Macao
Asia · Eastern Asia
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.
Last updated June 15, 2026
Governing framework
- §Lei n.º 7/2018 — Lei de bases de gestão das áreas marítimas (Basic Law on the Management of Maritime Areas), 2018
- §Decreto do Conselho de Estado da RPC n.º 665 (2015) / Aviso do Chefe do Executivo n.º 128/2015 — delimitation of Macao's 85 km2 maritime area
- §Despacho do Chefe do Executivo n.º 57/2017 — Coordinating Commission for the Management and Development of Maritime Areas
- §Proposed Law on the use of maritime areas (uso das áreas marítimas), passed in general by the Legislative Assembly in 2026
- §China South China Sea summer fishing moratorium (annual, 1 May - 16 August)
The law, verbatim
Legal texts
The exact statutory and regulatory provisions that govern spearfishing here, quoted as published, with a link to each official source.
Object of the Basic Law on the Management of Maritime Areas
Lei n.º 7/2018 (Lei de bases de gestão das áreas marítimas)
A presente lei estabelece os princípios gerais e o enquadramento para a gestão das áreas marítimas da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau, doravante designada por RAEM, incluindo as bases do regime jurídico relativo à gestão das áreas marítimas e o enquadramento institucional entre o órgão coordenador e as respectivas entidades competentes.
Objectives of maritime-area management (ecological protection)
Lei n.º 7/2018 (Lei de bases de gestão das áreas marítimas)
A gestão das áreas marítimas tem por objectivos: 1) Garantir a conformidade da exploração e do aproveitamento das áreas marítimas com o interesse geral nacional e os interesses relativos ao desenvolvimento a longo prazo da RAEM; 2) Promover a diversificação adequada e o desenvolvimento sustentável da economia; 3) Proteger o meio ecológico das áreas marítimas; 4) Reforçar a capacidade de prevenção e minimização dos impactos decorrentes de desastres marítimos; 5) Elevar a qualidade e eficiência da exploração e do aproveitamento das áreas marítimas; 6) Fomentar o desenvolvimento da economia marítima.
Principles of maritime-area management (environmental protection and lawful, rational use)
Lei n.º 7/2018 (Lei de bases de gestão das áreas marítimas)
4) Protecção do ambiente das áreas marítimas: proteger os recursos naturais e o meio ambiente do mar, concretizando o planeamento de protecção e de fomento do ecossistema marinho, devendo o uso das áreas marítimas ter em consideração a protecção do meio marinho e conservar a sustentabilidade do aproveitamento e desenvolvimento das mesmas; (...) 6) Uso legal das áreas marítimas: permitir a utilização das áreas marítimas em conformidade estrita com as normas e as restrições decorrentes da presente lei e da outra legislação aplicável; 7) Uso racional das áreas marítimas: reforçar a gestão do uso das áreas marítimas, promovendo o uso comedido do mar, bem como explorando e aproveitando os recursos das áreas marítimas de forma científica;
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedAll marine fishing operations except rod-and-line, in South China Sea waters of the region (annual summer moratorium)May 1 – Aug 16
China's annual South China Sea summer fishing moratorium runs from noon on 1 May to 16 August. It bans all fishing operations except those using fishing rods. About 30 Macao fishing vessels moor in the Inner Harbour during the suspension; DSAMA conducts outreach on mooring, fire and pollution safety during the period.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
No spearfishing-specific licence is known to exist. Private use of Macao's maritime areas is, under the 2026 maritime-area-use bill, subject to prior authorisation by the RAEM government; detailed recreational-fishing/diving licensing rules were not found.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · marine.gov.mo
- Type
- unknown
- Cost
- unknown
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- No spearfishing-specific licence is known to exist. Private use of Macao's maritime areas is, under the 2026 maritime-area-use bill, subject to prior authorisation by the RAEM government; detailed recreational-fishing/diving licensing rules were not found.
- Authority
- Direccao dos Servicos de Assuntos Maritimos e de Agua (DSAMA / Marine and Water Bureau)
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Placing fishing devices in navigation fairways and surrounding waters is prohibited (DSAMA).
No Macao legislation addressing spearguns, spears or use of scuba for fishing was found. Speargun import/possession may additionally be affected by general weapons/customs controls, but this was not confirmed from sources.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
unknown
Protected species — do not take
- ProtectedChinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) — first-class national protected wild aquatic animal in China; present in Pearl River estuary / Macao waters
No recreational catch or size limits specific to Macao were located. The Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) receives first-class national protection in Chinese waters and is listed in CITES; Macao lies within its range.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
No rules specific to foreigners spearfishing in Macao were found. Macao has essentially no recreational spearfishing scene; turbid estuary/harbour waters and authorisation requirements for private use of maritime areas make this impractical and legally unclear.
Residents
unknown
No resident-specific recreational spearfishing rules were found.
Where on the coast
Allowed & prohibited zones
Named areas that are open to or closed for spearfishing. See the full picture on the interactive map.
Prohibited areas
- Macao navigation fairways and surrounding watersnavigation fairway / restricted maritime traffic zone
DSAMA (Marine and Water Bureau) prohibits fishing or placing any fishing devices in Macao's fairways (navigation channels) and their surrounding waters to ensure navigation safety. Violators face fines of up to MOP 15,000, civil liability, and double fines if marine accidents result. Waters near the Sai Van/Amizade Bridge and the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal are described as very complex and unsuitable for swimming or fishing.
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Direccao dos Servicos de Assuntos Maritimos e de Agua (DSAMA) / Marine and Water Bureau
maritime authority
marine.gov.moMarine and Water Bureau, Macao SAR (restructured from the former Maritime Administration on 18 July 2013); exercises maritime authority over Macao's waters.Comissao Coordenadora da Gestao e do Desenvolvimento das Areas de Jurisdicao Maritima (Coordinating Commission for the Management and Development of Maritime Areas)
maritime governance / coordination body
bo.io.gov.moInter-departmental commission led by the Chief Executive, created by Despacho do Chefe do Executivo n.o 57/2017.Direccao dos Servicos de Proteccao Ambiental (DSPA / Environmental Protection Bureau)
environment ministry
dspa.gov.moResponsible for environmental and ecological protection of Macao, including marine environment matters.
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Lei n.º 7/2018 — Lei de bases de gestão das áreas marítimas (Boletim Oficial da RAEM, I Série, N.º 30, 23-7-2018)
Officialal.gov.moAccessed Jun 15 - [02]
Despacho do Chefe do Executivo n.º 57/2017 — Coordinating Commission for Management and Development of Maritime Areas (Boletim Oficial, FAOLEX mirror)
Officialfaolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [03]
Fishing, fishing gear not allowed in fairways: DSAMA (Macau Post Daily)
Secondarymacaupostdaily.comAccessed Jun 15 - [04]
Fishing moratorium begins in South China Sea (Macau Daily Times)
Secondarymacaudailytimes.com.moAccessed Jun 15 - [05]
South China Sea fishing moratorium begins May 1 (GDToday)
Secondarynewsgd.comAccessed Jun 15 - [06]
Lei que regula uso de áreas marítimas aprovada na generalidade (Hoje Macau, 2026)
Secondaryhojemacau.com.moAccessed Jun 15 - [07]
85 sq km of territorial waters demarcated for city (Macau Business)
Secondarymacaubusiness.comAccessed Jun 15 - [08]
Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) protection status — WWF Hong Kong
Secondarywwf.org.hkAccessed Jun 15
Researcher notes
Macao has NO spearfishing-specific legislation and effectively no recreational spearfishing scene. Its waters are turbid, industrialised Pearl River estuary / harbour waters (poor visibility, mediocre water quality at Hac Sa/Coloane), so the activity is not practised and its legality could not be positively established (marked 'unknown'). The relevant legal framework found and quoted is Law 7/2018 (Basic Law on the Management of Maritime Areas), a 13-article framework law establishing principles of conservation, marine-environment protection and lawful/rational use, delegating detailed regulation to the government; it does not mention 'pesca' (fishing), diving or sanctions. Operational fishing rules come from: (a) DSAMA's prohibition on fishing/placing gear in navigation fairways (fine up to MOP 15,000); (b) the 2026 bill subjecting private use of maritime areas to prior RAEM authorisation; (c) China's South China Sea summer fishing moratorium (1 May - 16 August, rod-and-line exempt). The Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) is a first-class nationally protected species in these waters. NO verbatim text mentioning spearfishing, spearguns, recreational diving for fishing, catch limits or licences specific to Macao was located, so those fields are 'unknown'/empty and confidence is LOW. Several PDF sources were fetched and text-extracted directly (Law 7/2018 gazette; Despacho 57/2017). Two coordinate-bearing zones were not available; the prohibited fairways zone has no single coordinate. Recommended next step for higher confidence: contact DSAMA and DSPA directly and review any administrative regulation issued under Law 7/2018 on permitted maritime activities.
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