Gibraltar
Europe · Southern Europe
Spearfishing (defined in law as 'underwater fishing with or without a weapon') is legal in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters but tightly regulated under the Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (made under the Nature Protection Act 1991). It requires a Class C permit issued by the Department of the Environment. A full Class C permit is issued only to residents (proof of residency, 3-year validity); non-residents may obtain a temporary Class C permit (14-day validity), with no more than 5 temporary permits in use across the territory on any given day. Minimum age is 16; a valid medical certificate and insurance are mandatory. Breathing apparatus (scuba) is prohibited while spearfishing and a demarcation buoy is required. Underwater fishing is banned between sunset and sunrise, banned in the hatched areas of designated Marine Conservation Zones (Schedule 1), and at six named beaches it is permitted only between 1 October and 30 April. Schedule 2 species enjoy special protection and Schedule 4 sets minimum landing sizes.
Zuletzt aktualisiert April 9, 2026
Rechtsrahmen
- §Nature Protection Act 1991 (1991-11)
- §Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180; commencement 1.1.2015; as amended to LN. 2026/074)
- Lizenz erforderlich
- Erforderlich
- Harpune
- Erlaubt
- Tauchgerät
- Verboten
- Ausländer
- Willkommen
Das Gesetz, wortgetreu
Gesetzestexte
Die genauen gesetzlichen und behördlichen Bestimmungen, die das Speerfischen hier regeln, wie veröffentlicht zitiert, mit einem Link zu jeder offiziellen Quelle.
Class C permits (Underwater fishing with or without a weapon)
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
19.(1) Subject to the following provisions of these Regulations, a permit granted for the purposes of this regulation (a “Class C permit”) shall entitle the person to whom it was granted, and no others, to undertake underwater fishing with or without a weapon, in accordance with the terms of the permit, for such period as is so specified. (2) A full Class C permit shall only be issued upon proof of residency. (3) Non-residents may apply for a temporary Class C permit. (4) A Class C permit shall not be issued to any person under 16 years of age.
Class C permits - Duration and restrictions (validity, catch limits)
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
20.(1) A full Class C permit shall be valid for a period of 3 years. (2) A temporary Class C permit shall be valid for a period of 14 days. (3) A person may not apply for more than one temporary Class C permit per 3 calendar months. (4) The Authority shall ensure that no more than 5 temporary Class C permits may be in use on any given day. (5) Subject to regulation 20(6), a temporary Class C permit holder is only allowed no more than– (a) 5 kilograms of fish; and (b) one additional specimen. (6) Where there is more than one Class C permit holder on board a vessel at any point in time, no more than– (a) 10 kilograms of fish; and (b) one additional specimen, may be caught or held on board.
Class C permits - Conditions and prohibitions (no scuba, no night fishing, seasonal beach limits, MCZ ban)
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
21.(1) Notwithstanding the generality of regulation 19(1), a Class C permit shall not− (a) entitle any person to fish in a manner contrary to the provisions of section 10 of the Act; (b) confer any right to fish at a place or a time at which the permit holder is not otherwise entitled to fish; (c) allow the taking of any wild animal which is otherwise prohibited by the Act; (d) allow the transhipment of catches between vessels; (e) allow underwater fishing with or without a weapon between the hours of sunset and sunrise; (f) allow underwater fishing with or without a weapon in the hatched areas within the Marine Conservation Zone demarcated in Schedule 1; (2) A Class C permit shall be subject to the following conditions– (a) underwater fishing with or without a weapon shall be the only form of fishing permitted; (b) the permit shall only be issued upon receipt of evidence of a valid medical certificate and insurance cover; (c) such conditions as are imposed in relation to the collection of species in need of special protection measures pursuant to regulation 5; (d) persons engaged in underwater fishing with or without a weapon shall require a demarcation buoy and may not use breathing apparatus; (e) in the following areas underwater fishing with or without a weapon shall only be permitted during the period 1 October and 30 April – (i) Eastern Beach; (ii) Catalan Bay; (iii) Sandy Bay; (iv) Camp Bay; (v) Little Bay; (vi) Western Beach; (g) a record of fish caught or taken shall be kept by the permit holder and be made available for inspection by the Authority on request. (h) any other condition or conditions as may be specified after consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council.
Protection of the marine environment - control of spear guns and weapons
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
3.(1) No person shall, except in accordance with a permission granted by the Authority under these Regulations, in the marine nature area– (a) hunt, shoot or capture any sea-living creature by any means; (b) collect or use anything spontaneously produced by wildlife; (c) introduce any animal or plant which is of a kind not ordinarily resident or which is not a regular visitor to Gibraltar, as the case may be; or (d) subject to subregulation (2), take into, or use in, the marine nature area any type of firearm, air gun, spear gun, cross bow, bow and arrow or any type of weapon intended to project a missile or harpoon.
Definition of 'fishing' and 'Class C permit'
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
“Class C permit” means a permission to fish underwater with or without a weapon issued in accordance with regulations 19 to 22; ... “fishing” means the taking or killing of any wild animal and includes fishing from a vessel, underwater fishing with or without a weapon, shore-based fishing, bait collection and any other form of fishing, and the collecting or gathering of marine animals;
Species in need of special protection measures (one-specimen daily limit; reporting)
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
5.(1) The species listed in Schedule 2 shall be subject to the special protection measures set out in this regulation. (2) The daily catch, retention on board, or landing of more than one specimen or more than one species listed in Schedule 2 is prohibited unless it is specifically permitted under the terms of a permit issued under these Regulations. (3) All catches of species listed in Schedule 2 must be reported to the Authority within thirty days, in such form as the Authority requires. (4) The Authority may, after consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council, at any time prohibit the landing or retaining on board of any species listed in Schedule 2.
Penalties
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180)
49.(1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable− (a) on summary conviction to a fine up to level 5 on the standard scale and a period of imprisonment not exceeding three months; or (b) on conviction on indictment for a period of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years and a fine. (2) A court inquiring into the commission of an offence under these Regulations may, in addition to any penalty which may be imposed under subregulation (1), disqualify a person from holding a permit under these Regulations, for such period as it deems appropriate.
Wann du tauchen darfst
Saisonzeiten & zeitliche Einschränkungen
Schon-, Fang- und eingeschränkte Zeiten über das Jahr. Bestätige artspezifische Schonzeiten stets vor Ort.
- EingeschränktEastern Beach, Catalan Bay, Sandy Bay, Camp Bay, Little Bay, Western BeachOkt 1 – Apr 30
At these six named beaches, underwater fishing with or without a weapon is only permitted during the period 1 October to 30 April (i.e. outside the bathing season). Reg 21(2)(e), Marine Protection Regulations 2014.
- Eingeschränktall underwater fishingsunset – sunrise
A Class C permit does not allow underwater fishing with or without a weapon between the hours of sunset and sunrise (no night spearfishing). Reg 21(1)(e), Marine Protection Regulations 2014.
Erlaubnis zum Fischen
Lizenz
Was du brauchst, um ins Wasser zu dürfen, was es kostet und wie du es bekommst.
Apply to the Department of the Environment via the Marine Protection Regulations application form. Requires proof of residency (full permit), a valid medical certificate and insurance cover; applicant must be at least 16.
Hol dir deine LizenzÖffnet das offizielle Portal · gibraltar.gov.gi
- Typ
- Class C permit (underwater fishing with or without a weapon). Full Class C permit (residents, proof of residency) or temporary Class C permit (non-residents).
- Kosten
- Prescribed fee set by the Authority (not specified in the Regulations text); contact the Department of the Environment.
- Gültigkeit
- Full Class C permit: 3 years. Temporary Class C permit: 14 days (max one temporary permit per person per 3 calendar months; no more than 5 temporary permits in use territory-wide on any given day).
- Wie zu erhalten
- Apply to the Department of the Environment via the Marine Protection Regulations application form. Requires proof of residency (full permit), a valid medical certificate and insurance cover; applicant must be at least 16.
- Behörde
- Department of the Environment, Government of Gibraltar
Ausrüstung & Technik
Ausrüstungsregeln
Welche Ausrüstung erlaubt ist, wie sie verwendet werden darf und welche Auflagen gelten.
Einschränkungen
- A Class C permit allows underwater fishing 'with or without a weapon' (spear gun / harpoon permitted under permit).
- Breathing apparatus (scuba / surface-demand air) may NOT be used while underwater fishing (reg 21(2)(d)) - free-diving only.
- A demarcation buoy is required when engaged in underwater fishing (reg 21(2)(d)).
- Outside a Class C permit it is an offence to take into or use in the marine nature area any spear gun, harpoon or other weapon intended to project a missile (reg 3(1)(d)); vessels exercising right of passage may carry but not use such weapons (reg 3(2)).
- Transhipment of catches between vessels is prohibited (reg 21(1)(d)).
Spearfishing in Gibraltar is free-diving only. The speargun/harpoon is lawful only when held by a valid Class C permit holder; carrying or using such weapons in the marine nature area otherwise is an offence under regulation 3.
Was du entnehmen darfst
Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten
Tagesquoten, Mindestmaße und Arten, die niemals entnommen werden dürfen.
Tageslimit
Temporary Class C permit holder: max 5 kg of fish plus one additional specimen. Where more than one Class C permit holder is on board a vessel: max 10 kg of fish plus one additional specimen on board. No more than one specimen / one species of any Schedule 2 (specially protected) species may be caught, retained on board or landed per day unless specifically permitted.
Mindestmaße
- Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus / Mero)min 50 cm
- Comb Grouper (Mycteroperca rubra / Gitano)min 45 cm
- Dogtooth Grouper (Epinephelus caninus)min 45 cm
- Common Dentex (Dentex dentex / Denton)min 35 cm
- Common Seabream / Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus / Pargo)min 28 cm
- Common Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus / Breca)min 28 cm
- Black Seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus / Chopa)min 23 cm
- Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus / Rascacio)min 22 cm
- Barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena / Espeton)min 21 cm
- Blacktail Comber (Serranus atricauda / Cabrilla)min 21 cm
- Bogue (Boops boops / Boga)min 12 cm
Geschützte Arten — nicht entnehmen
- GeschütztSwordfish (Xiphias gladius)
- GeschütztMarlins (Makaira spp.)
- GeschütztSpearfish (Tetrapturus spp.)
- GeschütztAtlantic White Marlin (Tetrapturus albidus)
- GeschütztAtlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans)
- GeschütztEuropean Hake (Merluccius merluccius)
- GeschütztMeagre (Argyrosomus regius)
- GeschütztEuropean Lobster (Homarus gammarus)
- GeschütztSpiny lobster spp. (Palinurus spp.)
- GeschütztSchedule 4 'No take' species: most wrasses (Symphodus/Labrus spp.), gobies, damselfish, brown comber, brown meagre, several rays/sharks, cardinal fish (full list in Schedule 4)
Schedule 4 of the Marine Protection Regulations 2014 sets minimum landing sizes for ~150 species; many are marked 'No take'. A Minimum Fish Sizes list (latest July 2025) and a species identification booklet are published by the Department of the Environment. The size limits listed here are a representative subset of common spearfishing targets retrieved from Schedule 4. Schedule 2 species are subject to a one-specimen daily limit and 30-day catch reporting under regulation 5.
Wer fischen darf
Besucher & Einheimische
Wie sich die Regeln für ausländische Besucher und einheimische Bewohner unterscheiden.
Ausländische Besucher
ErlaubtSonderlizenz erforderlich
Anforderungen
- Apply for a temporary Class C permit (non-residents cannot obtain a full Class C permit, which requires proof of residency).
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- Must provide a valid medical certificate and insurance cover.
- Use a demarcation buoy; no breathing apparatus (free-diving only).
Einschränkungen
- Temporary Class C permit valid 14 days only.
- No more than one temporary permit per person per 3 calendar months.
- Territory-wide cap: no more than 5 temporary Class C permits in use on any given day.
- Temporary permit catch limit: 5 kg of fish + one additional specimen (10 kg + one specimen if multiple permit holders on one vessel).
- Spanish authorities have been reported to patrol the disputed waters; jurisdiction over BGTW is contested by Spain.
Non-residents (foreigners) may spearfish under a temporary Class C permit subject to the strict territory-wide daily cap of 5 permits, making access limited.
Einheimische
Full Class C permit (underwater fishing with or without a weapon)
Anforderungen
- Proof of residency.
- Minimum age 16.
- Valid medical certificate and insurance cover.
- Keep a record of fish caught/taken, available for inspection by the Authority.
- Use a demarcation buoy; no breathing apparatus.
Vergünstigungen
- 3-year validity (vs 14 days for the temporary/non-resident permit).
- Not subject to the territory-wide daily cap of 5 temporary permits.
Only residents can hold a full Class C permit; it is the standard permit for local spearfishers.
Wo an der Küste
Erlaubte & verbotene Zonen
Benannte Gebiete, die für das Speerfischen offen oder gesperrt sind. Das Gesamtbild siehst du auf der interaktiven Karte.
Erlaubte Gebiete
Underwater fishing with or without a weapon is permitted across the marine nature area within BGTW under a valid Class C permit, except in the prohibited Marine Conservation Zone hatched areas and subject to the seasonal beach limits, night-fishing ban, scuba ban and catch limits.
Class C permit required; no breathing apparatus; demarcation buoy required; no fishing sunset-sunrise; catch limits and minimum sizes apply; not in MCZ hatched areas.
Verbotene Gebiete
- North West Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1; underwater fishing is prohibited in the hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)). Coordinates are an approximate centroid of the zone polygon vertices listed in Schedule 1.
- South Mole Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1; underwater fishing prohibited in hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)). Coordinates are an approximate centroid of the zone polygon vertices.
- Rosia Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas; includes a No-Fishing/No-Anchoring Zone)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1; underwater fishing prohibited in hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)). Contains a designated 'No-Fishing/No-Anchoring Zone'. Coordinates are an approximate centroid of the zone polygon vertices.
- Southern Waters Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1; underwater fishing prohibited in hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)). Coordinates are an approximate centroid of the zone polygon vertices.
- Eastern Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas; includes a 'No Fishing' area)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1 on the east side of Gibraltar; underwater fishing prohibited in hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)), with an internal area marked 'No Fishing'. Coordinates are an approximate centroid of the zone polygon vertices.
- Mid-Harbour Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas)marine conservation zone
Marine Conservation Zone defined in Schedule 1 within Gibraltar Harbour; underwater fishing prohibited in hatched areas (reg 21(1)(f)). Precise vertex coordinates not tabulated in the retrieved text (shown on map plate).
Bedingungen auf dem Wasser
Live-Bedingungen
Live-Momentaufnahme von Meer und Wetter nahe einem Küstenreferenzpunkt in Gibraltar, von Open-Meteo. Die Bedingungen variieren entlang der Küste — als Richtwert betrachten.
Live-Meer & -Wetter nahe North West Marine Conservation Zone (hatched areas).
Wen man fragt
Behörden
Die offiziellen Stellen, die für Fischerei und Lizenzierung zuständig sind.
Department of the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and Heritage (Government of Gibraltar)
environment ministry / marine permitting authority
gibraltar.gov.gi+350 200 48450; info.environment@gibraltar.gov.giNature Conservancy Council (Gibraltar)
statutory advisory body (consulted on permit limits and conditions)
Woher das stammt
Quellen
Jede Aussage auf dieser Seite lässt sich auf eine dieser Referenzen zurückführen.
- [01]
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180) - consolidated text
Offiziellgibraltarlaws.gov.giAbgerufen Jun 15 - [02]
Nature Protection Act 1991 (enabling Act, Gibraltar Laws)
Offiziellgibraltarlaws.gov.giAbgerufen Jun 15 - [03]
Marine Protection Permits - Department of the Environment (Government of Gibraltar)
Offiziellgibraltar.gov.giAbgerufen Jun 15 - [04]
Marine Protection Regulations 2014 - Guidelines (Updated Sept 2021), Government of Gibraltar
Offiziellgibraltar.gov.giAbgerufen Jun 15 - [05]
Thinking Green - Fishing Regulation (Government of Gibraltar)
Offiziellthinkinggreen.gov.giAbgerufen Jun 15 - [06]
Spearfishing in Gibraltar - Nadir Spearfishing (community guide)
communitynadirspearfishing.comAbgerufen Jun 15
Anmerkungen des Rechercheurs
Spearfishing in Gibraltar is the legal activity 'underwater fishing with or without a weapon' regulated by a Class C permit under the Marine Protection Regulations 2014 (LN. 2014/180), made under ss.13, 18 and 24 of the Nature Protection Act 1991 (commenced 1.1.2015; amended through LN. 2026/074 effective 9.4.2026). Core rules verified verbatim from the official Gibraltar Laws consolidated text: free-diving only (no breathing apparatus), demarcation buoy required, no night fishing (sunset-sunrise), min age 16, medical certificate and insurance required, catch logging, MCZ hatched-area bans, and a 1 Oct-30 Apr seasonal window at six named beaches. Full permits are residents-only (3 yrs); non-residents get 14-day temporary permits with a territory-wide cap of 5 in use per day and a 5 kg + 1 specimen catch limit. Marine Conservation Zone coordinates given are approximate centroids derived from the Schedule 1 vertex tables (note: in the source PDF the 'Latitude'/'Longitude' column headers are transposed - Gibraltar sits at ~36.14 deg N, 5.35 deg W; the corrected geographic values are used here). The permit fee is a 'prescribed fee' not published in the Regulations, so cost is marked unknown - confirm with the Department of the Environment. Sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters is disputed by Spain, which may affect enforcement at the boundary. data_confidence is high because all key legal provisions come from the official primary legislation.
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