Spain · Spearfishing zone
Islas Chafarinas - franja perimetrica de pesca prohibida y prohibicion de actividades subacuaticas (ZEC/ZEPA ES6300001)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Islas Chafarinas - franja perimetrica de pesca prohibida y prohibicion de actividades subacuaticas (ZEC/ZEPA ES6300001).
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.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
35.1793°N, 2.4365°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Spain
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Apply through the fisheries authority of the relevant coastal Autonomous Community (online or in person). A medical certificate of fitness for underwater/free-diving (issued by a doctor qualified in hyperbaric/underwater medicine), or a valid federation licence covering the medical, plus suitable accident insurance, is generally required. ID (DNI for citizens; NIE/passport for foreigners) and payment of the regional fee are needed.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · mapa.gob.es



