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Fishing Regulations for The Bahamas
- Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels;
- Vessels with a valid fishing permit are allowed 20 pounds of scale fish, 10 conch, and six crawfish (in season) per person, at any time.
- All other migratory fish shall be returned to the sea alive unless it is to be used immediately.
- No grouper or rockfish weighing less than three pounds may be taken.
- No spearfishing within 200 yards of any island in the Bahamas.
- It is illegal to use any type of underwater air supply for spear fishing or collecting of any marine life. This includes scuba gear as well as air compressors.
- Spearfishing is restricted to free divers only and only with the use of a Hawaiian sling.
- It is illegal to take coral, tropical fish or sea fans.
- It is illegal for a non-Bahamian to use any type of fishing net, except a cast net.
- It is illegal for a non-Bahamian to use fish traps or to sell marine products of any type.
- Nothing may be taken from Bahamas National Underwater Parks.
- A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel;
- A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net;
- Any migratory fishery resource that is caught shall not in total consist of more than six (6) Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo per vessel and any resource not intended to be used shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive;
- No vessel shall have on board any conch, turtle or more than twenty pounds of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) per vessel at any time and excluding not more than six crawfish per vessel.
- No vessel shall have on board any fish unless its head and tail is intact.
- The general public is advised that the Queen Conch (conch) is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range within the wider Caribbean area, including The Bahamas. The Government, in an effort to ensure the continued sustainability of local conch stocks, has decided to prohibit the harvesting of the species by foreign boaters.
For more information, contact:
Department of Marine Resources
Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau, The Bahamas
Email: [email protected]
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New U.S. Passport Regulations
As of January 23, 2007 all U.S. citizens are required to carry valid U.S. passports when traveling to and from The Bahamas.
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