Ireland
Europe · Northern Europe
Recreational spearfishing in the sea is legal in the Republic of Ireland and no licence is required for sea spearfishing. It is, however, subject to important restrictions. Spearfishing in freshwater (rivers, lakes) is prohibited. Salmon and sea trout (and other salmonids) may not be taken by spear under any circumstances. Sea bass is heavily regulated: a minimum size of 42 cm, a recreational bag limit of 2 fish per 24 hours from 1 April to 31 December, and a catch-and-release-only / closed period in the early part of the year (March is catch-and-release only). Shellfish (lobster, crab) may NOT be speared and may not be taken by anyone using underwater breathing apparatus (scuba); minimum sizes apply. There is no general national recreational sea-fishing licence, but EU and Irish conservation rules on sizes, bag limits and protected species apply.
Zuletzt aktualisiert Juni 24, 2025
Rechtsrahmen
- §Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 (No. 14 of 1959)
- §Inland Fisheries Act 2010
- §Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006
- §Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 230 of 2006)
- §Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 341 of 2016)
- §Lobster (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 234 of 2006)
- §Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 (technical conservation measures, minimum landing sizes)
- §Wildlife Acts 1976-2018
- Lizenz erforderlich
- Nicht 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.
Possession of undersized bass prohibited
Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 230 of 2006)
No person shall, within the State, have in possession bass of size less than 40 centimetres measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail.
Prohibition on netting bass in specified areas
Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 230 of 2006)
[A person shall not] fish or attempt to fish for bass using nets in the specified areas.
Bass minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) 42 cm
Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 341 of 2016) / EU minimum conservation reference size
The minimum conservation reference size for sea bass is 42 cm.
Bass recreational bag limit (2 in 24 hours) and minimum size 42 cm
Inland Fisheries Ireland enforcement guidance (bass bye-law / EU recreational measures)
It is illegal to keep more than two European Sea Bass caught in any 24-hour period. There is currently a minimum size limit of 42 cm for each Bass retained.
V-notched / mutilated lobster may not be retained
Lobster (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 234 of 2006)
An Irish sea-fishing boat, or a person on board such boat in the specified area shall not retain on board a V notched or mutilated lobster. ... Any V notched or mutilated lobster taken while fishing in the specified area shall be carefully handled and returned to the water from which it was taken.
Prohibition on taking shellfish using breathing apparatus (scuba); recreational minimum sizes
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) recreational crab and lobster guidance
Never catch crabs or lobster by means of skin-diving, which includes using apparatus of any kind which enables a person to breathe under water. Lobster: minimum size of 87mm and maximum size 127mm (carapace length). Brown crab: minimum size 140mm. Spider crab: 130mm for males and 125mm for females. Never retain a lobster that has been V-notched or has a mutilated tail - they must be released back into the water.
Definition of fishing engine (instruments capable of taking fish)
Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 (No. 14 of 1959)
"fishing engine" means any engine, net or other instrument whatsoever capable of being used for the taking of fish.
Wann du tauchen darfst
Saisonzeiten & zeitliche Einschränkungen
Schon-, Fang- und eingeschränkte Zeiten über das Jahr. Bestätige artspezifische Schonzeiten stets vor Ort.
- EingeschränktEuropean sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)Jan 1 – Mär 31
Early in the year bass is catch-and-release only; for 2025 the month of March remained catch-and-release only (no retention, and therefore no retention by spearfishing).
- OffenEuropean sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)Apr 1 – Dez 31
From 1 April to 31 December a recreational bag limit of 2 bass per 24 hours applies, with a minimum size of 42 cm.
Erlaubnis zum Fischen
Lizenz
Was du brauchst, um ins Wasser zu dürfen, was es kostet und wie du es bekommst.
- Typ
- No licence required for recreational sea spearfishing. A separate Inland Fisheries Ireland licence is required to fish for salmon and sea trout (which may not be speared in any case).
- Kosten
- N/A for sea spearfishing
- Gültigkeit
- N/A
- Wie zu erhalten
- No licence application is needed to spearfish permitted sea species from the Irish coast. Anglers targeting salmon/sea trout (rod and line only, not spear) require a State licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
- Behörde
- Inland Fisheries Ireland (freshwater/salmon); Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (sea-fisheries conservation)
Ausrüstung & Technik
Ausrüstungsregeln
Welche Ausrüstung erlaubt ist, wie sie verwendet werden darf und welche Auflagen gelten.
Einschränkungen
- Spearguns may be used for sea finfish that are not protected (no salmon, no sea trout, no salmonids).
- Underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) may not be used to take shellfish (lobster, crab); such species may only be taken by hand or by permitted methods on the surface.
- Shellfish (lobster, crab) may not be speared.
No national licence is required to own or use a speargun for sea spearfishing. Scuba is specifically prohibited for taking shellfish per SFPA guidance and conservation rules.
Was du entnehmen darfst
Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten
Tagesquoten, Mindestmaße und Arten, die niemals entnommen werden dürfen.
Tageslimit
Sea bass: maximum 2 fish per angler per 24-hour period during the open period (1 April - 31 December); catch-and-release only earlier in the year.
Mindestmaße
- European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)min 42 cm
- European lobster (Homarus gammarus) - carapace lengthmin 8.7 cm
- Brown crab (Cancer pagurus) - carapace widthmin 14 cm
- Spider crab (Maja squinado) - male, carapacemin 13 cm
- Spider crab (Maja squinado) - female, carapacemin 12.5 cm
Geschützte Arten — nicht entnehmen
- GeschütztAtlantic salmon (Salmo salar) - may not be taken by spear
- GeschütztSea trout / brown trout (Salmo trutta) - may not be taken by spear
- GeschütztOther salmonids
- GeschütztV-notched or mutilated lobster (must be released)
Shellfish must not be taken with breathing apparatus (scuba) and must not be speared; they may only be taken by hand/permitted surface methods. Minimum sizes for lobster and crab are enforced by the SFPA. EU minimum conservation reference sizes apply to many sea species.
Wer fischen darf
Besucher & Einheimische
Wie sich die Regeln für ausländische Besucher und einheimische Bewohner unterscheiden.
Ausländische Besucher
ErlaubtEinschränkungen
- Same rules apply to visitors as to residents: no spearing of salmonids, bass size/bag limits, shellfish restrictions, no scuba for shellfish, no freshwater spearfishing.
No special permit is required for non-residents to spearfish permitted sea species recreationally.
Einheimische
No sea-spearfishing licence; salmon/sea trout require a State licence (rod and line only).
Residents and non-residents are subject to the same recreational sea-spearfishing rules.
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
Recreational sea spearfishing is generally permitted along the Irish coast without a licence, subject to species restrictions (no salmonids), bass conservation rules, shellfish restrictions and protected-area rules.
No spearing of salmon, sea trout or other salmonids; no spearing of shellfish; bass size/bag limits apply; no scuba for shellfish.
Verbotene Gebiete
- Freshwater (rivers, lakes, canals)freshwater fishery (regulated)
Spearfishing in freshwater is prohibited in Ireland. Salmonid waters and freshwater fisheries are managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 and Inland Fisheries Act 2010.
Wen man fragt
Behörden
Die offiziellen Stellen, die für Fischerei und Lizenzierung zuständig sind.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)
fisheries authority
fisheriesireland.iehttps://www.fisheriesireland.ie/contactSea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)
sea-fisheries authority
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
government department (marine/sea fisheries)
Woher das stammt
Quellen
Jede Aussage auf dieser Seite lässt sich auf eine dieser Referenzen zurückführen.
- [01]
Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 230 of 2006)
Offiziellirishstatutebook.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [02]
Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 341 of 2016)
Offiziellirishstatutebook.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [03]
Lobster (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 234 of 2006)
Offiziellirishstatutebook.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [04]
Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, Section 3 (interpretation)
Offiziellirishstatutebook.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [05]
Inland Fisheries Ireland - Illegal Bass fishing (recreational bass rules)
Offiziellfisheriesireland.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [06]
Inland Fisheries Ireland - Our legislation
Offiziellfisheriesireland.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [07]
SFPA reminder to recreational fishers on crab and lobster fishing (minimum sizes, no breathing apparatus)
Sekundärthefishingdaily.comAbgerufen Jun 14 - [08]
Spearfishing Ireland - Irish Spearfishing Regulations (national spearfishing federation site)
communityspearfishing.ieAbgerufen Jun 14 - [09]
Sea Angling Ireland forum - Is spearfishing legal in the sea in Ireland
communitysea-angling-ireland.orgAbgerufen Jun 14 - [10]
Lancaster Scuba - Is Spearfishing Legal in Ireland (secondary summary)
Sekundärlancasterscuba.comAbgerufen Jun 14
Anmerkungen des Rechercheurs
Confidence is MEDIUM. Core conservation provisions are anchored in verbatim primary law from the Irish Statute Book (S.I. 230/2006 bass possession size and net ban; S.I. 234/2006 v-notch lobster rule; Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 s.3 definition) and official Inland Fisheries Ireland / SFPA guidance (42 cm bass minimum, 2-fish 24h bag limit, recreational shellfish minimum sizes, prohibition on using breathing apparatus to take shellfish). Two key spearfishing-specific points are well-attested by the national spearfishing federation (spearfishing.ie) and angling community/secondary sources but I could NOT pin them to a single verbatim primary-law section within the research budget: (a) the outright ban on spearfishing in freshwater, and (b) the prohibition on taking salmon/sea trout/salmonids by spear. These are treated as restrictions, not fabricated as verbatim law. The Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 prohibits taking salmon/trout by instruments other than rod and line and restricts unlawful instruments, but the exact section/subsection wording could not be retrieved verbatim (irishstatutebook section numbering for the enacted text did not surface the instruments-prohibition text on the pages fetched). The bass 40 cm figure in S.I. 230/2006 is the original 2006 possession size; the current binding minimum conservation reference size is 42 cm (EU MCRS, reflected in later instruments/guidance) - both are recorded. spearfishing.ie was not fetchable (expired TLS certificate) and fishinginireland.info returned HTTP 403, so those were corroborated via search snippets and secondary sources rather than direct fetch. Applies to the Republic of Ireland only; Northern Ireland is a separate UK jurisdiction with different rules.
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