Italy · Spearfishing zone
Open Italian coastal waters (Mediterranean / Adriatic / Ionian / Tyrrhenian)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Open Italian coastal waters (Mediterranean / Adriatic / Ionian / Tyrrhenian).
Recreational free-dive spearfishing is permitted in general Italian sea waters subject to national rules: beyond 500 m from bathing beaches, beyond 100 m from fixed fishing gear/anchored vessels/set nets, daylight only, apnea only, with signalling buoy, and outside Marine Protected Area no-take zones.
What applies here
Restrictions
Specific rules and limits that apply within this area.
Apnea only (no breathing apparatus); daylight only; >500 m from bathing beaches; >100 m from fixed gear/anchored vessels/nets; signalling buoy with red flag + white diagonal stripe; speargun loaded only when submerged; age 16+; 5 kg/day limit; RecFishing/MASAF registration.
When it applies
Seasons
Time-of-year periods that affect spearfishing in this zone.
Daylight (sunrise to sunset) year-round, except species-specific EU closures
Source
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Italy
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Register as a recreational/sport sea fisher (age 16+) via the national MASAF system; from January 2026 register and declare catches of listed species through the EU RecFishing app under Reg. (UE) 2023/2842. No exam required for spearfishing itself.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · masaf.gov.it
On the ground
Local shops & charters
Gear shops, charters, courses and clubs around Italy. Sample listings are clearly marked while we verify real operators.