Somalia
Africa · Eastern Africa
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.
Last updated June 15, 2026
Governing framework
- §Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023 (Federal Republic of Somalia, Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy)
- §Fisheries Law of the Federal Republic of Somalia (Review of 2014, enacted 2016) - predecessor federal law
- §Somali Fishery Law No. 23 of 30 November 1985 - original national fisheries law
- §Puntland Fisheries Regulation, 2006 (regional)
- §Somaliland Fisheries Law, 2018 (replaced by new Fisheries Law approved October 2025) (regional)
- License required
- Not required
- Foreigners
- Not allowed
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.
Exemption of recreational and small vessels from licensing requirements
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(3) The following types of fishing vessels shall be exempt from licensing requirements under subsection (1) unless otherwise prescribed: (a) non-motorized vessels; (b) motorized vessels, but with a length overall of not more than 4 meters; and (c) vessels used exclusively for non-commercial recreational fishing.
Activities requiring a licence - commercial sport fishing
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
A licence, authorization or other permission shall be required for ... (k) commercial sport fishing; (l) alteration of a coral reef and/or trade in coral; (m) commercial collection and trade in sea shells; ...
Fisheries Zones - inshore zone reserved for Somali artisanal fishers
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(1) The following zones are established and measured seawards from the baseline from which the Somali territorial sea is measured: (a) the Fisheries Restricted Zone extends to 12 nautical miles and shall be reserved exclusively for artisanal fishing and related activities by Somali citizens and Somali vessels of up to 12 meters in length overall that are wholly owned by Somali citizens and semi-industrial and industrial vessels shall be prohibited from any fishing or related activities in the Zone ...; (b) the Fisheries Protection Zone is adjacent to the Fisheries Restricted Zone and extends to 24 nautical miles and shall be reserved exclusively for fishing and related activities by Somali citizens and Somali vessels of up to 24 meters in length overall ...; (c) the Fisheries Exclusive Economic Zone, being that part of the Exclusive Economic Zone that is adjacent to the Fisheries Protection Zone and extends seawards to 200 nautical miles wherein licensed fishing and related activities shall be permitted in accordance with this Act ...
Prohibited fishing methods - explosives, poison and noxious substances
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(1) No person shall: (a) use, permit to be used or attempt to use any explosive, poison or other noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish or in any way rendering fish more easily caught; (b) carry on board a vessel, transport or have in his or her possession or control any explosive, poison or other noxious substance for any purpose referred to in subparagraph (a); (c) land, sell receive or possess any fish or fish products, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they were taken in contravention of subsections (a) or (b).
Declaration of and prohibitions respecting protected, threatened or endangered species
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(2) No person shall take, land, sell, deal in, transport, receive, buy, possess, import or export any fish or fish product declared as protected or endangered in accordance with this section. (3) Any person who catches a protected, threatened or endangered species of fish shall release it and return it alive to the water.
Prohibition on whaling and conservation of cetaceans
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(2) No person shall engage in fishing for, harm, kill or trade in cetaceans. (3) The operator of a vessel in Somali waters shall ensure that in all fishing and related activities, gear is used and disposed of in a manner that avoids entanglement or any other adverse or harmful impact on cetaceans.
Prohibitions in relation to marine turtles
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
(1) No person shall engage in fishing for, harm, kill or trade in marine turtles. (2) The operator of a vessel in Somali waters shall ensure that in all fishing and related activities, gear is used and disposed of in a manner that avoids entanglement or any other adverse or harmful impact on marine turtles.
Definition of artisanal fishing
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008 of 2023
“artisanal fishing” means traditional fishing by individual Somali citizens using wholly owned and operated Somali artisanal fishing vessels in the waters where they are entitled to fish where: (a) the owner is directly involved in the day-to-day running of the enterprise; (b) the fish are taken in a manner that, having regard to the vessel, the equipment and the method used, is small-scale and individually operated; and (c) the fish are taken primarily for household consumption, barter or local market trade;
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedSet by Ministerial fishery management plans, not by a fixed statutory dateunknown – unknown
The 2023 federal law does not set a fixed national closed season. Conservation and management measures, including seasonal closures and closed areas, may be established by the Minister through fishery management plans and regulations (Arts. 13, 17, 20). The original 1985 Fishery Law (Art. 6) provided for a 'Seasonal Closing Period' to be declared by the Ministry. No specific dates applicable to recreational spearfishing were retrievable.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
- Type
- No licence required for non-commercial recreational fishing; commercial sport fishing requires a licence from the Ministry
- Cost
- unknown
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- Vessels used exclusively for non-commercial recreational fishing, non-motorized vessels, and motorized vessels up to 4 m are exempt from licensing (Art. 72(3)). Commercial sport fishing operators must obtain a licence/authorization from the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (Art. 72(1)(k)). Foreign operators must hold an entry permit from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
- Authority
- Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (Federal Republic of Somalia); Federal Member State fisheries authorities for the Restricted/Protection Zones
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Explosives, poisons and other noxious substances are prohibited for catching fish (Art. 30)
- Trawling and large-scale driftnets are prohibited (Arts. 31, 33)
- Possession, use, import, purchase or sale of prohibited gear is an offence (Art. 37)
The federal Fisheries Law No. 008 of 2023 contains no provision specifically permitting or prohibiting spearguns, harpoons or scuba diving for recreational spearfishing. Spears are listed by NOAA (2025) as an active artisanal gear type used in Somali waters (e.g. for groupers, snappers, jacks, lobsters), indicating spear fishing is a customary practice rather than a regulated or banned method. No statutory limit on number of spears.
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
- ProtectedMarine turtles (all species) - no taking, harming, killing or trade (Art. 28)
- ProtectedCetaceans / whales - no fishing for, harming, killing or trade; commercial whaling banned (Art. 27)
- ProtectedWhale sharks - no purse seine set around them (Art. 27)
- ProtectedSharks - shark finning prohibited; fins must remain naturally attached (Art. 29)
- ProtectedAny species declared protected, threatened or endangered by the Minister (Art. 19); coral and certain sea shells require licence/protection (Art. 72)
The 2023 law delegates specific catch and size limits to ministerial regulations and fishery management plans rather than fixing them in the statute. No recreational daily bag limit or species-specific minimum sizes for spearfishing were retrievable. Protected-species prohibitions apply to all persons, including recreational fishers.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
Not allowedSpecial license required
Requirements
- Foreign operators seeking to fish in Somali waters must hold an entry permit issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (per NOAA 2025 summary of Somali law)
- Foreign and non-citizen vessels are barred from the Fisheries Restricted Zone (0-12 nm) and the Fisheries Protection Zone (12-24 nm), which are reserved for Somali citizens (Art. 4)
Restrictions
- Inshore waters (0-24 nm) are reserved exclusively for Somali citizens, excluding foreign recreational spearfishers from typical shallow-water spearfishing grounds
- Practical access is further constrained by widespread insecurity, piracy history and limited enforcement along the Somali coast
There is no recreational-spearfishing-specific foreigner permit regime. The combination of the citizens-only inshore zones, the requirement for foreign operators to obtain ministry entry permits, and severe security/logistical barriers makes foreign recreational spearfishing effectively impractical and largely not provided for in law.
Residents
Artisanal / recreational - no licence required for non-commercial recreational or small-scale artisanal vessels
Requirements
- Must be a Somali citizen and use a Somali-owned vessel to fish in the Restricted (0-12 nm) and Protection (12-24 nm) Zones (Art. 4)
- Non-commercial recreational fishing, non-motorized vessels and motorized vessels up to 4 m are exempt from licensing (Art. 72(3))
Benefits
- Exclusive access to inshore artisanal fishing zones (0-12 nm and 12-24 nm) reserved for Somali citizens
- Federal Member State authorities manage and may issue licences for these inshore zones
Somali citizens enjoy preferential and exclusive access to the inshore fishing zones. Regional authorities in Puntland and Somaliland administer their own resident fishing/licensing regimes under separate regional laws.
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
- Fisheries Restricted Zone (0-12 nautical miles)restricted fishing zone (citizens-only artisanal zone)
Inshore band from the baseline out to 12 nautical miles, reserved exclusively for artisanal fishing by Somali citizens and Somali-owned vessels up to 12 m; semi-industrial and industrial vessels are prohibited. Foreign/non-citizen recreational spearfishers are effectively excluded from this inshore zone where shore-based spearfishing would normally occur (Art. 4(1)(a)).
- Cetacean and marine turtle breeding zonesspecies breeding/conservation zone
Areas proclaimed under the Act as breeding zones for cetaceans or marine turtles, where settling, fishing operations or construction are prohibited without ministerial authorization (Arts. 27(6), 28(5)). Specific coordinates are not defined in the statute.
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (Federal Republic of Somalia)
fisheries authority
moefbe.gov.soMogadishu, SomaliaMinistry of Fisheries, Ports and Marine Transport, Puntland State of Somalia
regional fisheries authority
Garowe, PuntlandMinistry of Fishery, Somaliland
regional fisheries authority
en.wikipedia.orgHargeisa, Somaliland
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008/2023 - Federal Republic of Somalia, Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy (Official English version, April 2023)
Officialimcsnet.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [02]
Federal Republic of Somalia, Law of Fisheries Management and Development - IMCS Network resource page
Secondaryimcsnet.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [03]
Fisheries law of the Federal Republic of Somalia (Review of 2014) - FAOLEX / ECOLEX
Officialecolex.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [04]
Somali Fishery Law No. 23 of 30 November 1985 - FAOLEX
Officialfao.orgAccessed Jun 15 - [05]
Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions - Comparability Finding Application Final Report: Somalia (NOAA NMFS, 2025)
Officialfisheries.noaa.govAccessed Jun 15 - [06]
Law of Fisheries Management - Somalia - The Outlaw Ocean Project, Global Fishing Legislative Database
Secondarytheoutlawocean.comAccessed Jun 15 - [07]
Puntland Fisheries Regulation Gives Government Free Rein - Puntland Post (2022)
Secondarypuntlandpost.netAccessed Jun 15 - [08]
Somaliland Cabinet Approves New Fisheries Law (October 2025) - Dawan Africa
Secondarydawan.africaAccessed Jun 15
Researcher notes
Primary legal source is the official English text of the Law of Fisheries Management and Development No. 008/2023 (Federal Republic of Somalia), retrieved as a PDF from the IMCS Network and parsed in full; all verbatim law_texts are quoted directly from that document. The law neither names nor specifically regulates recreational spearfishing: recreational fishing is exempt from licensing, and spear/harpoon fishing is a customary artisanal method (corroborated by NOAA's 2025 fisheries gear inventory listing 'Spears'). It is classified 'restricted' rather than 'yes' because (1) inshore zones 0-24 nm are reserved exclusively for Somali citizens, effectively barring foreign recreational spearfishers; (2) strict protected-species rules (turtles, cetaceans, sharks, declared species) apply to all fishers; and (3) governance is fragmented across the Federal Government, Puntland and Somaliland with weak enforcement. Gaps: no retrievable recreational daily bag limits, size limits, statutory closed-season dates, licence fees, or named marine protected areas with coordinates; specific Puntland (2006) and Somaliland (2018/2025) regional regulation texts could not be retrieved (Somaliland regulations PDF host refused connection). Confidence set to 'medium' - the national legal framework is captured verbatim from an official source, but recreational-specific detail and sub-national texts remain partial.
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