Barbados · Spearfishing zone
Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Folkestone (Barbados) Marine Reserve.
Barbados's only legislated marine protected area, established 1981 under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1976. It runs about 2.1-2.2 km along the west coast near Holetown (St. James), from just north of the Coral Reef Club Hotel to the southern edge of the Sandy Lane Hotel property, extending up to roughly 950 m offshore, and is divided into four zones (scientific research, northern and southern water sports, and recreational). All fishing and extraction are prohibited, and spear guns, hooks, lines, traps and explosives may not be used. Coordinates below are the approximate location of Holetown, the reserve's central point (approximate - the legal boundary is defined in the reserve order, not by these coordinates).
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
13.1900°N, 59.6400°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Barbados
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Apply to the Chief Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Division, in the form specified, with vessel particulars and the prescribed application fee (Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025, ss.134-136).
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · fisheries.gov.bb