Yes, spearguns are legal in Mexico but strictly regulated under federal and state laws, requiring permits from SEMARNAT and compliance with local fishing ordinances.
Key Regulations for Spearguns in Mexico
- Federal Permits Required: Spearguns fall under SEMARNAT’s General Wildlife Law (Ley General de Vida Silvestre). Users must obtain a Permiso de Caza Deportiva or Permiso de Uso Extractivo for recreational or subsistence fishing, respectively.
- State-Level Restrictions: Coastal states (e.g., Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur) impose additional bans on spearguns in marine protected areas (ANP) or during closed seasons for target species like lobster or octopus.
- Prohibited Practices: Spearguns cannot be used with SCUBA gear (SEMARNAT NOM-029-PESC-2006), and spearfishing is banned for endangered species (e.g., totoaba, vaquita marina) under CITES and NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.
Compliance Shifts (2026 Outlook): SEMARNAT’s 2024 draft amendments to NOM-016-PESC-2016 may expand speargun restrictions in coral reefs and require electronic reporting for catch logs. Non-compliance risks fines up to MXN $1.2 million or confiscation under Ley Federal de Pesca. Always verify state-specific updates via local Secretarías de Medio Ambiente or CONAPESCA’s 2025 circulars.