No, spearguns are prohibited under China’s Regulations on the Administration of Aquatic Wildlife Protection (2022) and the Fisheries Law, enforced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). Import, manufacture, or possession without special permits risks fines up to ¥50,000 or criminal liability under wildlife conservation statutes. Exceptions exist only for licensed scientific research or cultural heritage institutions, subject to MARA’s 2026 compliance audits.
Key Regulations for Spearguns in China
- Prohibition: Spearguns are classified as “aquatic wildlife capture tools” under MARA’s Negative List for Fishing Gear (2023), banning their use in all inland and coastal waters.
- Permit Exceptions: Limited authorization requires MARA-issued permits, restricted to non-lethal spearguns for approved marine mammal research or underwater cultural heritage surveys.
- Penalties: Violations trigger administrative penalties (¥10,000–¥50,000) or criminal charges under Article 341 of the Criminal Law for endangered species harm, with enforcement coordinated by MARA and local fishery bureaus.
Local customs and public security agencies conduct random inspections, particularly in Guangdong and Hainan, where speargun smuggling networks have been dismantled in 2024 crackdowns. Maritime police enforce additional restrictions under the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, seizing unlicensed spearguns in territorial waters.