AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Spearfishing In Belize

I am an avid snorkeler and planning a trip to Belize later this Fall. I will mostly be visiting the Cayes to do some snorkeling. I am also a spearfisher and have googled spearfishing regulations in Belize, but most of the information is over 5-6 years old and I fear not accurate anymore.

What are the regulations on spearfishing, primarily in the Cayes (Ambergris and Caulker)?

What are the laws about bringing a speargun into Belize (in my checked baggage of course!)?

Links to Belize Gov't websites and or printed PDF's, etc. are most appreciated.

Thanks.

All standard fishing rules apply. License (although I've never seen someone with one), no game fish (tarpon, bones, permit), no turtles, Nassau grouper has a season. No reserve areas. Not sure if it's a law but we've always stayed 500+ ft away from dive sites. No SCUBA and spearing, freediving only.

As for your gun, you can bring it. They may want you to pay duties unless you convince them you're bringing it back home with you. You will find JBL replacement parts. For other guns, you'll only find rubbers and tips.

Thank You Hazzyy, most helpful information. I've got spare parts I'll be bringing, so all set there.

I'll also have my return ticket, to show I'm not planning to stay in Belize, which should spare paying duty. Am I correct on that?

That would make sense...but often times it depends on the moods of the customs officers. I know that departing Belize if you take something with you that you plan on bringing back (one time for work I brought two laptops to the States from Belize) and don't want to pay duty on it, you can put an entry in a ledger aka notebook that the customs officers have. Then when you enter Belize if they try to charge you duty on that item you can show them in the notebook that you originated in Belize with it. Not sure if there is a similar process on the in and out of Belize though. But I've never had any issues.

Thanks again Hazzyy, good stuff. I appreciate your taking the time to reply. Have a great day.