{
  "destination": "bvi",
  "name": "British Virgin Islands",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands?",
  "answer": "Yes: anyone who is not a BVIslander needs a recreational fishing licence from the Conservation & Fisheries Department to take any marine life in the British Virgin Islands; you apply on Form 20A (US$10 application fee; we could not confirm the licence fee itself) and the licence is valid for 1 month, so apply before you arrive. All billfish must be released, and a boat may keep no more than 30 lb of fish.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/bvi/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/bvi.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/bvi/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/bvi/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/bvi.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=bvi&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "yes",
    "summary": "Yes, for visitors (recreational licence)",
    "cost_summary": "US$10 application fee; licence fee not verified",
    "issuer": "Conservation & Fisheries Department, Road Town, Tortola",
    "price": {
      "text": "Application fee USD 10 (gov.vg). The licence fee itself is not verified (an earlier note said about USD 45, unconfirmed).",
      "status": "not_verified"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "Pleasure/recreational licence valid 1 month (BVI Tourism)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Non-BVIslanders need a recreational permit to remove any marine organism.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Apply on Form 20A with a passport copy and the vessel registration.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Processing may take about 10 business days (search summary), so apply before arrival.",
        "status": "unconfirmed"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_bvi_1",
      "name": "Government of the Virgin Islands",
      "title": "Gov VI – How do I obtain a fishing licence",
      "url": "https://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/how-do-i-obtain-fishing-licence",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "30 lb of fish per boat; no billfish",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "No possession of billfish (blue and white marlin, sailfish, swordfish)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Max 30 lb of fish per boat",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Closed seasons (no catch, sale or purchase): margate and red hind 1 Jan–31 Mar; Nassau grouper 1 Mar–31 May; turtles 1 Apr–30 Nov; lobster 31 Jul–31 Oct; conch and whelk 15 Aug–31 Oct",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing and scuba rules: not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "BVI National Parks Trust marine parks (e.g. Wreck of the Rhone) — list not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Blue marlin",
      "scientific_name": "Makaira nigricans",
      "method": "offshore trolling — release mandatory",
      "best_months": "Jun–Oct (peak Aug)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bvi_5",
        "name": "BVI Voyager (travel guide)",
        "title": "BVI Voyager",
        "url": "https://bvivoyager.com/fishing-in-british-virgin-islands/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "10 May 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "BVI: possession illegal",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_makaira_nigricans",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Makaira nigricans species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Makaira-nigricans.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Wahoo",
      "scientific_name": "Acanthocybium solandri",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Nov–May",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bvi_5",
        "name": "BVI Voyager (travel guide)",
        "title": "BVI Voyager",
        "url": "https://bvivoyager.com/fishing-in-british-virgin-islands/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "01 March 2022",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_acanthocybium_solandri",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Acanthocybium solandri species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acanthocybium-solandri.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Mahi-mahi",
      "scientific_name": "Coryphaena hippurus",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Nov–May",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bvi_5",
        "name": "BVI Voyager (travel guide)",
        "title": "BVI Voyager",
        "url": "https://bvivoyager.com/fishing-in-british-virgin-islands/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "17 September 2010",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Bonefish",
      "scientific_name": "Albula vulpes",
      "method": "fly/light tackle on the flats",
      "best_months": "Nov–Feb, late Mar–Sep",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bvi_5",
        "name": "BVI Voyager (travel guide)",
        "title": "BVI Voyager",
        "url": "https://bvivoyager.com/fishing-in-british-virgin-islands/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "29 March 2011",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_albula_vulpes",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Albula vulpes species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-vulpes.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Tarpon",
      "scientific_name": "Megalops atlanticus",
      "method": "flats/fly",
      "best_months": "Mar–Oct",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_bvi_12",
        "name": "And Beyond Yacht Charters",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://andbeyondyachtcharters.com/blog/in-the-news/bvi-fishing-guide-permits-best-spots-seasons-what-you-can-catch/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "12 June 2018",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_megalops_atlanticus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Megalops atlanticus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Megalops-atlanticus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Red hind",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus guttatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "22 November 2016",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "BVI closed 1 Jan–31 Mar",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_guttatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus guttatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-guttatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Nassau grouper",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus striatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "CR",
        "category": "Critically Endangered",
        "assessed": "18 November 2016",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "BVI closed 1 Mar–31 May",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_striatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus striatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-striatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "North Drop",
      "why": "blue marlin, wahoo, mahi",
      "source": "secondary: bvivoyager.com, inthebite.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anegada flats",
      "why": "bonefish, tarpon",
      "source": "secondary: caribbeanfishingwithbigjoe.com, moorings.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "Guests need a recreational licence from Conservation & Fisheries before fishing. Release all billfish. Keep no more than 30 lb of fish per boat.",
  "not_verified": [
    "Application fee USD 10 (gov.vg). The licence fee itself is not verified (an earlier note said about USD 45, unconfirmed).",
    "Spearfishing and scuba rules: not verified",
    "BVI National Parks Trust marine parks (e.g. Wreck of the Rhone) — list not verified",
    "Best months for Red hind, Nassau grouper"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_1",
      "name": "Government of the Virgin Islands",
      "title": "Gov VI – How do I obtain a fishing licence",
      "url": "https://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/how-do-i-obtain-fishing-licence",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_2",
      "name": "Government of the Virgin Islands",
      "title": "Gov VI – Recreational Fishing brochure",
      "url": "https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/guide_to_recreational_fishing.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_3",
      "name": "Government of the Virgin Islands",
      "title": "Form 20A",
      "url": "https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/forms/application_for_pleasure_temporary_fishing_licence_-_form_20a.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_4",
      "name": "BVI Tourist Board",
      "title": "BVI Tourism – Resources (permits, closed seasons)",
      "url": "https://www.bvitourism.com/resources",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_5",
      "name": "BVI Voyager (travel guide)",
      "title": "BVI Voyager",
      "url": "https://bvivoyager.com/fishing-in-british-virgin-islands/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_6",
      "name": "The Moorings (charter company)",
      "title": "The Moorings BVI fishing",
      "url": "https://www.moorings.com/blog/bvi-fishing-vacation-top-10-things-to-know",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_makaira_nigricans",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Makaira nigricans species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Makaira-nigricans.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_acanthocybium_solandri",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Acanthocybium solandri species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acanthocybium-solandri.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_albula_vulpes",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Albula vulpes species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-vulpes.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_megalops_atlanticus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Megalops atlanticus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Megalops-atlanticus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_bvi_12",
      "name": "And Beyond Yacht Charters",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://andbeyondyachtcharters.com/blog/in-the-news/bvi-fishing-guide-permits-best-spots-seasons-what-you-can-catch/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_guttatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus guttatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-guttatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_striatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus striatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-striatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}