Yes, magnet fishing in Colombia operates within a legally ambiguous framework, primarily governed by cultural heritage laws and municipal ordinances rather than explicit nationwide statutes.
Magnet fishing is not outright banned but is heavily restricted under Colombia’s Ley 163 de 1959 (Cultural Heritage Law) and Decreto 763 de 2009, which classify submerged artifacts as potential archaeological heritage. Municipalities like Bogotá and Medellín have enacted local decrees (e.g., Acuerdo 809 de 2021 in Bogotá) prohibiting the activity in public water bodies to prevent unauthorized artifact recovery. The Ministerio de Cultura and Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia (ICANH) enforce these rules, with 2026 compliance shifts tightening oversight on metal detecting in protected zones.
Key Regulations for Magnet Fishing in Colombia
- Cultural Heritage Protection: Under Ley 163/1959, any submerged object over 50 years old is presumed state property. Disturbing such items without ICANH authorization constitutes a criminal offense (Article 246 of the Penal Code).
- Municipal Bans: Cities like Cali (Acuerdo 452 de 2022) and Cartagena (Ordenanza 008 de 2023) prohibit magnet fishing in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas to safeguard historical artifacts. Violations may incur fines up to 500 salarios mínimos mensuales legales vigentes (SMMLV).
- Private Property Exceptions: On privately owned land with written consent, magnet fishing may proceed, but recovered items must be declared to ICANH within 30 days. Failure to do so risks confiscation under Decreto 1080 de 2015.