Réunion
Africa · Eastern Africa
Réunion is a French overseas department, so French national marine recreational fishing law (Code rural et de la pêche maritime), EU rules and French prefectural arrêtés apply. Recreational spearfishing (chasse/pêche sous-marine en apnée) is legal but heavily regulated. Practitioners must be at least 16, may only freedive (scuba bottles forbidden together with a speargun), must carry a signalling buoy, and may not spearfish at night or use a light. Most of the populated west and south-west reef coast lies within the Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion (created by Décret n° 2007-236, 21 Feb 2007), where spearfishing is banned in the reinforced-protection zones (zones de protection renforcée), in the integral-protection zones (zones de protection intégrale) and in the passes, and the foëne (trident/pole spear) is prohibited reserve-wide. Spearfishing remains permitted on roughly 43% of the reserve perimeter and in open waters outside the reserve, subject to a 5 kg per fisher per day catch limit inside the reserve, a 10 cm minimum size, protected-species rules and the langouste (spiny lobster) closed season of 1 December to 31 March.
Last updated June 15, 2026
Governing framework
- §Code rural et de la pêche maritime (national, France)
- §Décret n° 2007-236 du 21 février 2007 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale marine de la Réunion
- §Décret n° 2014-542 du 26 mai 2014 (modifiant le décret n° 2007-236)
- §Arrêtés préfectoraux (Préfecture de La Réunion / Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien) on recreational fishing and langouste closed season
- License required
- Not required
- Speargun
- Allowed
- Scuba
- Prohibited
- Foreigners
- Welcome
The law, verbatim
Legal texts
The exact statutory and regulatory provisions that govern spearfishing here, quoted as published, with a link to each official source.
Interdiction de la pêche dans les passes et de la foëne en pêche sous-marine
Décret n° 2007-236 du 21 février 2007 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale marine de la Réunion
Dans le cadre de la pêche sous-marine, la pêche dans les passes et l'utilisation d'une foëne sont interdites.
Interdiction de la pêche sous-marine dans les zones de protection renforcée
Décret n° 2007-236 du 21 février 2007 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale marine de la Réunion
La pêche sous-marine est interdite dans les zones de protection renforcée. Toutefois, le préfet peut autoriser une expérimentation de gestion durable de la ressource halieutique par la pêche sous-marine, sur proposition conjointe du gestionnaire et d'une association agréée de pêcheurs sous-marins.
Interdictions générales d'activités dans les zones de protection intégrale
Décret n° 2007-236 du 21 février 2007 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale marine de la Réunion
Toutes formes d'activités et de travaux ainsi que la circulation, le mouillage et l'amarrage sont interdits [dans les zones de protection intégrale], sauf à des fins scientifiques ou de gestion autorisées par le préfet.
Fermeture annuelle de la pêche à la langouste (tous modes, dont sous-marine)
Réglementation de la pêche de loisir à La Réunion (arrêté préfectoral, Préfecture de La Réunion)
La pêche des langoustes est interdite du 1er décembre au 31 mars inclus. Cette interdiction concerne les professionnels comme les plaisanciers et tous les modes de pêche en mer (sous-marine, du bord, à pied, embarquée).
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
- ClosedLangouste (spiny lobster) — all fishing modes including spearfishingDec 1 – Mar 31
Annual closed season for spiny lobster during its reproduction period in Réunion waters; applies to professionals and recreational fishers and to all modes (underwater, shore, on foot, boat). Outside this period the minimum landing size is 23 cm from rostrum tip to tail end; catching langouste with a foëne or arbalète (speargun) is in any case prohibited.
- ClosedRecreational fishing at night in the entire Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion
La pêche de loisir est interdite de nuit dans toute la réserve naturelle marine. Spearfishing at night and the use of a light are prohibited nationally as well.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
- Type
- No licence for recreational sea fishing (incl. spearfishing); a free declaration of underwater fishing activity may be required by the maritime administration
- Cost
- Free
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- No fishing licence is required for recreational sea fishing in France/Réunion. Spearfishers must comply with national safety/equipment rules and any prior declaration requested by the Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien; check local arrêtés before diving.
- Authority
- Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien (DM SOI)
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- Speargun (fusil/arbalète) permitted only when freediving in apnea; carrying a speargun together with scuba bottles or an underwater scooter is prohibited
- Foëne (trident / pole spear) prohibited throughout the Réserve Naturelle Marine
- It is prohibited to hold/keep a loaded speargun out of the water
- Surface signalling buoy (bouée de signalisation, with red diver flag bearing a white Saint Andrew's cross/diagonal) mandatory
- No spearfishing at night and no use of an underwater light (foyer lumineux)
- Foëne or arbalète may not be used to catch langouste
National French rules under the Code rural et de la pêche maritime apply: minimum age 16 to spearfish with a speargun, freediving only.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
5 kg per fisher per day inside the Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion (applies even outside the lagoons)
Minimum sizes
- All species (general minimum)min 10 cm
- Langouste (spiny lobster) — rostrum tip to tail endmin 23 cm
Protected species — do not take
- ProtectedReef sharks (blacktip, whitetip, coral shark, nurse shark)
- ProtectedToxic/dangerous fish (stonefish/poisson-pierre, pufferfish, toadfish)
- ProtectedCoral
- ProtectedShellfish / shells
- ProtectedSpider crabs
- ProtectedLangouste (spiny lobster) during closed season 1 Dec–31 Mar; egg-bearing females must be released immediately year-round
Sale of recreationally caught fish is prohibited. Marine reserve catch capped at 5 kg/fisher/day; an annual declaration of catches may be required. Egg-bearing (grainées) langouste females must be returned to the water immediately.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
AllowedRequirements
- Same rules as residents: minimum age 16, signalling buoy, freediving only, daytime, no foëne in the reserve
- Respect marine reserve zoning (protection zones, passes), 5 kg/day reserve limit, size limits and the langouste closed season
Restrictions
- No commercial sale of catch
- Marine reserve protection zones, integral zones and passes are off-limits
Réunion is a French overseas department and EU outermost region; no nationality-based restriction on recreational sea fishing. No fishing licence is required of residents or visitors.
Residents
No licence required for recreational sea fishing
Requirements
- Minimum age 16 to spearfish
- Mandatory signalling buoy; freediving only; daytime; no foëne in the reserve
- Comply with marine reserve zoning, 5 kg/day reserve limit, size limits and langouste closed season
Rules are identical for residents and visitors; a prior declaration of underwater-fishing activity to the maritime administration may apply locally.
Where on the coast
Allowed & prohibited zones
Named areas that are open to or closed for spearfishing. See the full picture on the interactive map.
Allowed areas
Recreational spearfishing in apnea is permitted along Réunion coasts outside the Réserve Naturelle Marine and outside ports/passes, subject to national rules (min age 16, signalling buoy, no scuba, no night/light) and protected-species/size rules.
Min age 16; surface signalling buoy mandatory; freediving only (no scuba with speargun); no spearfishing at night or with a light; loaded speargun out of water prohibited; 10 cm minimum size; protected/dangerous species prohibited.
Underwater fishing is authorised on about 43% of the reserve's perimeter (general-rule / Niveau 1 areas), i.e. outside the reinforced- and integral-protection zones and outside the closed passes.
Maximum catch 5 kg per fisher per day; foëne prohibited reserve-wide; passes closed to fishing; daytime only; protected-species and size rules apply.
Prohibited areas
- Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion — Zones de protection renforcée (Niveau 2)marine reserve (reinforced protection zone)
Reinforced-protection zones covering about 45% of the reserve (reef platforms off Saint-Gilles-Nord, L'Hermitage, La Saline, Saint-Leu, Pointe au Sel, L'Étang-Salé and others). Spearfishing is prohibited (Art. 21 of Décret 2007-236); it is also forbidden to cross such a zone carrying a loaded underwater weapon.
- Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion — Zones de protection intégrale (Niveau 3)marine reserve (integral / no-take zone)
Integral-protection (no-take) zones covering about 5% of the reserve where all activities, circulation, anchoring and mooring are prohibited except for authorised science/management (Art. 25 of Décret 2007-236). Spearfishing strictly forbidden.
- Passes of L'Ermitage, Trois-Bassins and Colimaçonsmarine reserve (reef pass)
Spearfishing is banned in the reef passes. Fishing in the passes is prohibited (Art. 8 of Décret 2007-236). Crossing the Ravine de Trois-Bassins and Ravine des Colimaçons passes is tolerated only with an unloaded weapon.
- Ports and port access channels (Saint-Gilles, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Leu)port / safety exclusion zone
Spearfishing prohibited in ports and their access channels, around Fish Aggregating Devices (DCP), artificial reefs, lagoons and along the new coastal road (Nouvelle Route du Littoral) zone.
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Réunion, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion — Zones de protection renforcée (Niveau 2).
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien (DM SOI)
maritime authority
Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion (GIP RNMR)
marine protected area manager
reservemarinereunion.frunknownDEAL Réunion (Direction de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement)
environment authority
Préfecture de La Réunion
state authority
reunion.gouv.frunknown
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
Décret n° 2007-236 du 21 février 2007 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale marine de la Réunion — Légifrance
Officiallegifrance.gouv.frAccessed Jun 15 - [02]
La réglementation de la réserve — DEAL Réunion
Officialreunion.developpement-durable.gouv.frAccessed Jun 15 - [03]
Réglementation générale de la pêche de loisir à La Réunion — Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien
Officialdm.sud-ocean-indien.developpement-durable.gouv.frAccessed Jun 15 - [04]
FAQ — Réserve Marine Réunion (pêche sous-marine autorisée sur 43% du périmètre)
Officialreservemarinereunion.frAccessed Jun 15 - [05]
La réglementation — Réserve Marine Réunion
Officialreservemarinereunion.frAccessed Jun 15 - [06]
Le périmètre de la Réserve Naturelle Marine — DEAL Réunion
Officialreunion.developpement-durable.gouv.frAccessed Jun 15 - [07]
La pêche à la langouste interdite (fermeture annuelle 1 déc – 31 mars) — Imaz Press Réunion
Secondaryimazpress.comAccessed Jun 15 - [08]
Réserve naturelle marine de La Réunion — Wikipédia (superficie 3 500 ha, 40 km de côte, Cap La Houssaye à Étang-Salé)
Secondaryfr.wikipedia.orgAccessed Jun 15
Researcher notes
Réunion is a French overseas department (DROM) and EU outermost region; French national fisheries law, EU rules and local prefectural arrêtés apply. The dominant constraint on spearfishing is the Réserve Naturelle Marine de La Réunion (created by Décret n° 2007-236, 21 Feb 2007; boundary rectified by Décret n° 2014-542 of 26 May 2014), covering about 3,500 ha along ~40 km of the west/south-west reef coast from Cap La Houssaye (Saint-Paul) to Roche aux Oiseaux (Étang-Salé), across five communes. Within the reserve: spearfishing banned in zones de protection renforcée (Niveau 2, ~45%) and zones de protection intégrale (Niveau 3, ~5%), foëne banned reserve-wide, fishing banned in the passes; spearfishing remains authorised on ~43% of the perimeter with a 5 kg/fisher/day cap and night fishing prohibited. Verbatim legal text was captured directly from Légifrance (Décret 2007-236, Art. 8, 21, 25). National safety/equipment rules (min age 16, signalling buoy, freediving only, no night/light) are sourced from the Direction de la mer Sud Océan Indien. Langouste closed season 1 Dec–31 Mar and 23 cm minimum size from a secondary news source corroborating the prefectural arrêté; the exact arrêté number was not captured and should be confirmed against the current prefectural text. Coordinates for the protection zones are approximate centroids of the west-coast reserve for mapping and should be refined from the official réserve cartography.
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