France
Europe · Western Europe
Recreational spearfishing (chasse sous-marine / pêche sous-marine de loisir) is legal in metropolitan France but only in apnea (breath-hold); the use of any respiratory equipment is prohibited. It is governed nationally by the Code rural et de la pêche maritime (articles R921-83 to R921-92) and the arrêté of 17 May 2011. Practitioners must be at least 16 years old to use a speargun, must carry civil-liability insurance, must signal their position with a marking buoy, may not fish between sunset and sunrise, may not approach within 150 m of fishing vessels or marked gear, and may not sell their catch (personal/family consumption only). Catch must be tagged by removing the lower caudal fin. Minimum landing sizes and protected-species rules apply (e.g. dusky grouper and corb moratoriums in the Mediterranean and Corsica). From 10 January 2026 a new EU-driven declaration/registration regime applies to sensitive species (and, in the Mediterranean, to all spearfishers). Local prefectoral orders can further restrict or ban the activity in ports, estuaries, reserves and certain marine parks.
Sidst opdateret Marts 18, 2026
Overordnet lovramme
- §Code rural et de la pêche maritime, Livre IX, articles R921-83 à R921-92 (Décret n° 2014-1608 du 26 décembre 2014)
- §Arrêté du 17 mai 2011 relatif à l'exercice de la pêche maritime de loisir (modifié, notamment décembre 2021)
- §Code du sport, article L321-3 (obligation d'assurance en responsabilité civile)
- §Règlement (UE) 2023/2842 du Parlement européen et du Conseil (régime de déclaration de la pêche récréative, applicable à partir du 10 janvier 2026)
- §Arrêté préfectoral PACA et arrêté n° R20/002 du 20 décembre 2023 du préfet de Corse (moratoires mérous et corb, reconduits jusqu'au 22 décembre 2033)
- Licens påkrævet
- Ikke påkrævet
- Spydpistol
- Tilladt
- Scuba
- Forbudt
- Udlændinge
- Velkommen
Loven, ordret
Lovtekster
De præcise lovbestemmelser og reguleringsforskrifter, der regulerer harpunfiskeri her, citeret som offentliggjort, med et link til hver officiel kilde.
Minimum age to use a speargun
Code rural et de la pêche maritime
L'exercice de la pêche sous-marine au moyen d'un fusil-harpon est interdit aux personnes âgées de moins de seize ans.
Obligation to signal presence with a marking buoy
Code rural et de la pêche maritime
Toute personne pratiquant la pêche sous-marine de loisir doit signaler sa présence au moyen d'une bouée permettant de repérer sa position, répondant aux prescriptions édictées par arrêté conjoint du ministre chargé des pêches maritimes et de l'aquaculture marine et du ministre chargé de la mer.
Prohibited equipment and practices for recreational underwater fishing
Code rural et de la pêche maritime
I. - Sont interdits, pour l'exercice de la pêche sous-marine de loisir : 1° L'usage de tout équipement respiratoire, qu'il soit autonome ou non, permettant à une personne immergée de respirer sans revenir à la surface ; 2° La détention simultanée à bord d'un navire ou embarcation d'un équipement respiratoire ainsi défini et d'une foëne ou d'un appareil spécial pour la pêche sous-marine, sauf dérogation accordée par le préfet ; 3° Les engins de pêche sous-marine dont la force propulsive développée est empruntée au pouvoir détonant d'un mélange chimique ou à la détente d'un gaz comprimé, sauf si la compression de ce dernier est obtenue par l'action d'un mécanisme manœuvré par le seul utilisateur ; 4° La détention à bord et l'usage simultanés d'un appareil spécial pour la pêche sous-marine et d'un scooter sous-marin. II. - Il est interdit aux pêcheurs sous-marins : 1° D'exercer la pêche sous-marine entre les heures légales de coucher et de lever du soleil ; 2° De s'approcher à moins de 150 mètres des navires ou embarcations en pêche ainsi que des engins de pêche signalés par un balisage apparent ; 3° De capturer les animaux marins pris dans les engins ou filets placés par d'autres pêcheurs ; 4° De faire usage, pour la pêche sous-marine, d'un foyer lumineux ; 5° D'utiliser, pour la capture des crustacés, une foëne ou un appareil spécial pour la pêche sous-marine ; 6° De tenir chargé hors de l'eau un appareil spécial pour la pêche sous-marine.
Catch reserved for personal/family consumption, no sale
Code rural et de la pêche maritime
le produit est destiné à la consommation exclusive du pêcheur et de sa famille et ne peut être colporté, exposé à la vente, vendu sous quelque forme que ce soit.
Mandatory civil-liability insurance for recreational underwater fishing
Code du sport / réglementation pêche sous-marine de loisir (art. L321-3 Code du sport)
La souscription d'un contrat d'assurance en responsabilité civile pour la pratique de la pêche sous-marine de loisirs est obligatoire.
Hvornår du kan dykke
Sæsoner og tidsbegrænsninger
Lukkede, åbne og begrænsede perioder over året. Bekræft altid artsspecifikke lukkede perioder lokalt.
- LukketAll spearfishing (daily, between sunset and sunrise)
Night spearfishing is prohibited: it may not be practised between the legal hours of sunset and sunrise (R921-92 II 1°).
- LukketDusky grouper and related groupers (Epinephelus marginatus, badèche, mérou royal, mérou gris) - Mediterranean and Corsica
Moratorium banning spearfishing and recreational hook-and-line fishing of groupers in the Mediterranean (PACA prefectoral order) and Corsica (arrêté n° R20/002 du 20 décembre 2023), in force since 1993/2002 and renewed until 22 December 2033.
- LukketCorb (Sciaena umbra) - Mediterranean and Corsica
Moratorium prohibiting recreational fishing (including spearfishing) of corb in French Mediterranean waters since 2013, renewed alongside the grouper moratorium until 22 December 2033.
Tilladelse til at fiske
Licens
Hvad du skal have for at må være i vandet, hvad det koster, og hvordan du får det.
- Type
- No general spearfishing licence; civil-liability insurance is mandatory. From 10 January 2026, annual registration on the EU 'Recreational Fisheries' platform (RECfishing) is required for sensitive species (all spearfishers in the Mediterranean).
- Pris
- No licence fee for recreational spearfishing; insurance cost varies. FFESSM/club membership is optional.
- Gyldighed
- Insurance per contract; 2026 EU registration valid 12 months.
- Sådan får du licensen
- Subscribe to civil-liability insurance (e.g. via FFESSM/FFPSA club membership). From 10 Jan 2026, register on the European Commission 'Recreational Fisheries' platform (RECfishing app) or, in regulated Mediterranean marine parks, via the CATCH MACHINE app.
- Myndighed
- Direction des affaires maritimes / préfecture maritime; FFESSM / FFPSA for clubs
Udstyr og teknik
Udstyrskrav
Hvilket udstyr er tilladt, hvordan det må bruges, og hvilke betingelser der er knyttet hertil.
Restriktioner
- Apnea (breath-hold) only - any respiratory equipment allowing submerged breathing without surfacing is prohibited (R921-92 I 1°)
- It is prohibited to carry both breathing apparatus and a speargun/foëne aboard a vessel simultaneously, except by prefectoral derogation (R921-92 I 2°)
- Spearguns using chemical-detonation or compressed-gas propulsion are prohibited unless the gas is compressed manually by the user (R921-92 I 3°)
- Simultaneous carriage and use of a speargun and an underwater scooter is prohibited (R921-92 I 4°)
- No use of a light source (foyer lumineux) for spearfishing (R921-92 II 4°)
- A speargun may not be held loaded out of the water (R921-92 II 6°)
- A marking buoy signalling the diver's position is mandatory (R921-91)
- Spearguns may not be used to capture crustaceans (R921-92 II 5°)
Recreational spearfishing must be practised strictly in apnea. Speargun use requires a minimum age of 16; hand-held devices (e.g. pole spear/foëne by hand) may be used by younger persons. Captures must be tagged by ablation of the lower caudal fin (arrêté of 17 May 2011).
Hvad du må tage
Fangstbegrænsninger og fredede arter
Daglige kvoter, minimumsstørrelser og arter, der aldrig må fanges.
Dagsgrænse
No fixed national daily numeric bag limit for spearfishing generally; catch is limited to personal and family consumption and may not be sold (R921-83). Specific quotas/declaration thresholds apply to sensitive species under the 10 Jan 2026 EU regime (e.g. sea bass).
Minimumsstørrelser
- Bar / Loup (European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax)min 35 cm
- Dorade royale (Gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata)min 27 cm
- Sar commun (White seabream, Diplodus sargus)min 23 cm
- Sole (Solea solea)min 24 cm
- Mulet (Mullet)min 30 cm
- Denti (Common dentex, Dentex dentex)min 30 cm
- Pageot (Pandora, Pagellus)min 23 cm
- Oblade (Oblada melanura)min 23 cm
- Marbré (Striped seabream, Lithognathus mormyrus)min 30 cm
- Langouste (Spiny lobster, Palinurus)min 24 cm
- Homard (European lobster, Homarus gammarus)min 27 cm
- Oursin (Sea urchin, diameter without spines)min 7 cm
Fredede arter — må ikke fanges
- FredetMérou brun / dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - moratorium, Mediterranean & Corsica
- FredetBadèche, mérou royal, mérou gris - moratorium, Mediterranean & Corsica
- FredetCorb (Sciaena umbra) - moratorium, Mediterranean & Corsica since 2013
- FredetMarine mammals, sea turtles and other protected species (general protection)
Minimum landing sizes (mailles) follow national/EU rules and vary by sea basin (Atlantic/Channel vs Mediterranean); always verify the current local prefectoral table. Captures must be tagged (lower caudal fin removed). Sale of catch is prohibited.
Hvem må fiske
Besøgende og fastboende
Hvordan reglerne adskiller sig for udenlandske besøgende og lokale fastboende.
Udenlandske besøgende
TilladtKrav
- Same rules as residents: apnea only, minimum age 16 for speargun, mandatory civil-liability insurance, marking buoy
- From 10 January 2026, register/declare sensitive-species catches on the EU RECfishing platform (all spearfishers in the Mediterranean)
Restriktioner
- Must comply with national rules and any local prefectoral restrictions (reserves, marine parks, ports, estuaries)
- Species moratoriums (grouper, corb) and minimum sizes apply equally to non-residents
Non-residents may practise recreational spearfishing under the same national framework; no separate foreign permit exists, but valid civil-liability insurance is required and recommended via a club affiliation (FFESSM/FFPSA) or personal policy.
Fastboende
No spearfishing licence; mandatory civil-liability insurance; optional FFESSM/FFPSA club membership which provides insurance.
Krav
- Minimum age 16 to use a speargun (R921-90)
- Mandatory civil-liability insurance (presentable on control)
- Marking buoy to signal position (R921-91)
- From 10 January 2026, register/declare sensitive-species catches on the EU RECfishing platform (all spearfishers in the Mediterranean)
Fordele
- Catch may be kept for personal and family consumption (no sale)
Residents and non-residents are subject to the same national regime; local prefectoral orders may add restrictions.
Hvor langs kysten
Tilladte og forbudte zoner
Navngivne områder der er åbne for eller lukket for harpunfiskeri. Se det fulde billede på det interaktive kort.
Tilladte områder
Spearfishing in apnea is generally allowed along the open coast outside ports, reserves and prohibited zones, subject to national rules and local prefectoral orders.
Apnea only; min age 16 for speargun; insurance and marking buoy required; no night fishing; 150 m from boats/marked gear; size limits and protected-species rules; from 10 Jan 2026 registration/declaration for sensitive species (all spearfishers in the Mediterranean).
Forbudte områder
- Parc national des Calanques (core/no-take and regulated areas)national park / marine protected area
Spearfishing is banned in the no-take zones of the Calanques National Park near Marseille; in regulated marine areas, spearfishers must register/declare (CATCH MACHINE app).
- Réserve naturelle marine (e.g. Réserve naturelle de Cerbère-Banyuls, Golfe du Lion, Cap Corse / Agriates regulated areas)marine nature reserve / marine park
Marine nature reserves and certain marine parks prohibit or strictly regulate spearfishing; the grouper and corb moratoriums apply across the Mediterranean and Corsica.
- Ports, harbour zones and certain estuaries / inland watersport / estuary / restricted maritime zone
Spearfishing is prohibited in ports and harbour zones, and is banned in some estuaries and inland areas by prefectoral order to protect wildlife and ensure safety.
- Cœur marin du Parc national de Port-Cros (île de Port-Cros)national park / no-take marine core
Spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) is prohibited in the marine core zone surrounding the island of Port-Cros, which extends as a 600 m marine fringe around the island and benefits from the highest level of protection. The marine core has been a total-protection area since the park's creation.
- Réserve naturelle de Scandola (Corse)marine nature reserve (UNESCO) / no-take
In the Scandola nature reserve on the west coast of Corsica, recreational fishing (including spearfishing) is prohibited for private individuals and scuba diving is banned in the marine domain; only professional fishing is allowed under conditions.
- Réserve naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio (zones de protection renforcée / non-prélèvement)marine nature reserve / reinforced protection & no-take
In the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve between Corsica and Sardinia (incl. the Lavezzi archipelago), spearfishing is prohibited within the reinforced-protection perimeters; the no-take zones ban all forms of fishing and harvesting.
- Réserve naturelle des îles du Cap Corse (Finocchiarola, Giraglia, Capense)marine nature reserve
The Réserve naturelle des îles du Cap Corse, established by Décret n° 2017-426 (28 March 2017), covers 66 hectares across five islets at the tip of Cap Corse (Terra, Mezzana, Finocchiarola, Giraglia, Capense). Fishing is prohibited within 10 metres of the coastline of all islands, and all recreational and tourist activities are banned; the reserve is managed by the Office de l'Environnement de la Corse within the Parc naturel marin du Cap Corse et de l'Agriate.
- Cantonnement de pêche de Bastia (Capu Sagru)fishing cantonment (cantonnement de pêche)
The Bastia fishing cantonment (Capu Sagru), established by arrêté ministériel of 15 February 1983 and bounded by coordinates updated by arrêté of 3 August 2001, prohibits all recreational fishing, professional fishing, and diving within its perimeter; only shore fishing and fishing from land (pêche à pied / à la ligne depuis le rivage) are permitted. Spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) is therefore banned in this zone off the east coast of Corsica near Bastia.
- Cantonnement de pêche de Nonza–Saint-Florent (San Fiurenzu)fishing cantonment (cantonnement de pêche)
The Nonza–Saint-Florent (San Fiurenzu) fishing cantonment, established by arrêté ministériel of 15 February 1983 and re-confirmed by Préfectoral Decree No. 146/2018, prohibits all recreational fishing, professional fishing, and diving within a rectangle bounded by points A (42°47.007'N, 9°20.390'E), B (42°47.007'N, 9°17.440'E), C (42°43.824'N, 9°20.540'E) and D (42°43.824'N, 9°17.440'E); spearfishing (chasse sous-marine) has been banned here since 1983.
- Réserve naturelle des îles Cerbicale (zone de protection renforcée Bouches de Bonifacio)marine nature reserve / reinforced protection perimeter
The Réserve naturelle des îles Cerbicale (created by Décret n° 81-205 of 3 March 1981) covers six islets off Porto-Vecchio, where landing, fishing, and hunting are prohibited. The marine plateau around the Cerbicale islands constitutes one of the eight reinforced-protection perimeters (périmètre de protection renforcée) of the Réserve naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio (Décret 23 September 1999), where spearfishing is explicitly prohibited ('la pêche sous-marine est interdite').
Forhold på vandet
Live forhold
Live hav- og vejrøjebliksbillede nær et kystreferencepunkt i France, fra Open-Meteo. Forholdene varierer langs kysten — brug som vejledning.
Live hav og vejr nær Parc national des Calanques (core/no-take and regulated areas).
Hvem du kan spørge
Myndigheder
De officielle organer, der er ansvarlige for fiskeri og licensudstedelse.
Direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l'aquaculture (DGAMPA), Ministère de la Mer
fisheries / maritime authority
Préfectures maritimes (Manche-Mer du Nord, Atlantique, Méditerranée) and coastal préfectures
maritime authority (local prefectoral orders)
Fédération Française d'Études et de Sports Sous-Marins (FFESSM) - Commission Pêche sous-marine
national dive/spearfishing federation
Fédération Française des Pêcheurs Sous-marins en Apnée (FFPSA)
national spearfishing federation
Hvor dette kommer fra
Kilder
Hvert udsagn på denne side kan spores tilbage til én af disse referencer.
- [01]
Article R921-90 - Code rural et de la pêche maritime (Légifrance)
Officiellegifrance.gouv.frTilgået jun 14 - [02]
Article R921-91 - Code rural et de la pêche maritime (Légifrance)
Officiellegifrance.gouv.frTilgået jun 14 - [03]
Article R921-92 - Code rural et de la pêche maritime (Légifrance)
Officiellegifrance.gouv.frTilgået jun 14 - [04]
La chasse sous-marine - Préfecture du Morbihan (services de l'État)
Officielmorbihan.gouv.frTilgået jun 14 - [05]
La réglementation nationale en PSM - FFESSM Commission Pêche sous-marine
Officielpeche.ffessm.frTilgået jun 14 - [06]
Nouvelle réglementation de la pêche maritime de loisir à partir du 10 janvier 2026 - FFPSA
Officielffpsa.netTilgået jun 14 - [07]
Moratoires et protection (mérous, corb) - Groupe d'Étude du Mérou (GEM)
Sekundærgemlemerou.orgTilgået jun 14 - [08]
Mérous et corbs de Méditerranée - reconduction du moratoire (Longitude 181)
Sekundærlongitude181.orgTilgået jun 14 - [09]
Réglementation générale en France - lechasseursousmarin.com (mailles, assurance, marquage)
Sekundærlechasseursousmarin.comTilgået jun 14 - [10]
La chasse sous-marine en France : réglementation, zones autorisées et contraintes réelles - Figaro Nautisme
Sekundærfigaronautisme.meteoconsult.frTilgået jun 14
Forskernoter
Verbatim legal text for R921-90, R921-91 and R921-92 was retrieved directly from Légifrance (official). R921-83 (catch for personal use, no sale) and the L321-3 insurance obligation are quoted via FFESSM and a specialist source that reproduce the official wording; the article references are correct but the exact verbatim was taken from those reproductions rather than the Légifrance article page, so treat the wording of those two excerpts as high-but-not-primary. Minimum sizes vary by sea basin and are periodically updated by prefectoral orders; the values listed reflect commonly published metropolitan figures and should be re-verified against the current local table before use. Overseas territories (DROM-COM: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, etc.) have their own additional/derogatory rules not covered here. The 10 January 2026 EU-driven declaration regime (Regulation (EU) 2023/2842) introduces registration on the RECfishing platform for sensitive species, with all spearfishers required to register in the Mediterranean.
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