Spear gun fishing (permit?)

[Sam I Am]

Ok, random questions from a tourist (UK) I know who recently visited:

Do you need a special permit to use/own a spear gun for fishing in JA? Is it different for JA residents vs tourists? Do you need a permit to bring one into JA?

I know that Gerry recently talked about his time spent spear fishing with Famous Vincent, but I was not clear on if this was a "covert operation" or if perhaps Vincent had a permit to spear fish and Gerry tagged along. Anyway... she tried to bring a spear gun into JA last May and was told by customs she needed a permit, so they kept the gun. But she is not sure what type a permit or what??

Anyway, I told her I would ask around here since you folks know most of the ins and outs of JA

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide (I could not find much searching the web)!

[gerryg123]

never heard of such a thing ....

[lanetop]

spearfishing is a brutal form of fishing..i know..i was a speargunner back in the day

[Rob]

Spear gun fishing is illegal in Jamaica.

Gerry - you started a thread back in December where it was discussed that spear gun fishing is illegal:

http://negril.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-2320.html?

Here is a link to the Government position on the matter:

http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sectio...fisheries.html

[Sam I Am]

Thanks for the info!! I appreciate the links/facts Rob. I will pass this info on to my friend.

[kbisiar]

If I read that correctly a handheld "Sling" spear is permitted

[gerryg123]

Just because a resort owner says so does not make it true .... I trust Famous Vincent.

[captaind]

Just because a resort owner says so does not make it true .... I trust Famous Vincent.

Here's a direct quote from the Jamaican Information service:

Noting that the legislation will aim at changing the behaviour and attitude of Jamaicans toward the fishing industry and marine resources, the Minister said the protection of marine sanctuaries will bring enormous benefits to the country. He said the Government would be working closely with fisherfolk to encourage them to co-operate with the requirements of the new legislation, which will, among other things, bring changes to the practice of using the mechanical spear guns for fishing, effective March 31, 2010.

"We are not banning spear fishing, what we are saying is that we are going to embark on a programme to replace, at the cost of the Government, the mechanical spear guns which have had a devastating impact on our reef fish, with what the fishers call the Hawaiian Sling," Dr. Tufton said, during his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate, in the House of Representatives, on July

Just because Vincent says it's OK doesn't make it so.

[InnaDiRed]

I was interested to see where this went because I was thinking about giving it a shot on my next trip. So far I have seen nothing that says it's illegal. Frowned upon, yes. However, after seeing this the reported damage it does I will probably stay away. I am a guest in Jamaica and would not want to damage its beauty. I pick up trash on the beach while I am a guest and try to only leave a positive impact while visiting. However to play devils advocate; I may not know how to read Jamaican law but "bring changes to the practice of using the mechanical spear guns for fishing, effective March 31, 2010.
" & "embark on a programme to replace, at the cost of the Government, the mechanical spear guns which have had a devastating impact on our reef fish" doesn't sound like "illegal." As I said I will stay away since it seems to be bad for the ecology but have yet to see the illegality in it with the sources provided and through my own research. Perhaps the laws are not as transparent or need to be strengthened to protect the reef?

[Rambo]

what is the reason for the "ban", "curtailment" or whatever it is on the mechanical spear-gun, over the "Hawaiian sling"
is it that a miss on a fish and possible impact with the reef is what they are looking at?? cause a sling has muscle force behind it only, where as a Mechanical Spear-gun has , rubber bands,springs, or compressed air to power it.....

or is that the Mechanical Spear-gun is just too good ???..and might "over-fish"reef?
(BTW it is same law that the Bahamas has in effect)