Malta
Europe · Southern Europe
Recreational spearfishing is legal in Malta and does not require a dedicated licence, but it is tightly regulated by directly-applicable EU law. Under Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (and previously Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006) spear guns may only be used in recreational fishing WITHOUT an aqualung (underwater breathing apparatus / scuba) and only by day, from dawn until dusk; night spearfishing and spearfishing on scuba are prohibited. Spearfishing is also banned inside marine conservation areas, voluntary marine reserves around wrecks (e.g. Cirkewwa), designated swimmers'/bathing zones and protected archaeological zones at sea. EU minimum conservation reference sizes (Annex IX) apply to catch, recreational catch may not be sold, and bluefin tuna is effectively catch-and-release for recreational fishers. The national framework is the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425.
Dernière mise à jour juin 15, 2026
Cadre réglementaire
- §Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 of the Laws of Malta (Act II of 2001, as amended)
- §Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures
- §Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea
- §Fishing Vessels Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 425.07
- §Notice to Mariners No. 5 of 2008 (Conservation Areas Around Wrecks)
- Licence requise
- Non 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.
Prohibited fishing gears and methods - projectiles and spear guns
Regulation (EU) 2019/1241
any type of projectile, with the exception of those used to kill caged or trapped tuna and of hand-held spears and spear guns used in recreational fishing without an aqualung, from dawn until dusk.
Restriction on spear-guns with breathing apparatus and at night
Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006
Spear-guns shall be prohibited if used in conjunction with underwater breathing apparatus (aqualung) or at night from sunset to dawn.
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act - short title and scope
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 (Act II of 2001)
To make provision for the regulation, conservation and management of the fisheries of Malta and matters incidental thereto. ... 1. The short title of this Act is Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.
Definition of commercial fishing (excludes recreational fishing)
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 (Act II of 2001)
"commercial fishing" means all fishing operations with the exception of subsistence fishing and recreational fishing;
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.
- RéglementéeAll spearfishing (time-of-day restriction)sunset – dawn
Spearfishing with spear guns is prohibited at night, from sunset/dusk until dawn; spear guns may only be used in daylight (dawn until dusk). Basis: Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g); Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 Art. 8(4).
- RéglementéeDesignated bathing / swimmers' zones (seasonal, typically summer)unknown – unknown
Fishing, including spearfishing, is not allowed in designated swimming zones; these are set seasonally (mainly summer) and change year to year, so local notices must be checked.
Autorisation de pêcher
Licence
Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.
- Type
- No dedicated spearfishing licence; recreational shore/underwater fishing requires no permit
- Coût
- None for recreational spearfishing
- Validité
- n/a
- Comment l'obtenir
- No licence is required to spearfish recreationally in Malta. A special recreational permit from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is only needed for specific activities such as private bluefin tuna fishing or for fishing implements not otherwise permitted.
- Autorité
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA), Malta
Matériel et technique
Règles d'équipement
Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.
Restrictions
- Spear guns may NOT be used in conjunction with underwater breathing apparatus (aqualung/scuba); free-diving / breath-hold only
- Spear guns may only be used by day, from dawn until dusk; night spearfishing is prohibited
- Spear gun defined in EU law as a pneumatic or mechanically powered hand-held gun that shoots a spear for the purpose of underwater fishing
Restrictions derive from directly-applicable EU law (Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g), formerly Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 Art. 8(4)). No specific national cap on number of spears was identified.
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
No specific recreational daily bag limit identified for general species; recreational catch may NOT be sold. Bluefin tuna effectively catch-and-release (retain only if over 115 cm / 30 kg and may not be marketed).
Tailles minimales
- European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)min 25 cm
- Groupers (Epinephelus spp.)min 45 cm
- White sea-bream (Diplodus sargus)min 23 cm
- Gilt-head sea-bream (Sparus aurata)min 20 cm
- Common sea bream / red porgy (Pagrus pagrus)min 18 cm
- Red mullets (Mullus spp.)min 11 cm
- Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)min 115 cm
Espèces protégées — ne pas prélever
- ProtégéeAtlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) - recreational catch effectively catch-and-release, may not be marketed
- ProtégéeDusky grouper / groupers (Epinephelus spp.) - minimum size and conservation concern
- ProtégéeDentex and amberjack - minimum legal sizes apply
Minimum sizes are the EU Mediterranean minimum conservation reference sizes set in Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. Bluefin tuna minimum landing reference is 115 cm or 30 kg. Recreational anglers may not sell any part of their catch.
Qui peut pêcher
Visiteurs et résidents
Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.
Visiteurs étrangers
AutoriséeRestrictions
- Same rules as residents: no scuba, daylight only, respect protected/swimmer/conservation zones, EU minimum sizes, no sale of catch
No spearfishing licence is required in Malta for residents or tourists, so foreigners may spearfish recreationally under the same EU and national rules. No nationality-specific restriction was identified.
Résidents
No recreational spearfishing licence required
Recreational spearfishing requires no permit for residents. Owning/operating a fishing vessel is separately regulated under the Fishing Vessels Regulations (S.L. 425.07).
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
Recreational shore and boat spearfishing is generally permitted in Maltese coastal waters by daylight without scuba, subject to EU minimum sizes and no-sale rules, provided the area is not a marine conservation area, voluntary marine reserve, archaeological zone or designated bathing zone.
No scuba/aqualung; daylight only; EU Annex IX minimum sizes; catch may not be sold; bluefin tuna catch-and-release for recreational fishers.
Zones interdites
- Cirkewwa Voluntary Marine Reserve (P29 and Rozi wrecks area)voluntary marine reserve / conservation area around wrecks
Conservation area around wreck/dive sites near Cirkewwa where spearfishing and bottom-touching fishing gear are prohibited; covers roughly a 200 m coastal stretch around the wreck sites. Established via Notice to Mariners No. 5 of 2008 (Conservation Areas Around Wrecks).
- Marine conservation areas (general)marine conservation area
Within conservation areas, spear fishing and the use of fishing gear such as set bottom lines, trammel nets, gill nets and entangling nets are prohibited.
- Designated swimmers' / bathing zonesswimming / bathing zone
Any type of fishing gear/implements, including spearfishing equipment, is banned within designated bathing areas (seasonal swimmer zones).
- Protected archaeological zones at seaarchaeological protection zone
Spear fishing and the use of fishing gear such as set bottom lines, trammel nets, gill nets are prohibited in archaeological zones at sea; only surface fishing and trolling are allowed.
- Commercial dive sites and marine parksmarine park / commercial dive site
Spearfishing is prohibited in Malta's marine parks and at commercial dive sites.
Conditions sur l'eau
Conditions en direct
Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en Malta, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.
Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Cirkewwa Voluntary Marine Reserve (P29 and Rozi wrecks area).
À qui s'adresser
Autorités
Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA)
fisheries authority
dfa.gov.mtGhammieri Government Farm, Triq l-Ingiered, Marsa MRS 3303, Malta; email infofisheries.mafa@gov.mt; tel +356 2292 6990Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights
environment / agriculture ministry
agric.gov.mtMaltaTransport Malta (Ports and Yachting / Notices to Mariners)
maritime authority
transport.gov.mtRescue Coordination Centre tel 21809279 / 22494202
D'où cela provient
Sources
Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.
- [01]
Laws related to diving and the marine environment in Malta - divinginfo.mt
Secondairedivinginfo.mtConsulté le juin 15 - [02]
Spearfishing Malta - Regulations, Rules, Prohibited Zones
communityspearfishing.mtConsulté le juin 15 - [03]
Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Article 7 (Prohibited fishing gears and methods)
Officiellelegislation.gov.ukConsulté le juin 15 - [04]
Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex IX (minimum conservation reference sizes, Mediterranean)
Officiellelegislation.gov.ukConsulté le juin 15 - [05]
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 of the Laws of Malta (UN DOALOS copy)
Officielleun.orgConsulté le juin 15 - [06]
Cirkewwa Voluntary Marine Reserve - spearfishing illegal; cites EC 1967/2006 Art 8(4)
communitycirkewwavoluntarymarinereserve.blogspot.comConsulté le juin 15 - [07]
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) - official website
Officielledfa.gov.mtConsulté le juin 15 - [08]
Malta Fishing Forum - Local Fishing Regulations (cites S.L. 10.12, EC 1967/2006, EC 302/2009)
communitymaltafishingforum.comConsulté le juin 15
Notes du chercheur
Malta has no standalone spearfishing statute; recreational spearfishing legality is governed by (a) directly-applicable EU technical-measures law - Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (replacing Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006), which permits hand-held spears and spear guns in recreational fishing only WITHOUT an aqualung and only from dawn until dusk, and (b) the national Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425. Net effect: spearfishing is allowed but restricted (no scuba, daylight only, no protected/swimmer/conservation/archaeological zones, EU minimum sizes, no sale of catch). No recreational licence is required. The verbatim EC 1967/2006 Art. 8(4) text was retrieved from a community page that quotes it directly; the equivalent in-force provision (Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g)) was retrieved verbatim from the legislation.gov.uk retained-EU-law mirror. EUR-Lex pages would not render via the fetch tool. Cirkewwa coordinates are approximate (the wreck/reserve location, not an official boundary). Confidence set to medium: the in-force legal text and framework are well sourced, but the official EUR-Lex and Maltese government pages for precise national implementing notices and the full list of named conservation/swimmer zones could not all be directly retrieved.
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