Spain

Allowed areas

• Cantábrico y Noroeste management zone

  One of the four management zones of Spanish exterior waters defined in Art. 2 RD 347/2011 (Atlantic north and northwest coast). Spearfishing permitted under national and regional rules, outside protected areas.

  Breath-hold only; activity licence required; no scuba; daily/regional catch caps; minimum sizes (RD 560/1995); buoy mandatory.

  boe.es
• Golfo de Cádiz management zone

  One of the four management zones of Spanish exterior waters (Art. 2 RD 347/2011), covering the Gulf of Cádiz. Spearfishing permitted under national and regional rules, outside protected areas.

  Breath-hold only; activity licence required; no scuba; daily/regional catch caps; minimum sizes; buoy mandatory.

  boe.es
• Mediterránea management zone

  One of the four management zones of Spanish exterior waters (Art. 2 RD 347/2011), covering the Mediterranean coast. Spearfishing permitted under national and regional rules, outside protected areas.

  Breath-hold only; activity licence required; no scuba; daily/regional catch caps; minimum sizes; buoy mandatory; banned in marine reserves.

  boe.es
• Canaria management zone

  Management zone of Spanish exterior waters (Art. 2 RD 347/2011) covering the Canary Islands. Unlike mainland Spain, recreational spearfishing around the Canaries is CLOSED BY DEFAULT: it is permitted only inside named delimited zones (zonas acotadas) — in interior waters per Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 (BOC 222, as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140) and in exterior waters per Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988 (BOE-A-1988-4622, as amended in 2001 and by Orden APA/2916/2002). Spearfishing outside the designated zones is a serious infraction under art. 70.3.h of Ley 17/2003 de Pesca de Canarias.

  Permitted ONLY inside designated zonas acotadas (see the per-zone entries); breath-hold only; regional licence (clase 3) required; no scuba; daily catch caps; minimum sizes; buoy mandatory; banned in marine reserves.

  boe.es
• Reserva Marina de la Badia de Palma

  Regional marine reserve running along the SE coast of the Bay of Palma, Mallorca. Unusually for the Balearics, spearfishing (pesca submarina) is permitted with an individual annual authorization from the Direcció General de Pesca, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, except inside the special/integral protection zone. Spearfishers must hold a valid spearfishing licence and report their catches to the competent authority.

  caib.es
• Reserva Marina del Migjorn de Mallorca

  Regional marine reserve covering the southern coast of Mallorca (between Cap Blanc, Cap de Ses Salines and the Santanyí coast). Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is permitted with an individual annual authorization from the Direcció General de Pesca, on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, except inside the special-protection zone. It is one of only two Balearic marine reserves (with the Badia de Palma) where recreational spearfishing is explicitly authorized.

  caib.es
• Spearfishing zone F-1 La Puntilla–Punta Tarajalillo (Fuerteventura, interior waters)

  Delimited zone (zona acotada) where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters under Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008 (BOC 140); outside the delimited zones spearfishing is prohibited archipelago-wide.

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone F-2 Gran Tarajal (Punta Piedras Caídas)–Punta La Entallada (Fuerteventura, interior waters)

  Delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222). Spearfishing is prohibited outside the delimited zones.

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone F-3 Roque del Moro–Punta Amanay (Fuerteventura, interior waters)

  Delimited west-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone F-4 Playa de Tebeto–Los Caletones Mansos (Fuerteventura, interior waters)

  Delimited northwest-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-1 San Cristóbal–Punta Jinámar (Gran Canaria, interior waters)

  Delimited east-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-2 Punta Tenefé–Playa del Matorral (Gran Canaria, interior waters)

  Delimited south-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-3 Punta Maspalomas–Pasito Blanco (Gran Canaria, interior waters)

  Delimited south-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-6 Punta de La Palma–Punta del Cardonal (Gran Canaria, interior waters)

  Delimited northwest-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-7 Punta Guanarteme–Puertito de Bañaderos (Gran Canaria, interior waters)

  Delimited north-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone G-8 Norte, Punta del Confital–Punta La Isleta (Gran Canaria, interior waters, weekends/holidays only)

  Delimited zone on the west shore of La Isleta where recreational spearfishing is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222). The companion G-8 Sur was suppressed by the Orden de 3 de julio de 2008 as it lay entirely in exterior waters.

  Spearfishing permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone L-1 Punta Pasito–Punta Ancones (Lanzarote, interior waters)

  Delimited east-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone L-2 Punta Tiñosa–Punta Papagayo (Lanzarote, interior waters)

  Delimited south-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone L-3 Punta La Gaviota–Punta del Jurado (Lanzarote, interior waters)

  Delimited northwest-coast zone (Famara coast, divided into L-3 Norte and L-3 Sur at Punta Ensenada) where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone P-1 Punta Gaviota–Punta del Corcho (La Palma, interior waters)

  Delimited north-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone P-3 Punta Ganado–Punta Arenas Blancas (La Palma, interior waters)

  Delimited southeast-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone T-1 Santo Domingo–Las Aguas (Tenerife, interior waters, weekends/holidays only)

  Delimited north-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007, BOC 222).

  Spearfishing permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone T-2 Punta del Sol–Punta del Viento (Tenerife, interior waters)

  Delimited north-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone T-3 Roque de Antequera–Punta Los Órganos (Tenerife, interior waters, weekends/holidays only)

  Delimited Anaga-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140).

  Spearfishing permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone T-4 Boca Cangrejo–Punta del Morro (Tenerife, interior waters)

  Delimited east-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary interior waters (Orden de 29 de octubre de 2007 as amended by Orden de 3 de julio de 2008, BOC 140, which corrected the 2007 longitude misprint 17º to 16º).

  gobiernodecanarias.org
• Spearfishing zone F-1 Punta Tarajalillo–Cabo del Agua (Fuerteventura, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622). Continues seaward of the regional interior-waters F-1.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone F-2 Punta La Entallada–Punta Toneles (Fuerteventura, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone G-4 Playa de Tauro–Playa de Taurito (Gran Canaria, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone G-5 Punta Descojonado–Baja del Trabajo (Gran Canaria, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited west-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone G-8 Punta de La Isleta–Punta del Roque (Gran Canaria, exterior waters, weekends/holidays only)

  State-designated delimited zone around La Isleta where recreational spearfishing is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  Spearfishing permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone T-5 Roques de Fasnia–Porís de Abona (Tenerife, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone T-6 San Miguel de Tajao–Playa del Medio (Tenerife, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone T-7 Playa del Médano–Punta del Confital (Tenerife, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone T-8 El Guincho–Playa de Colmenares (Tenerife, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone T-9 Punta del Camisón–Barranco de Erques (Tenerife, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited southwest-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone G-1 Punta del Viento–Punta del Peligro (La Gomera, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited northwest-coast zone, one of only two areas where recreational spearfishing is permitted around La Gomera (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622); daily access.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone G-2 Punta de La Gaviota–Punta Majona (La Gomera, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited east-coast zone, one of only two areas where recreational spearfishing is permitted around La Gomera (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622); daily access.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone H-1 Punta Norte–Tamaduste (El Hierro, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited northeast-coast zone, one of only two areas where recreational spearfishing is permitted around El Hierro (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622); daily access.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone H-2 Punta de Orchilla–Punta de La Sal (El Hierro, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited west-coast zone, one of only two areas where recreational spearfishing is permitted around El Hierro (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, BOE-A-1988-4622); daily access. Ends at Punta de La Sal, adjoining but outside the La Restinga-Mar de Las Calmas marine reserve.

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone P-1 Punta del Corcho–Punta Salvajes (La Palma, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988 as amended by Orden APA/2916/2002 after creation of the La Palma marine reserve).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone P-2 Punta Malpaís–Caleta Ancón (La Palma, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited south-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily in Canary exterior waters (Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988 as amended by Orden APA/2916/2002).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone P-4.1 Roques Gabaseras–Punta de La Lava (La Palma, exterior waters, seasonal 15 Apr–15 Oct)

  State-designated delimited west-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted only from 15 April to 15 October (Orden APA/2916/2002 amending the Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988, replacing former zone P3 suppressed for the La Palma marine reserve).

  boe.es
• Spearfishing zone P-4.2 Punta de La Lava–Puerto Naos (La Palma, exterior waters)

  State-designated delimited west-coast zone where recreational spearfishing is permitted daily (Orden APA/2916/2002 amending the Orden de 22 de febrero de 1988).

  boe.es

Prohibited areas

• Reserva marina de interés pesquero de las islas Columbretesmarine reserve

  State-managed marine reserve off Castellón (~30 nautical miles offshore). Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is expressly prohibited; carrying any fishing/extraction instrument other than a knife is also prohibited. Delimited by points A 39º55,700'N 000º38,730'E, B 39º55,700'N 000º42,910'E, C 39º49,400'N 000º41,180'E, D 39º49,400'N 000º38,730'E (WGS-84).

  boe.es
• Reserva marina de Cabo de Palos - Islas Hormigasmarine reserve

  Marine reserve of fishing interest off Cabo de Palos and the Islas Hormigas (Region de Murcia) where recreational spearfishing is prohibited. Its Murcian inner waters are now governed by Decreto 31/2026, de 14 de mayo (BORM 116 of 22 May 2026, in force since 23 May 2026), which repealed the 1995 declaration for those waters and re-zoned the reserve into three cells: cell A, an integral reserve where all maritime fishing, extraction of marine flora and fauna, recreational and tourist activity and overnight vessel presence are prohibited (art. 5.1); cell B, where all fishing and extraction are prohibited except authorised professional artisanal gear and shore angling, and where divers may carry no instrument usable to take marine species (art. 6.1 and 6.2); and the new cell C or Regulated-Use Zone, where recreational underwater fishing and fishing competitions are prohibited while shore angling stays permitted (art. 7.2 and 7.3). Spearfishing is prohibited in all three cells.

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de Cabo de Gata-Níjarmarine reserve

  State/regional marine reserve of fishing interest in Almería (Andalucía) where spearfishing is restricted/prohibited within the protected perimeter.

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de la Isla de Tabarcamarine reserve

  Marine reserve of fishing interest off Alicante (the first declared in Spain) where spearfishing is prohibited.

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de La Graciosa e islotes del norte de Lanzarotemarine reserve

  Marine reserve of fishing interest in the Canary Islands where spearfishing is restricted/prohibited.

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de La Restinga - Mar de Las Calmas (El Hierro)marine reserve

  Marine reserve of fishing interest off El Hierro (Canary Islands) where spearfishing is restricted/prohibited within the protected perimeter.

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de interés pesquero de Cabo Tiñosomarine reserve

  State/regional marine reserve of fishing interest on the Murcia coast south of Cartagena, established by Orden APM/844/2017. Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited in the core/integral zones (cells A & B), with limited/authorised exceptions in outer cells. Shared management between the Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia (interior waters) and MAPA (exterior waters).

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de interés pesquero del Levante de Mallorca-Cala Rajadamarine reserve

  State marine reserve of fishing interest off the eastern (levante) coast of Mallorca near Cala Rajada, regulated by Orden APA/690/2018. Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited, as in all Spanish state reservas marinas de interés pesquero except the two Balearic exceptions (Bahía de Palma and Migjorn).

  boe.es
• Reserva marina de interés pesquero de la isla Dragoneramarine reserve

  State marine reserve of fishing interest around the islet of Sa Dragonera off the western coast of Mallorca, established by Orden APA/1024/2020. Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited within the reserve (it is among the state reservas marinas where spearfishing is expressly banned).

  boe.es
• Reserva marina de la isla de La Palmamarine reserve

  State marine reserve of fishing interest on the southwestern coast of La Palma (Canary Islands), mostly in the municipality of Fuencaliente. It extends between Caleta de los Pájaros and Punta Gruesa out to the 1,000 m isobath (3,455 ha). Recreational maritime fishing — including spearfishing — is not permitted within the reserve (only authorised autonomous diving and limited shore fishing outside the integral zone). Note: per MAPA the governing order is Orden APA/1936/2002 (the researcher's cited ARM/2094/2010 could not be confirmed).

  mapa.gob.es
• Reserva marina de Masía Blancamarine reserve

  Small state marine reserve (457 ha) on the Mediterranean coast off El Vendrell / Coma-ruga (Tarragona), established by Orden of 21 December 1999. Recreational spearfishing is not a permitted use; an integral reserve circle (0.2 NM radius) is centred at 41°10'27"N, 1°30'40.2"E with a 0.6 NM concentric buffer where only authorised professional fishing/diving is allowed.

  mapa.gob.es
• Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabreranational park marine zone

  Maritime-terrestrial national park established by Ley 14/1991 covering the Cabrera archipelago and its surrounding sea south of Mallorca (boundaries later expanded in 2019). Sport fishing in all its forms and underwater fishing (pesca submarina) are prohibited within the park; only traditional professional artisanal fishing is exempted (per the Management and Use Plan). Diving/submarinismo is prohibited except with express authorization for research, conservation or public-use purposes (Article 3). Representative point south of Mallorca near the Cabrera archipelago.

  boe.es
• Reserva Marina del Nord de Menorcamarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve along Menorca's northern Tramuntana coast. Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited throughout the reserve; vessels navigating reserve waters may not carry spearguns (fusiles de pesca submarina). The reserve is zoned: an integral-protection Zone A where all spearfishing and extraction of marine flora/fauna is banned, a Zone B where spearfishing is prohibited except where the Direcció General de Pesca authorizes it, and a Zone C where diving and recreational fishing are allowed with authorization. Representative point on Menorca's north coast.

  caib.es
• Reserva Marina dels Freus d'Eivissa i Formenteramarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve (13,617 ha) occupying the channel and waters between southern Ibiza (Punta des Jondal / Punta de sa Mata) and northern Formentera (Punta de sa Gavina / Punta Prima), established by Decreto 63/1999 of 28 May. Underwater fishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited throughout the entire reserve. The integral/special-protection zone east and northeast of the s'Espardell islet has the strictest protection where all resource extraction is banned except for scientific purposes. Representative point in the channel between Ibiza and Formentera.

  caib.es
• Reserva Marina de la Costa Nordest d'Eivissa-Tagomagomarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve (3,756 ha) along the northeast coast of Ibiza and the islet of Tagomago, established by Decreto 45/2018 (modified by Decreto 45/2024). Spearfishing (pesca submarina) and all non-specifically-authorized extraction of marine flora/fauna are prohibited. The reserve is bounded by coordinates including A: 38°59'34.80"N/1°33'39.60"E (Santa Eulària coastline) and D: 39°01'49.80"N/1°39'04.80"E (Tagomago vertex).

  laadministracionaldia.inap.es
• Reserva Marina de les Illes del Ponent de Mallorca, el Toro, les Malgrats i el Secmarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve in southwest Mallorca off Calvià, established in its current form by Decreto 26/2025 of 4 July (replacing the earlier el Toro/les Malgrats reserve). All maritime fishing and extraction of marine flora and fauna is restricted; high-protection zones around El Toro, Les Malgrats and El Sec apply the strictest limits. The reserve boundary runs from Cabo des Falcó (A: 39°29.184'N/2°32.116'E) to Morro d'en Grosser (G: 39°30.589'N/2°27.558'E), enclosing the El Toro, Les Malgrats and El Sec islets.

  laadministracionaldia.inap.es
• Reserva Marina de la Illa de l'Airemarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve around the Illa de l'Aire islet off the southeast tip of Menorca, established by Decreto 26/2019 of 12 April. Spearfishing (pesca submarina) is prohibited; the reserve includes a special integral-protection zone where extraction of any flora or fauna is banned. The islet lies off the southeast corner of Menorca, with the reserve extending along the adjacent coast. Representative point at the Illa de l'Aire.

  caib.es
• Reserva Marina de la Punta de sa Creumarine reserve

  Regional marine reserve (1,059 ha) protecting the sea around the La Mola promontory at the eastern end of Formentera, established by Decreto 38/2018 of 16 November. Spearfishing (pesca submarina) and all non-authorized fishing are prohibited; the reserve protects extensive Posidonia oceanica meadows. The reserve lies in the interior waters of La Mola, between Punta de la Fernanda and Punta des Far. Representative point off La Mola headland, eastern Formentera.

  laadministracionaldia.inap.es
• Reserva Natural Parcial Marina de les Illes Medes (Catalonia)marine_reserve

  The marine partial nature reserve surrounding the Medes Islands, inside the Montgri, Illes Medes i Baix Ter Natural Park. Under Ley 15/2010 art. 7 it is illegal even to carry fishing gear there: all fishing and extraction of marine resources is banned, so spearfishing is completely prohibited. Only diving under a specific licence is allowed.

  boe.es
• Zona periferica de proteccio de la Reserva Natural Parcial Marina de les Illes Medes (Catalonia)marine_reserve

  The buffer zone between the Estartit coast and the Medes marine reserve. Ley 15/2010 art. 8 keeps rod-and-line recreational fishing (one rod per licence) but bans spearfishing outright — this is an explicit, statutory 'pesca submarina' prohibition, not a general fishing rule.

  boe.es
• Reserva Natural Integral marina de s'Encalladora (Parc Natural de Cap de Creus, Catalonia)no_take_zone

  The 20 ha strictly protected marine area off the north face of the islet of s'Encalladora, at the tip of Cap de Creus. Only authorised scientific work is allowed; the park authority states plainly that spearfishers may not fish inside it.

  boe.es
• Reserva Natural Parcial marina de Cap Gros - Cap de Creus, western sector (Catalonia)marine_reserve

  Western marine partial reserve of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, off the Port de la Selva / Cap Gros coast. Ley 4/1998 art. 8.2.b allows only artisanal or rod fishing for the extraction of marine resources, and the park authority's own fishing rules tell spearfishers they may not fish in any 'reserva natural parcial' zone.

  boe.es
• Reserva Natural Parcial marina de Cap Gros - Cap de Creus, eastern sector (Catalonia)marine_reserve

  Eastern marine partial reserve of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, wrapping the headland north and south of the cape. Same regime as the western sector: only artisanal or rod fishing may extract marine resources, and the official park fishing leaflet states that spearfishers may not fish in the partial reserve zones.

  boe.es
• Reserva Natural Parcial marina de Cap Norfeu (Parc Natural de Cap de Creus, Catalonia)marine_reserve

  Marine partial reserve around the Cap Norfeu headland, Roses. Under Ley 4/1998 art. 8.2.b only artisanal or rod fishing may take marine resources; the park's own recreational-fishing rules tell spearfishers they cannot fish in the partial reserve zones.

  boe.es
• Zona vedada del Cap Negre al Pa de Pessic - Reserva Marina de Ses Negres (Begur, Catalonia)marine_reserve

  A closed marine area off Begur, between the ses Negres headland (Cap Negre) and Pa de Pessic, created by the Ordre de 3 de marc de 1993 (DOGC 1725, 24-03-1993): roughly 1.1 km of coast reaching about 200 m offshore. Article 1.1 prohibits fishing in every one of its forms and the extraction of any living marine resource, recreational as well as professional, inside the six-vertex area it delimits; only scientific extraction expressly authorised by the fisheries directorate is exempt (art. 1.2). Article 2 additionally bans scuba diving, anchoring and the navigation of vessels except in case of force majeure, and art. 3 empowers the fisheries directorate to designate specific bathing areas inside the closure. Spearfishing is therefore banned throughout.

  portaljuridic.gencat.cat
• Reserva Marina de Interes Pesquero del Cabo de San Antonio (Comunitat Valenciana)marine_reserve

  Regional marine reserve in the interior waters between Cabo de San Antonio and the meridian of Punta de San Nicolas (Xabia/Denia). Decreto 19/2015 art. 3 bans recreational sea fishing in every form, expressly including spearfishing; recreational scuba diving is allowed only with a permit and without any fishing gear.

  dogv.gva.es
• Reserva Marina de Interes Pesquero de la Serra d'Irta (Comunitat Valenciana)marine_reserve

  941 ha marine reserve along the Serra d'Irta coast between the Barranc del Volant and the Barranc de Malentivet (Peniscola-Alcossebre). Decreto 163/2006 art. 2.b prohibits recreational spearfishing outright inside the whole reserve; diving needs a permit and divers may not carry anything usable for fishing.

  dogv.gva.es
• Reserva Marina de la Isla de Alboran (Andalucia / Mar de Alboran)marine_reserve

  State marine reserve around the isolated island of Alboran. Within the half-mile integral reserve ring all fishing, extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activities are prohibited; in the surrounding one-mile marine reserve every kind of fishing is banned except listed professional gear and recreational trolling, and divers may not carry anything usable to take marine species. Spearfishing is prohibited throughout.

  boe.es
• Bajo de Piedra Escuela - Alboran integral reserve zone two (Mar de Alboran)no_take_zone

  The second, detached integral reserve of the Alboran marine reserve: a half-mile circle around the Piedra Escuela seamount NE of the island. All maritime fishing, extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity are prohibited there, so spearfishing over this bank is illegal.

  boe.es
• Paraje Natural Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo (Andalucia)marine_reserve

  Protected cliff-and-sea area on the Nerja (Malaga) - Almunecar (Granada) border. The 2015 PORN prohibits recreational sea fishing in the interior waters of the Paraje Natural in every form, expressly naming spearfishing; professional fishing is only allowed beyond the 50 m isobath.

  juntadeandalucia.es
• Parque Nacional das Illas Atlanticas - Arquipelago das Illas Cies (Galicia)national_park

  The Cies archipelago unit of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, at the mouth of the Ria de Vigo. Inside the park only traditional professional artisanal fishing is exempted from the general ban on damaging uses; recreational fishing is expressly a serious offence and diving requires an express authorisation, so spearfishing is prohibited.

  illasatlanticas.gal
• Parque Nacional das Illas Atlanticas - Arquipelago de Ons e Onza (Galicia)national_park

  The Ons and Onza archipelago unit of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, at the mouth of the Ria de Pontevedra (2,171 ha of sea). Recreational fishing inside the park is a serious statutory offence and diving needs express authorisation, so spearfishing is prohibited.

  illasatlanticas.gal
• Parque Nacional das Illas Atlanticas - Arquipelago de Salvora (Galicia)national_park

  The Salvora archipelago unit of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, in the western Ria de Arousa (2,309 ha of sea). Recreational fishing is a serious offence under the park's declaration law and diving requires express authorisation, so spearfishing is prohibited.

  illasatlanticas.gal
• Parque Nacional das Illas Atlanticas - Illa de Cortegada e Malveiras (Galicia)national_park

  The Cortegada / Malveiras unit of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, in the inner Ria de Arousa. The same national-park regime applies: recreational fishing is a serious offence and diving requires express authorisation, so spearfishing is prohibited in the surrounding waters and tidal flats.

  illasatlanticas.gal
• Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Os Minarzos (Lira, Carnota, Galicia)marine_reserve

  2,074 ha co-managed marine reserve off Lira between the Ria de Muros and Fisterra. Decreto 85/2007 art. 5 bans fishing, extraction and underwater activities across the reserve and excepts only professional artisanal gear, shellfishing and SURFACE recreational fishing — divers may carry no fishing instrument at all, so spearfishing is prohibited. Two inner integral reserves (north and south) ban everything.

  xunta.gal
• Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Ria de Cedeira (Galicia)marine_reserve

  Marine reserve covering the interior waters of the Ria de Cedeira. Decreto 28/2009 art. 4 bans fishing, extraction and underwater activities and excepts only professional artisanal gear, shellfishing and SURFACE recreational fishing; sport divers may carry no fishing instrument. Spearfishing is therefore prohibited, and the Esteiro integral reserve plus the Vilarrube and Boca da Ria special-protection zones are stricter still.

  xunta.gal
• Reserva integral norte da Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Os Minarzos (Carnota, Galicia)no_take_zone

  Northern integral reserve of the Os Minarzos fisheries marine reserve, a small nearshore area off Carreiros / A Arana on the Carnota shore. Decreto 87/2007 art. 4 (as replaced by Decreto 241/2008) delimits it between the maritime-terrestrial line and the straight polyline Carreiros - A Arana - Baixada do Vilar, and art. 6 prohibits all maritime fishing, all extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity inside it, allowing only expressly authorised scientific sampling. Spearfishing is completely prohibited here, as it already is across the whole reserve - art. 5 permits recreational fishing only at the surface and forbids divers from carrying any instrument usable for fishing - and the integral reserve adds to that by removing surface angling and diving as well.

  xunta.gal
• Reserva integral sur da Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Os Minarzos (Lira, Carnota, Galicia)no_take_zone

  Southern integral reserve of the Os Minarzos fisheries marine reserve, off Punta Anguieiro at Lira. Decreto 87/2007 art. 4 (as replaced by Decreto 241/2008) delimits it between the maritime-terrestrial line and the straight polyline Punta Anguieiro - Coca - Esquina campo de futbol, and art. 6 prohibits all maritime fishing, all extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity there except expressly authorised scientific sampling. Spearfishing is completely prohibited - unlike the rest of the reserve, not even sport diving is allowed.

  xunta.gal
• Reserva integral de Esteiro (Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Ria de Cedeira, Galicia)no_take_zone

  Integral reserve at the head of the ria de Cedeira off Esteiro, a five-vertex area of about 29 ha delimited by Decreto 28/2009 art. 3.1. Article 5 prohibits all maritime fishing, all extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity inside it, allowing only scientific sampling expressly authorised by the Galician marine-resources directorate. Spearfishing is completely prohibited - the surface recreational fishing and sport diving that art. 4 tolerates in the rest of the reserve do not extend to this area. Note on the map marker: the whole zone is intertidal - it is a tidal creek (an esteiro) at the head of the ria which drains at low water, so the marker sits on ground that the tide covers and uncovers rather than in permanently submerged water.

  xunta.gal
• ZEP I-Vilarrube (Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Ria de Cedeira, Galicia)no_take_zone

  Special protection zone I of the Cedeira fisheries marine reserve: the water off Vilarrube beach between the lowest-low-water line to the south and the imaginary line Punta Robaleira - O Forno to the north (Decreto 28/2009 art. 3.2). Article 6, as corrected by the correccion de erros published in DOG 49 of 11 March 2009, prohibits all maritime fishing, all extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity inside the special protection zones, and its list of exceptions is closed: traditional gillnet fishing (in both special zones), goose-barnacle harvesting and sport diving in ZEP II, and expressly authorised scientific sampling. Article 4's permission of surface recreational fishing is expressly limited to the reserve outside the special zones, so it cannot reach ZEP I, where recreational diving is prohibited outright. Spearfishing is prohibited. The Orde do 18 de agosto de 2010 separately forbids carrying any instrument usable for fishing while diving or aboard the vessel.

  xunta.gal
• ZEP II-Boca da ria (Reserva Marina de Interese Pesqueiro Ria de Cedeira, Galicia)no_take_zone

  Special protection zone II of the Cedeira fisheries marine reserve: the band across the mouth of the ria between the line Punta Castrelo - Punta Folgoso to the south and the line Punta de tierra de A Chirlateira - O Ensebadoiro to the north (Decreto 28/2009 art. 3.3). Article 6, as corrected by the correccion de erros published in DOG 49 of 11 March 2009, prohibits all maritime fishing, all extraction of fauna and flora and all underwater activity there; the only exceptions are traditional gillnet fishing, goose-barnacle harvesting, expressly authorised scientific sampling and sport diving. The diving permission is expressly gear-stripped - art. 4.g allows it only on condition that divers carry no instrument usable to fish or take marine species, a safety knife excepted - and recreational fishing is not excepted at all, so spearfishing is prohibited. The Orde do 18 de agosto de 2010 repeats the ban on carrying any fishing instrument while diving or aboard the vessel.

  xunta.gal
• Reserva de Pesca de la desembocadura del rio Guadalquivir - zona A (cauce principal, Andalucia)fishery_reserve

  Zone A of the Guadalquivir estuary fishing reserve: the whole main channel of the river between the cross-line at Tarfia (vertices 1-2) and the cross-line at Bajo de Guia, Sanlucar de Barrameda (vertices 3-4), about 32 km of channel. Article 3 of the Orden de 16 de junio de 2004 (BOJA 123), as amended by the orders of 11 January 2005, 6 July 2010, 29 June 2022 and 14 February 2024, prohibits every form of fishing activity there; the only exceptions are intertidal shellfishing on foot and blue-crab capture by boats specifically authorised under an eradication plan (currently the Orden de 5 de noviembre de 2025, in force to 31 December 2027). Recreational fishing, including spearfishing, is therefore prohibited in the whole of zone A. Zone B of the same reserve, the coastal sector seaward of the Bajo de Guia line, is not open to spearfishing either: art. 4.4 allows recreational fishing there only with lines or hook gear, a maximum of six hooks per licence, which does not include a speargun.

  juntadeandalucia.es
• Biotopo Protegido del area de Gaztelugatxe (Bermeo-Bakio, Pais Vasco)protected_biotope

  Protected biotope covering the rocks, islands, the Aketxe islet, the Gaztelugatxe tombolo, the coastal cliffs, beaches and the Centella channel plus the marine and submarine area inside the cartographic delimitation of Decreto 229/1998 art. 2.1, whose seaward limit is the 7.3 m (four fathom) bathymetric line as fixed by the correccion de errores in BOPV 134 of 15 July 2009. The decree publishes no area figure of its own; the Basque Government's 2023 biotope-adaptation document puts the site at 157.8 ha, 130.9 ha of it marine. Article 5.1 permits only rod fishing from land, prohibits the extraction of any other marine resource and - decisively for spearfishing - prohibits breath-hold and scuba diving outright, the managing body being able to authorise diving only for observation and underwater photography. Spearfishing is therefore prohibited throughout the biotope. The site was re-typed as a Monumento Natural by the Orden de 20 de marzo de 2023 without modifying the declaring decree, which remains in force.

  euskadi.eus
• Islas Chafarinas - franja perimetrica de pesca prohibida y prohibicion de actividades subacuaticas (ZEC/ZEPA ES6300001)marine_protected_area

  The Chafarinas archipelago (Congreso, Isabel II and Rey Francisco, off the Moroccan coast, Spanish sovereign territory with a military garrison) is a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area whose conservation measures, approved by Real Decreto 190/2018, close it to spearfishing twice over. Norm N.4.3 prohibits fishing activity in a perimeter strip of at least 100 metres around the islands, permitting only rod fishing from shore on one stretch of Isabel II between the Titan quay and the broken breakwater. Norm N.4.4 prohibits underwater activities altogether except for scientific, environmental-monitoring, inspection or installation-maintenance purposes, and even then without collection unless specifically authorised; unlike N.4.3 it carries no distance qualifier, so it is the provision that catches a speargun anywhere in the protected space, and it is what the map marker in the inter-island channel represents. The archipelago is also a Refugio Nacional de Caza (Real Decreto 1115/1982) with restricted military access.

  boe.es
• Celula C o Zona de Usos Regulados - Reserva Marina de Interes Pesquero de Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas (Murcia)marine_reserve

  Cell C or Regulated-Use Zone, the inner waters added to the Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas marine reserve by Decreto 31/2026, de 14 de mayo (BORM 116 of 22 May 2026, in force since 23 May 2026), which repealed the 1995 declaration for the Murcian inner waters and re-zoned the reserve into cells A, B and C. It is a nearshore strip in two sectors, north and south of the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, covering the levante and poniente coves between Las Amoladeras beach and the port of Cabo de Palos; the decree publishes a single vertex list for both sectors and draws the split only on its annexed map, so this record carries one representative point, in the southern sector. Article 7.2 prohibits recreational underwater fishing and recreational fishing competitions of every kind there. Shore angling stays permitted (art. 7.3) and fishing from a boat is not permitted except for exceptionally authorised squid jigging and chambel (art. 7.4), so of the recreational modalities it is precisely spearfishing that is banned; diving is allowed only between sunrise and sunset (art. 7.6). Spearfishing is in fact prohibited in all three cells - art. 5.1 bans all maritime fishing, extraction and recreational activity in cell A, and art. 6.1/6.2 ban all fishing and extraction in cell B and forbid divers from carrying any instrument usable to take marine species - cell C is simply the cell where the ban on it is spelled out by name.

  borm.es
• Parque Nacional Maritimo-Terrestre das Illas Atlanticas de Galicia (whole park)national_park

  The whole maritime-terrestrial national park: the Cies, Ons-Onza, Salvora and Cortegada-Malveiras archipelagos together with the sea between and around them, off the Rias Baixas. Inside the park only traditional professional artisanal fishing is exempted from the general ban on damaging uses; recreational fishing is expressly a serious offence and diving requires an express authorisation from the park, so spearfishing is prohibited throughout the park's marine area. This record carries the park-wide boundary; the four archipelagos are also mapped individually, each with its own entry, because they lie 40-90 km apart and a diver plans for one of them at a time.

  illasatlanticas.gal