Cyprus
Asia · Western Asia
Recreational spearfishing is legal in the Republic of Cyprus but tightly regulated. A separate 'Spear Gun' amateur (recreational) fishing licence issued by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) is compulsory. Only apnea (breath-hold / free-diving) spearfishing is permitted: the use of SCUBA gear, artificial lights and night spearfishing are prohibited. Spearfishers must carry a marker buoy with a red flag, stay at least 100 m from organised swimming areas and 500 m from marinas and ports, and must not fish in marine protected areas (e.g. Lara-Toxeftra, Cape Greco) during their restricted periods. National catch and minimum-size limits and lists of protected species apply. Note: this record covers the Republic of Cyprus; the northern part of the island administers separate rules not covered here.
Dernière mise à jour juin 16, 2026
Cadre réglementaire
- §Fisheries Law, Cap. 135 (and Regulations made thereunder, including Reg. No. 273/90)
- §DFMR Amateur (Recreational) Fishing Licence conditions - 'Spear Gun' category
- Licence requise
- Requise
- Fusil harpon
- Autorisé
- Plongée bouteille
- Interdit
- Étrangers
- Bienvenus
La loi, verbatim
Textes juridiques
Les dispositions législatives et réglementaires exactes qui régissent la chasse sous-marine ici, citées telles que publiées, avec un lien vers chaque source officielle.
Lara-Toxeftra Turtle Reserve - fishing and vessel prohibition during nesting season
Consolidated Fisheries Regulations (273/90), under Fisheries Law, Cap. 135
The management regulations for this area that are spelled out in the Consolidated Fisheries Regulations (273/90), prohibit during the nesting season which is from the 1st of June up to the 30th of September, the entry and anchoring of a vessel of any kind in the protected area, down to the 20 m isobath, as is any kind of fishing (except with a rod and line from the shore).
Amateur 'Spear Gun' licence - guardian declaration for minors
DFMR Amateur Fishing Licence application portal
Guardian's declaration in the case of an application for a fishing permit with a speargun/dam to a minor: "I ... ... with ID No ... ... guardian of the abovementioned minor applicant, am responsible to escort him/her for security reasons, during his/hers recreational fishing activities with a speargun/dam."
Quand vous pouvez plonger
Saisons et restrictions temporelles
Périodes de fermeture, d'ouverture et de restriction tout au long de l'année. Confirmez toujours localement les fermetures propres à chaque espèce.
- FerméeLara-Toxeftra Turtle Reserve (Akamas peninsula, Pafos)juin 1 – sept. 30
During the turtle nesting season (1 June - 30 September) all fishing activities, including spearfishing, are prohibited in the Lara-Toxeftra Reserve down to the 20 m isobath, with the exception of rod-and-line fishing from the shore. The entry and anchoring of a vessel of any kind in the protected area is prohibited during the same 1 June - 30 September window.
Autorisation de pêcher
Licence
Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.
Apply online via the DFMR licence portal (licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy) or in person at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Processing typically up to 2 working days; the payment receipt serves as the licence and must be carried while fishing.
Obtenez votre licenceOuvre le portail officiel · licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy
- Type
- Amateur (recreational) fishing licence - 'Spear Gun' category
- Coût
- Not confirmed from an official source. Secondary sources report roughly EUR 30-35 per year for the speargun category, but the official DFMR/gov.cy fee schedule could not be retrieved (the official portals block automated access).
- Validité
- Expires on 31 December of the year of issue, regardless of issue date.
- Comment l'obtenir
- Apply online via the DFMR licence portal (licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy) or in person at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Processing typically up to 2 working days; the payment receipt serves as the licence and must be carried while fishing.
- Autorité
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR), Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Matériel et technique
Règles d'équipement
Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.
Restrictions
- Only apnea (breath-hold / free-diving) spearfishing is permitted
- Use of SCUBA / underwater breathing apparatus while spearfishing is prohibited
- Use of artificial lights for spearfishing is prohibited
- Night spearfishing (sunset to sunrise) is prohibited
- A floating marker buoy with a red flag (visible from a distance) must be carried
Spearfishing is allowed only while free-diving. Powered underwater hunting, SCUBA and lights are strictly prohibited and carry penalties.
Ce que vous pouvez prélever
Limites de capture et espèces protégées
Quotas journaliers, tailles minimales et espèces qui ne doivent jamais être prélevées.
Limite journalière
5 kg per spearfisher per day, plus one additional individual fish regardless of weight.
Tailles minimales
- Groupermin 40 cm
- Snappermin 35 cm
- Amberjackmin 50 cm
- Tuna (Bluefin)min 70 cm
- Swordfishmin 140 cm
- Marlinmin 200 cm
- Barracudamin 50 cm
- Dolphinfish (mahi-mahi)min 60 cm
- Octopusmin 25 cm
- Squidmin 20 cm
Espèces protégées — ne pas prélever
- ProtégéeBluefin tuna (restricted, must be released if taken recreationally)
- ProtégéeSwordfish (restricted)
- ProtégéeSharks
- ProtégéeRays / skates (below minimum size must be released)
- ProtégéeMarine mammals (incl. Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus)
- ProtégéeSea turtles (loggerhead and green turtle)
IMPORTANT: the daily-weight limit, all minimum-size values above, and the per-species daily/annual figures below are NOT taken from a verbatim official DFMR notice - they come only from secondary blog/guide sources and could not be confirmed against an official instrument (the gov.cy / DFMR pages block automated fetching). Treat them as indicative and verify against the current DFMR notice before fishing. Per-species figures reported by secondary sources include: Grouper 1/day, Amberjack 2/day, Tuna 1/day, Snapper 3/day, Octopus 5/day, Squid 10/day; Swordfish 1/year, Marlin 1/year. Protected species such as marine mammals and sea turtles must be released immediately with minimal harm if accidentally caught.
Qui peut pêcher
Visiteurs et résidents
Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.
Visiteurs étrangers
AutoriséeExigences
- Obtain the same DFMR amateur 'Spear Gun' licence as residents (application requires ID/passport number, date of birth and contact details)
Restrictions
- Same equipment, zone, season, catch and protected-species rules apply as for residents
No evidence of a separate or special spearfishing regime for foreigners/tourists; the standard amateur Spear Gun licence applies to everyone. Sale of recreationally caught fish is prohibited.
Résidents
Amateur (recreational) fishing licence - 'Spear Gun' category
Exigences
- Apply via the DFMR online portal or in person
- Minors (ages 12-18) require written consent / guardian declaration; the guardian must agree to escort the minor during speargun fishing
Amateur licences are generally issued to persons over 12 years of age. Violation of the licence conditions or the fisheries legislation can carry significant penalties (reported up to EUR 8,542 fine and/or up to 6 months imprisonment).
Où sur la côte
Zones autorisées et interdites
Zones nommées ouvertes ou fermées à la chasse sous-marine. Voir l'image complète sur la carte interactive.
Zones autorisées
Free-diving spearfishing is permitted along the Republic of Cyprus coastline outside marine protected areas, at least 100 m from organised swimming areas and 500 m from marinas and ports, with a valid Spear Gun amateur licence.
Valid DFMR Spear Gun licence required; free-diving (apnea) only, no SCUBA or lights; marker buoy with red flag required; keep 100 m from organised swimming areas and 500 m from marinas/ports; national catch limits, minimum sizes and protected-species rules apply.
Zones interdites
- Lara-Toxeftra Turtle Reservemarine reserve (sea turtle nesting reserve)
Marine protected area (sea turtle nesting reserve) on the south-western Akamas peninsula, Pafos district, set up in 1989 under the Fisheries Law Cap. 135 / Consolidated Fisheries Regulations 273/90 and added to the SPAMI list in 2013. Spearfishing and other fishing (except rod-and-line from the shore), and the entry/anchoring of vessels, are prohibited down to the 20 m isobath during the turtle nesting season 1 June - 30 September.
- Cape Greco / Cavo Greco Marine Protected Areamarine protected area / Natura 2000 site
Protected marine area at the south-eastern tip of Cyprus (part of the Cavo Greco Natura 2000 site CY3000005). According to secondary sources, angling is allowed only in the designated 'Natural Zone' and only for holders of the professional coastal-angling permit, and recreational spearfishing is not permitted in the protected area. This restriction is reported by secondary sources only and has not been confirmed against an official DFMR / Natura 2000 instrument.
- Organised swimming / bathing areas (buoyed zones)swimming/bathing exclusion zone
Spearfishing is prohibited within organised swimming areas marked by buoys, and spearfishers must remain at least 100 m away from such organised swimming areas.
- Marinas and ports (500 m exclusion)port / marina exclusion zone
Spearfishing is prohibited within 500 m of marinas and ports.
Conditions sur l'eau
Conditions en direct
Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en Cyprus, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.
Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Lara-Toxeftra Turtle Reserve.
À qui s'adresser
Autorités
Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.
Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR)
fisheries authority
moa.gov.cy101 Vithleem Street, 1416 Nicosia; Tel +357 22 807818 / +357 22 807829; licenses@dfmr.moa.gov.cyMinistry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
environment ministry
moa.gov.cyNicosia, Cyprus
D'où cela provient
Sources
Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.
- [01]
Department of Fisheries and Marine Research - Amateur fishing licence application portal
Officiellelicence.dfmr.moa.gov.cyConsulté le juin 14 - [02]
Apply and pay for a recreational fishing license - Gov.cy
Officiellegov.cyConsulté le juin 14 - [03]
Lara-Toxeftra Turtle Reserve - SPAMI list (UNEP/MAP - SPA/RAC)
Officiellespami.medchm.netConsulté le juin 14 - [04]
Spearfishing Cyprus - Rules, Species & Gear Tips (SPEARZEN)
Secondairespearzen.comConsulté le juin 14 - [05]
Fishing in Cyprus: Freshwater and Sea Angling - Angloinfo
Secondaireangloinfo.comConsulté le juin 14 - [06]
Current sea fishing catch limits and size restrictions in Cyprus - Fishing in Cyprus
Secondairefishingincyprus.comConsulté le juin 14 - [07]
Fishing in Cyprus - places, rules and tips (DOM LiVE blog)
Secondairedom.com.cyConsulté le juin 14 - [08]
Fishing in Cyprus: The Complete Guide (FishingBooker)
Secondairefishingbooker.comConsulté le juin 14
Notes du chercheur
Scope: Republic of Cyprus (government-controlled area). Spearfishing is legal but restricted: a DFMR 'Spear Gun' amateur licence is mandatory and only free-diving (apnea) is allowed - SCUBA, lights and night fishing are prohibited. Verbatim legal text directly from the Fisheries Law Cap. 135 PDF could not be retrieved because the official gov.cy and DFMR pages block automated fetching (HTTP 403/404 and host-blocking redirects); the law_texts entries are sourced from a SPA/RAC SPAMI official page (re-verified 2026-06-16) and the official DFMR licence portal, and contain only contiguous verbatim quotes from those pages. Corrections made on 2026-06-16: (1) the Lara-Toxeftra vessel/anchoring prohibition runs during the nesting season 1 June - 30 September (down to the 20 m isobath), NOT the previously stated 1 May - 31 October, which was unsupported by the source; (2) the unsourced 'first MPA in Cyprus' superlative was removed (the reserve was set up in 1989 and added to SPAMI in 2013); (3) the licence-portal law text now holds only the genuinely verbatim guardian's-declaration provision instead of a paraphrased category/expiry summary. Cape Greco's no-spearfishing claim and the official licence fee could not be confirmed against an official instrument and are flagged as secondary-only. Catch limits, minimum sizes and exclusion-distance figures rest on secondary sources and must be verified against the current DFMR notice before fishing. Coordinates for Lara-Toxeftra and Cape Greco are approximate centroids from public geographic references. Confidence lowered to low because, although the core legal status (licence + free-diving-only) is well sourced, the numeric catch/size limits, the licence fee and the Cape Greco prohibition all rest on secondary sources rather than verbatim official text.
Prévenez-moi quand les règles de Cyprus changent
Nous vous enverrons un e-mail lorsque les saisons ou réglementations de Cyprus seront mises à jour dans notre jeu de données.