To spearfish in Bermuda, you need a Spearfishing Licence from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Spearfishing licences will only be issued to Bermuda residents.

Fees

There is a fee of $130.

Please submit your application for a spearfishing licence with the necessary fee to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Licencing Office at the Botanical Gardens, 169 South Road, Paget.

Payments can be made by cash, cheque or credit card (Visa or Mastercard).

• If paying by cheque please make payable to: The Accountant General.

The licence is valid until 31 August in each year.

Report your statistics

Spearfishing licence holders are required to submit statistics of their activities.

Spearfishing statistics are due by the END OF EACH MONTH.

You will not be relicensed until your previous statistics are received.

Spearfishing licence conditions

1. Only pole spears are permitted. Spearguns or Hawaiian slings may not be used in Bermuda.
2. Spearfishing while using SCUBA is illegal.
3. Spearfishing is not permitted within one nautical mile of the shore of any of the islands of Bermuda. This prohibits spearfishing in any of the harbours, bays or sounds and along the South Shore. Any person found swimming within one nautical mile of the shore of any of the islands of Bermuda while carrying a spear shall be presumed to be attempting to take fish.
4. In addition to the general restrictions on taking fish, there is a bag limit of two fish of any one species per person per day.
5. Spearing of lobsters is prohibited.
6. Fish taken by spearfishing may not be sold.
7. Any person found with a spear and SCUBA gear in his possession, either in a vessel or on his person while swimming, shall be presumed to be attempting to take fish.
8. Any fish found in a vessel in which SCUBA gear is being carried or any fish found in the possession of any person equipped with SCUBA gear shall be presumed to have been taken in contravention of the Fisheries Regulations until the contrary is proved.