{
  "destination": "french-polynesia",
  "name": "French Polynesia",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in French Polynesia?",
  "answer": "We found no recreational fishing licence in French Polynesia, but we could not confirm that none exists, so ask your charter base. Minimum sizes apply (for example spiny lobster 20 cm and giant clam 12 cm, with a fine of 179,000 F CFP), spearfishing with breathing apparatus is banned, and local zones (ZPR fishing zones, Moorea's marine areas and rahui closures) restrict where you may fish.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/french-polynesia.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "none-found",
    "summary": "None found (not verified)",
    "cost_summary": "None found",
    "issuer": "Direction des Ressources Marines (DRM) sets the rules; no recreational licence found",
    "price": {
      "text": "No licence found for recreational fishing (not verified; licences seem to apply to professionals)",
      "status": "not_verified"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "n/a",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Délib. 88-184 AT (8 Dec 1988, amended) sets the regulated species and sizes, plus Arrêté 573 CM (2013).",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Fine: 5th-class contravention, 179,000 F CFP, plus seizure of the catch.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Local PGEM plans (Moorea) and rahui (Fakarava etc.) add zones.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "The 'recueil' compendium dates from 2017 and may be outdated.",
        "status": "official"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_french_polynesia_1",
      "name": "Direction des Ressources Marines (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DRM – Espèces réglementées",
      "url": "https://www.ressources-marines.gov.pf/pecheurs/peche-lagonaire/peche-lagonaire-reglementation/especes-marines-et-deau-douce-reglementees-en-pf/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "Minimum sizes, e.g. spiny lobster 20 cm",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "Minimum sizes (DRM poster, 2022 edition): spiny lobster 20 cm; slipper lobster 14 cm; mantis shrimp 18 cm; green crab 12 cm; freshwater prawn 6 cm; giant clam (pahua) 12 cm; burgau 16–18 cm; troca banned except during fishing campaigns; jungle perch (nato) 12 cm; egg-bearing female crustaceans banned at all times. Closed-month colours on the poster were not readable",
      "status": "not_verified"
    },
    {
      "text": "Moorea PGEM: spearfishers over 50 m from bathers and 100 m from busy beaches; 'pêche de loisir' means rod, line or speargun only, no nets at night, no sale. Advised sizes (Papetoai): Napoleon wrasse 80 cm, bluefin trevally 50 cm, GT 40 cm, bonefish 50 cm, Plectropomus laevis 50 cm",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Fakarava: night spearfishing banned; Niau lagoon: spearfishing banned day and night; Aratika: spearfishing banned (with exceptions)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing (Délib. 88-183): no breathing apparatus, and no scuba combined with a speargun; stay over 150 m from water intakes, farms and marked nets; gun not loaded out of the water",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Moorea PGEM: spearfishers over 50 m from bathers and 100 m from busy beaches; 'pêche de loisir' means rod, line or speargun only, no nets at night, no sale. Advised sizes (Papetoai): Napoleon wrasse 80 cm, bluefin trevally 50 cm, GT 40 cm, bonefish 50 cm, Plectropomus laevis 50 cm",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Fakarava: night spearfishing banned; Niau lagoon: spearfishing banned day and night; Aratika: spearfishing banned (with exceptions)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Niau lagoon (no spearfishing)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "ZPR (Zones de Pêche Réglementée), marked by signs and yellow markers (DRM map, updated 18 Sep 2026)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Moorea PGEM AMPs: Maatea/Afareaitu, Taotaha, Tetaiuo, Pihaena, Aroa",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Fakarava rahui (lobster, coconut crab, pahua)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Niau lagoon (no spearfishing)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Giant trevally (ulua)",
      "scientific_name": "Caranx ignobilis",
      "method": "popping, jigging",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "09 March 2015",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Moorea Papetoai advised min 40 cm",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_caranx_ignobilis",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Caranx ignobilis species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-ignobilis.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": "Bluefin trevally",
      "scientific_name": "Caranx melampygus",
      "method": "lure/fly",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "09 March 2015",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Moorea advised min 50 cm",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_caranx_melampygus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Caranx melampygus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-melampygus.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": "Roundscale bonefish",
      "scientific_name": "Albula glossodonta",
      "method": "flats/fly",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "29 March 2011",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Moorea advised min 50 cm",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_albula_glossodonta",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Albula glossodonta species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-glossodonta.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": "Dogtooth tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Gymnosarda unicolor",
      "method": "jigging on pass drop-offs",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "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_gymnosarda_unicolor",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Gymnosarda unicolor species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnosarda-unicolor.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": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "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": "Yellowfin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus albacares",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_albacares",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus albacares species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-albacares.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": "Blue marlin",
      "scientific_name": "Makaira nigricans",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "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": null,
      "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": "Two-spot red snapper",
      "scientific_name": "Lutjanus bohar",
      "method": "bottom/jigging (ciguatera risk — not verified)",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "04 March 2015",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_lutjanus_bohar",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Lutjanus bohar species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-bohar.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": "Moorea (outside PGEM AMPs)",
      "why": "lagoon and outer reef; zones under the PGEM",
      "source": "DRM recueil 2017",
      "status": "as named"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fakarava (check rahui and the night spearfishing ban)",
      "why": "atoll passes",
      "source": "DRM recueil 2017",
      "status": "as named"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "No licence was found. Respect the ZPR and PGEM zones and rahui, minimum sizes, and the spearfishing rules (no scuba, daylight only at Fakarava).",
  "not_verified": [
    "No licence found for recreational fishing (not verified; licences seem to apply to professionals)",
    "Minimum sizes (DRM poster, 2022 edition): spiny lobster 20 cm; slipper lobster 14 cm; mantis shrimp 18 cm; green crab 12 cm; freshwater prawn 6 cm; giant clam (pahua) 12 cm; burgau 16–18 cm; troca banned except during fishing campaigns; jungle perch (nato) 12 cm; egg-bearing female crustaceans banned at all times. Closed-month colours on the poster were not readable",
    "Best months for Giant trevally (ulua), Bluefin trevally, Roundscale bonefish, Dogtooth tuna, Wahoo, Yellowfin tuna, Blue marlin, Two-spot red snapper"
  ],
  "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_french_polynesia_1",
      "name": "Direction des Ressources Marines (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DRM – Espèces réglementées",
      "url": "https://www.ressources-marines.gov.pf/pecheurs/peche-lagonaire/peche-lagonaire-reglementation/especes-marines-et-deau-douce-reglementees-en-pf/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_french_polynesia_2",
      "name": "Direction des Ressources Marines (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DRM poster 'Espèces réglementées' (2022)",
      "url": "https://www.ressources-marines.gov.pf/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/02/RAHUI-AFFICHE-ESPECES-REGLEMENTEES.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_french_polynesia_3",
      "name": "Direction des Ressources Marines (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DRM – ZPR map",
      "url": "https://www.ressources-marines.gov.pf/cartes-thematiques/zpr/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_french_polynesia_4",
      "name": "Direction des Ressources Marines (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DRM – Recueil de textes pêche (2017)",
      "url": "https://www.ressources-marines.gov.pf/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2017/07/recueil-de-textes-peche.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_french_polynesia_5",
      "name": "DPAM (French Polynesia)",
      "title": "DPAM – plaisance regulations",
      "url": "https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/reglementation-plaisance-professionnelle/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_caranx_ignobilis",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Caranx ignobilis species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-ignobilis.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_caranx_melampygus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Caranx melampygus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Caranx-melampygus.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_glossodonta",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Albula glossodonta species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Albula-glossodonta.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_gymnosarda_unicolor",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Gymnosarda unicolor species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnosarda-unicolor.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_thunnus_albacares",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus albacares species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-albacares.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_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_lutjanus_bohar",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Lutjanus bohar species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-bohar.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."
}