SpearfishingMap

Venezuela

Americas · South America

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).

Restricted
Data confidenceHigh confidence

Last updated June 16, 2026

Governing framework

  • §Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Gaceta Oficial N. 5.877 Extraordinario, 14 March 2008
  • §Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132, 17 April 2017
  • §Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones (speargun classed as permitted sporting weapon; porte de arpon issued by DAEX)
  • §Resolucion DM N. 115, 21 October 2013, Gaceta Oficial N. 40.279 (national lobster closed season)
License required
Required
Speargun
Allowed
Scuba
Prohibited
Foreigners
Welcome

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.

01Articulo 18, numeral 6Venezuela · national

Definition of recreational/sport fishing including spearfishing (pesca de persecucion con arpones)

Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura

ESOriginal

6. Pesca deportiva y recreativa: Es la que se realiza con fines de turismo, recreacion, esparcimiento y competitivos. Las capturas provenientes de esta pesca no tienen como objeto su comercializacion, aun cuando puedan generar otros beneficios, al ofrecer el interesado o interesada los servicios para realizar este tipo de pesca. Hay dos modalidades fundamentales, dependiendo de la estrategia utilizada, la Pesca de Atraccion de los organismos mediante senuelos, carnadas y otros dispositivos y, la Pesca de Persecucion de los organismos con arpones en su habitat especifico.

02Articulo 10Venezuela · national

Recreational and sport fishing permitted to nationals and foreigners with prior authorization

Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura

ESOriginal

Las personas juridicas deberan estar legalmente constituidas y domiciliadas en el pais y, las personas naturales extranjeras deberan estar domiciliadas en el pais. Los buques empleados en el aprovechamiento de los recursos hidrobiologicos deberan estar inscritos en el Registro Naval Venezolano, sin perjuicio de lo establecido en los convenios pesqueros suscritos y ratificados por la Republica. Se permitira ejercer actividades de pesca deportiva y recreativa a las personas naturales venezolanas o extranjeras domiciliadas o no en el pais, previa autorizacion de las autoridades competentes.

03Articulo 33, numeral 2, literal bVenezuela · national

Sport and recreational fishing permit (Permiso de Pesca Deportiva y Recreativa)

Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura

ESOriginal

b) Pesca Deportiva y Recreativa: Destinada a la captura de determinadas especies en areas permitidas, siempre y cuando no causen interferencia con otras pesquerias, de conformidad con los reglamentos y normas tecnicas de ordenamiento del presente Decreto con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley, y tendran una vigencia hasta por un (1) ano con caracter renovable.

04Articulo 20Venezuela · national

Ordering norms: minimum sizes/weights and closed periods/zones (veda)

Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura

ESOriginal

El Ministerio con competencia en materia de pesca y acuicultura, en coordinacion con los organos y entes competentes en esta materia, adoptara normas tecnicas de ordenamiento de los recursos hidrobiologicos, entre otras, relativas ha: 1. Tallas o pesos minimos de captura. 2. Periodos y zonas de veda para proteger a los organismos acuaticos, la diversidad biologica y la estructura de los ecosistemas. 3. Nivel de esfuerzo optimo de pesca. 4. Limitaciones en las caracteristicas de las artes, equipos y practicas de pesca. 5. Las caracteristicas de los buques de pesca. 6. Establecer capturas totales permisibles, cuotas globales o individuales, turnos de pesca y declarar pesquerias cerradas. 7. Otras medidas para la proteccion de los caladeros.

05Articulo 39, numeral 1Venezuela · national

General fishing prohibitions: explosives, poisons and harmful substances

Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura

ESOriginal

Queda expresamente prohibido: 1. La tenencia en los buques pesqueros y la realizacion de actividades de pesca con dinamita, polvora o cualquier otro explosivo, carburo, azufre, cal, acido o barbasco, asi como cualquier otro elemento quimico o natural que pudieran causar danos a los recursos hidrobiologicos. Excepcionalmente, podra utilizarse el barbasco para la pesca cientifica o la pesca indigena de subsistencia.

06Articulo 31Venezuela · national

Spearfishing prohibitions including ban on autonomous diving (scuba) and surface-supply equipment

Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)

ESOriginal

Queda expresamente prohibido: 1. La realizacion de actividades de pesca subacuatica con dinamita, polvora, electricidad, puntas explosivas o cualquier otro material explosivo. 2. La realizacion de actividades de pesca subacuatica con sustancias o implementos venenosos, adormecedores, saporiferos, barbasco o cualquier otro elemento quimico o natural que pudieran causar danos a los recursos hidrobiologicos; excepcionalmente, podra utilizarse el barbasco para la pesca cientifica. 3. Mantener armado el fusil fuera del agua o en el buque. 4. El uso de artefactos hidrodeslizadores. 5. Remolcar al pescador o pescadora subacuatica con el buque. 6. El uso de fusiles lanza arpones que no requieren del esfuerzo fisico para armarlos. 7. La practica de la actividad de pesca subacuatica comercial artesanal, deportiva y recreativa con equipos de respiracion autonomos o equipos de respiracion con asistencia de conexion a superficie o compresores.

07Articulo 14Venezuela · national

Species whose capture is expressly prohibited in marine subaquatic fishing

Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)

ESOriginal

En el ejercicio de la actividad de pesca subacuatica queda expresamente prohibida la captura de las siguientes especies: 1. Tortugas de cualquier especie; 2. Tiburones (Clase Chondrichthyes) de cualquier especie; 3. Rayas (Clase Chondrichthyes) de cualquier especie, incluyendo a los chuchos (Aetobatus narinari); 4. Guasas (Epinephelus itajara); 5. Cachamas (familia Pomacanthidae) de cualquier especie; 6. Cachuas (Familia Balistidae) de cualquier especie; 7. Candiles (Familia Holocentridae) de cualquier especie; 8. Toritos y chapines (Familia Ostraciidae) de cualquier especie; 9. Mero jabon (Familia Grammistidae); 10. Lijas (Familia Monacanthidae) de cualquier especie; 11. Paguaras (Chaetodipterus faber); 12. Guacamayas (Scarus coelestinus); 13. Loro cotorra (Scarus vetula); 14. Loro azul (Sparisoma chrysopterum); 15. Loro colorado (Sparisoma viride); 16. Loro pardo (Sparisoma rubripinne).

08Articulo 8Venezuela · national

Mandatory safety equipment for the spearfishing operation

Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica en la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017)

ESOriginal

Para el desarrollo de la faena de pesca subacuatica es obligatorio el uso de una boya de senalizacion de color rojo, anaranjado, amarillo u otro color llamativo, con un volumen minimo de cinco litros (5 lts), un silbato y un cuchillo para pesca con punta y hoja de doble filo, a ser empleados para la seguridad del pescador.

09Articulo 18 (as described by FVAS)Venezuela · national

Speargun (arpon) classification as a permitted sporting weapon and DAEX porte de arpon for FVAS-registered spearfishers (FVAS account, paraphrase)

Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones (Articulo 18) / DAEX authorization to FVAS

ENOriginal

Paraphrase from the Federacion Venezolana de Actividades Subacuaticas (FVAS), not the statutory text of Articulo 18: according to FVAS, the speargun (arpon) is classified as an 'Arma Permitida con Fines Deportivos' and registered FVAS spearfishers holding a porte de arpon issued by DAEX are exempt from the firearm/blade prohibitions (DAEX communication referenced to Gaceta Oficial No. 41.705). The verbatim wording of Articulo 18 of the Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones was not retrievable from an official source.

When you can dive

Seasons & time restrictions

Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
ClosedRestrictedOpen
  • ClosedSpiny lobster (Panulirus argus), Panulirus guttatus, Panulirus laevicauda - langostaFeb 1 – Sep 30

    National closed season (veda nacional) for the capture of lobster across the entire national territory, established by Resolucion DM N. 115 of 21 October 2013 (Gaceta Oficial N. 40.279). Reaffirmed annually by INSOPESCA; the 2026 veda entered into force on 1 February 2026.

Permission to fish

License

What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.

License requiredvia Instituto Socialista de la Pesca y Acuicultura (INSOPESCA), in coordination with DAEX (Direccion General de Armas y Explosivos) and FVAS

Apply at an INSOPESCA office with the form from the INSOPESCA website, RIPAC/Registro de Pesca enrollment, ID copy (100% enlarged), FVAS membership card copy (both sides, 100% enlarged), proof of payment of 2 tax units, and invoice or sworn declaration of speargun ownership. Visit the regional sub-office for speargun inspection and document signing, obtain the Porte de Arpon Deportivo from DAEX, then return to the sub-office to collect the definitive permit.

Get your license

Opens the official portal · fvas.com.ve

License required
Type
Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica (INSOPESCA) plus Porte de Arpon Deportivo (DAEX)
Cost
Pago de dos (2) unidades tributarias to the INSOPESCA account (exact monetary amount varies with the tax unit value)
Validity
Provisional INSOPESCA permit valid 3 months, within which the definitive DAEX 'porte de arpon' must be obtained; general fishing permits under the Ley de Pesca are valid up to 1 year, renewable.
How to obtain
Apply at an INSOPESCA office with the form from the INSOPESCA website, RIPAC/Registro de Pesca enrollment, ID copy (100% enlarged), FVAS membership card copy (both sides, 100% enlarged), proof of payment of 2 tax units, and invoice or sworn declaration of speargun ownership. Visit the regional sub-office for speargun inspection and document signing, obtain the Porte de Arpon Deportivo from DAEX, then return to the sub-office to collect the definitive permit.
Authority
Instituto Socialista de la Pesca y Acuicultura (INSOPESCA), in coordination with DAEX (Direccion General de Armas y Explosivos) and FVAS

Gear & technique

Equipment rules

What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.

SpeargunAllowed
ScubaProhibited

Restrictions

  • Spearfishing must be done by apnea only; recreational subaquatic fishing with autonomous breathing equipment (scuba) or surface-supply/compressor equipment is expressly prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31.7).
  • A signalling buoy (min. 5 litres, bright colour), a whistle and a double-edged pointed knife are mandatory safety equipment for the operation (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 8).
  • Spearfishing is only allowed between 05:00 and 19:00 (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 22); fishing within 100 m of line anglers, bathing areas or other water sports/artisanal fishing is prohibited (Art. 31).
  • Spearguns must not be kept armed out of the water or on the vessel, and self-arming (non-physical-effort) spearguns are prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31.3 and 31.6).
  • The speargun (arpon) is legally a weapon and requires a 'porte de arpon' issued by DAEX; possession without it can lead to confiscation.
  • Use of explosives, gunpowder, electricity, explosive tips, barbasco or other chemical/toxic substances for fishing is prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 31; Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Art. 39).
  • Capture of a list of protected species (all sea turtles, sharks, rays, guasa grouper, parrotfishes, etc.) is expressly prohibited (Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 14 marine / Art. 15 continental).

Spearfishing is the 'Pesca de Persecucion de los organismos con arpones en su habitat especifico' (Ley de Pesca, Art. 18.6) and, under Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, is conducted by apneistas (free-divers). Apnea-only operation and the safety/equipment and protected-species rules above are core requirements set verbatim in that resolution.

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

  • ProtectedSea turtles of any species (tortugas de cualquier especie) - Resolucion DM/No. 012-17, Art. 14.1 / Art. 15.1
  • ProtectedSharks of any species (tiburones, Clase Chondrichthyes) - Art. 14.2
  • ProtectedRays of any species (rayas, Clase Chondrichthyes), including eagle rays/chuchos (Aetobatus narinari) - Art. 14.3
  • ProtectedGoliath grouper / guasa (Epinephelus itajara) - Art. 14.4
  • ProtectedAngelfishes / cachamas (familia Pomacanthidae) - Art. 14.5
  • ProtectedTriggerfishes / cachuas (Familia Balistidae) - Art. 14.6
  • ProtectedSquirrelfishes / candiles (Familia Holocentridae) - Art. 14.7
  • ProtectedBoxfishes / toritos y chapines (Familia Ostraciidae) - Art. 14.8
  • ProtectedSoapfishes / mero jabon (Familia Grammistidae) - Art. 14.9
  • ProtectedFilefishes / lijas (Familia Monacanthidae) - Art. 14.10
  • ProtectedAtlantic spadefish / paguara (Chaetodipterus faber) - Art. 14.11
  • ProtectedParrotfishes (Scarus coelestinus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma chrysopterum, Sparisoma viride, Sparisoma rubripinne) - Art. 14.12-16
  • ProtectedContinental species: pavon (Familia Cichlidae), cachama (Colossoma macropomum), curito (Hoplosternum littorale), freshwater rays (Familia Potamotrygonidae) - Art. 15
  • ProtectedQueen conch / botuto (Strombus gigas) - permanent veda, capture only for research (Art. 18)
  • ProtectedLobster (Panulirus argus, P. guttatus, P. laevicauda) - requires special commercial permit (Art. 16) and is under the national closed season (1 Feb - 30 Sep)

Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 (Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132) expressly prohibits the capture of the marine species listed in Art. 14 and the continental species listed in Art. 15 (quoted verbatim in law_texts). The resolution also fixes minimum capture sizes/weights per permitted species in tables within Arts. 12-13; those tables were not cleanly extractable from the scanned official PDF, so specific per-species minimum sizes and daily bag limits remain marked unknown. (The earlier blanket 'endangered / ornamental / coral species' wording came from a FVAS summary and has been replaced by the actual statutory species lists.)

Who may fish

Visitors & residents

How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.

Foreign visitors

Allowed

Special license required

Requirements

  • Prior authorization from the competent authorities (Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura, Art. 10).
  • Sport/recreational fishing is expressly permitted to foreign natural persons whether or not domiciled in the country (Art. 10).
  • A spearfishing permit and porte de arpon (via INSOPESCA/DAEX) are required as for nationals; in practice this is channelled through FVAS membership.

Restrictions

  • Spearfishing prohibited inside national parks and protected marine areas.
  • Apnea-only; no scuba.

Art. 10 of the Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura explicitly allows nationals and foreigners (domiciled or not) to conduct sport and recreational fishing with prior authorization. Practical procedures for non-residents to obtain the DAEX porte de arpon are not clearly documented in the sources reviewed.

Residents

Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica (INSOPESCA) + Porte de Arpon (DAEX), generally via FVAS membership

Requirements

  • RIPAC / Registro Integral de Pesca enrollment with INSOPESCA
  • Venezuelan ID and RIF
  • FVAS membership
  • Payment of fee (2 tax units) and speargun ownership proof
  • Porte de arpon issued by DAEX

Residents follow the standard INSOPESCA/DAEX/FVAS process described under license.

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

  • Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roquesnational park / marine protected area

    National park covering over 1,500 km2 in the Caribbean, approx. 160 km north of La Guaira. Declared a national park on 8 August 1972 (225,153 ha). Fishing is regulated/restricted and spearfishing is not permitted within the protected park; the area is managed by INPARQUES.

  • Parque Nacional Morrocoynational park / marine protected area

    Coastal national park of 32,090 ha in Falcon State, decreed on 26 May 1974, with mangroves, cays and coral reefs. As a national protected area, spearfishing and extractive fishing are restricted/prohibited; managed by INPARQUES.

  • Parque Nacional Mochimanational park / marine protected area

    Coastal-marine national park between Anzoategui and Sucre States. A protected area where extractive activities including spearfishing are restricted; managed by INPARQUES.

  • The Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura prohibits fishing in areas declared as aquaculture reserves, wildlife refuges, protected areas under special regime, and closed (veda) zones (e.g. Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Cuare and other areas under regimen de administracion especial).

Conditions on the water

Live conditions

Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Venezuela, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.

Live marine & weather near Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques.

Conditions

Who to ask

Authorities

The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.

  • Instituto Socialista de la Pesca y Acuicultura (INSOPESCA)

    fisheries authority

    insopesca.gob.veAdscribed to the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Agricultura Productiva y Tierras
  • Direccion General de Armas y Explosivos (DAEX)

    arms control authority (issues porte de arpon for spearguns)

  • Federacion Venezolana de Actividades Subacuaticas (FVAS)

    national underwater activities federation

  • Instituto Nacional de Parques (INPARQUES)

    protected areas / national parks authority

Where this comes from

Sources

Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.

  1. [01]

    Decreto N. 5.930 con Rango, Valor y Fuerza de Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (full text, FAOLEX)

    Official
    faolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 15
  2. [02]

    Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 - Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica, Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132 (17 April 2017) - full official text (FAOLEX)

    Official
    faolex.fao.orgAccessed Jun 16
  3. [03]

    FVAS - Regulacion Vigente de Pesca Subacuatica en Venezuela (FVAS summary of Resolucion DM/No. 012-17)

    Secondary
    fvas.com.veAccessed Jun 15
  4. [04]

    FVAS - DAEX autoriza a los pescadores submarinos federados FVAS a pescar con su porte de arpon vigente

    Secondary
    fvas.com.veAccessed Jun 15
  5. [05]

    FVAS - Permiso Deportivo de Pesca Subacuatica INSOPESCA (requirements and process)

    Secondary
    fvas.com.veAccessed Jun 15
  6. [06]

    INSOPESCA - Veda Nacional de la Langosta (national lobster closed season)

    Official
    insopesca.gob.veAccessed Jun 15
  7. [07]

    Red Iberoamericana de Reservas Marinas - Los Roques (coordinates and area)

    Official
    mapa.gob.esAccessed Jun 15
  8. [08]

    Inparques - Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques

    Official
    inparques.gob.veAccessed Jun 15
  9. [09]

    Wikipedia - Parque nacional Morrocoy (area, decree date)

    Secondary
    es.wikipedia.orgAccessed Jun 15

Researcher notes

Spearfishing in Venezuela is legal but restricted: apnea-only (no scuba), with a DAEX porte de arpon and an INSOPESCA sport-fishing permit, generally arranged through FVAS membership. The core sport-specific instrument is Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 (Gaceta Oficial No. 41.132, 17 April 2017) - 'Normas para Regular la Actividad de la Pesca Subacuatica'; its full official article-by-article text was located on FAOLEX (ven174264.pdf) and the key provisions (apnea-only / no-scuba prohibition in Art. 31.7, prohibited species in Art. 14, mandatory safety equipment in Art. 8) are now quoted verbatim from that official Gaceta Oficial source, replacing the earlier FVAS blog summary of the 'three principles', which was a secondary paraphrase rather than official article text. The umbrella framework is the 2008 Ley de Pesca y Acuicultura (Decreto N. 5.930), whose relevant articles were captured verbatim from the FAOLEX official PDF. The one remaining secondary item is the speargun's weapons-law classification (Art. 18 of the Reglamento de la Ley para el Desarme y Control de Armas y Municiones): only the FVAS description of DAEX's authorization could be obtained, so it is retained as an explicitly-labelled paraphrase, not as a verbatim article. Resolucion DM/No. 012-17 sets concrete minimum sizes/weights per species in tables (Arts. 12-13) that were not cleanly extractable from the scanned PDF; per-species size limits and daily bag limits therefore remain marked unknown. Practical political/economic instability in Venezuela may affect real-world enforcement and permit availability; users should verify current requirements directly with INSOPESCA and FVAS before diving.

Stay currentEarly access

Notify me when Venezuela's rules change

We'll email you when Venezuela's seasons or regulations are updated in our dataset.

Notify me about

No spam — only change alerts. Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell your email.