; media report a higher figure (18) including later additions - 13 named prohibited zones are listed here from the official regulation (Galleon appears twice in the source - as St. Elizabeth and as Galleon Harbour). License cost and daily/size catch limits specific to spearfishing were not confirmed in authoritative sources and are marked unknown.
Сповіщати мене, коли змінюються правила Jamaica
Ми надішлемо вам лист, коли сезони або нормативи Jamaica оновляться в нашій базі даних.