U.S. Virgin Islands Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Not permitted

Spearfishing is legal in most U.S. Virgin Islands territorial marine waters, and unlike the neighboring British Virgin Islands the USVI does NOT ban spearguns.

License

Required: USVI Recreational Fishing License (Individual Recreational Angler)

Resident: $15 per year for residents (corroborated by two independent DPNR-announcement reports; not yet re-confirmed on a directly-loaded DPNR/GoOutdoorsUSVI page)

Non-resident: Visitor license valid 90 days (3 months); exact fee not confirmed from a primary source

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Permitted. DPNR defines 'Spear Fishing' as taking fish with a hand- or mechanically-propelled, single or multi-pronged spear or lance.
• Pole spears: Permitted for legal finfish under the same 'spear fishing' definition.
• On scuba: DPNR's handbook contains no explicit rule allowing or prohibiting spearfishing while on SCUBA in territorial waters; however 'hookah'.
• Spears, hooks, or similar devices may NOT be used to take spiny lobster anywhere in territorial waters; lobster may be taken by hand only.
• Powerheads may not be used in the St. Croix or St. Thomas/St.
• Hookah (surface-supplied air) gear may not be used to harvest marine resources in territorial waters
• No explosives, poisons, drugs, or other chemicals may be used to fish in territorial or federal waters

Do not spear

• Spiny lobster
• Queen conch and whelk
• Goliath grouper
• Nassau grouper
• Blue, Midnight, and Rainbow parrotfish
• Sea turtles
• Tarpon and bonefish
• Seasonal closures

Area restrictions

• Virgin Islands National Park (St. John, 36 CFR 7.74): possession or use of spearfishing equipment within park boundaries is prohibited; only.
• St. Croix East End Marine Park - No-Take Zone and Recreational Zone: spearfishing is prohibited (only limited shoreline line fishing allowed in.
• Southeast St. Thomas Marine Reserves & Wildlife Sanctuaries (Inner Mangrove Lagoon, Cas Cay/Mangrove Lagoon, St.
• Great Pond Bay, St. Croix (East End Marine Park No-Take Zone): all fishing prohibited

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), Division of Fish and Wildlife: https://dpnr.vi.gov/fish-and-wildlife/