SpearfishingMap

Portugal

Europe · Southern Europe

Recreational spearfishing (pesca submarina / caca submarina) is legal in mainland Portugal and is one of the four recognised modalities of recreational sea fishing (pesca ludica). It requires a specific recreational fishing licence issued by the DGRM (or the 'all modalities' licence). It may only be practised in apnea (breath-hold); the use of any artificial breathing apparatus (scuba / compressed gas) while spearfishing is prohibited, and a speargun may not be carried on board a vessel together with breathing apparatus. The spearfisher must be marked at the surface by a signalling buoy/board flying the international Alfa flag, which must stay within 30 m. Night spearfishing (between sunset and sunrise) is banned, as is the use of speargun propulsion based on chemical detonation or compressed gas. A daily catch limit of 15 kg applies to spearfishing (largest specimen excluded). Selling any recreational catch is forbidden. Spearfishing is prohibited or heavily restricted inside several marine protected areas (Berlengas, Arrabida/Luiz Saldanha, SW Alentejo & Costa Vicentina, Litoral Norte). Capture of the dusky grouper (mero, Epinephelus marginatus) is prohibited. The autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira have their own separate regimes.

Restricted
Fiabilité des donnéesFiabilité élevée

Dernière mise à jour septembre 27, 2024

Cadre réglementaire

  • §Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000, de 29 de setembro (regime juridico da pesca ludica), as amended (incl. Decreto-Lei n.o 101/2013)
  • §Portaria n.o 14/2014, de 23 de janeiro (regulamenta o exercicio da pesca ludica)
  • §Tamanhos Minimos de Referencia de Conservacao (TMRC) - DGRM / Regulamento (UE) 2019/1241
  • §Portaria n.o 83-B/2024, de 27 de setembro (proibicao da captura de mero - Acores)
  • §Resolucao do Conselho do Governo Regional (Madeira) n.o 604/2022 (proibicao de captura de mero - Madeira)
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.

01Artigo 9.o, n.o 3Portugal (mainland) · national

Pesca submarina must be practised in apnea; no chemical/compressed-gas propulsion

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

A pesca submarina so pode ser exercida por praticante em apneia, podendo ser usado utensilio de captura de mao ou de arremesso desde que a respetiva forca propulsora nao seja devida a poder detonante resultante de substancia quimica ou a gas artificialmente comprimido.

02Artigo 2.o-A, n.o 1, alinea d)Portugal (mainland) · national

Definition of pesca submarina as a recreational fishing modality

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

Pesca submarina, que se exerce em flutuacao ou em submersao na agua em apneia

03Artigo 14.o, n.o 1, alinea d)Portugal (mainland) · national

Prohibition of night spearfishing

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

Exercer a pesca submarina no periodo noturno, entre o por e o nascer do Sol

04Artigo 14.o, n.o 1, alinea o)Portugal (mainland) · national

Spearfishing without signalling buoy or with breathing apparatus is prohibited

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

Exercer a pesca submarina sem a boia de sinalizacao ou com uso de equipamentos de respiracao artificial

05Artigo 7.oPortugal (mainland) · national

Prohibition of selling recreational catch

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

E proibido expor para venda, colocar a venda ou vender especimes marinhos, animais ou vegetais, ou suas partes capturados na pesca ludica.

06Artigo 12.oPortugal (mainland) · national

Licences are issued by the DGRM

Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000

PTOriginal

As licencas sao emitidas pela Direcao-Geral de Recursos Naturais, Seguranca e Servicos Maritimos (DGRM).

07Regra de sinalizacao da pesca submarinaPortugal (mainland) · national

Surface signalling equipment must stay within 30 m of the spearfisher

Portaria n.o 14/2014

PTOriginal

O exercicio da pesca submarina e obrigatoriamente assinalado, a superficie, por equipamento de sinalizacao, o qual nao pode estar a uma distancia superior a 30 m do praticante de pesca submarina.

08Limites de capturaPortugal (mainland) · national

Daily catch weight limit (15 kg for spearfishing, largest specimen excluded)

Portaria n.o 14/2014

PTOriginal

O peso total das capturas diarias nao pode exceder 10 kg por praticante, nao sendo contabilizado o exemplar de maior peso. Na pesca submarina este limite e de 15 kg, nao sendo igualmente contabilizado o maior exemplar.

09Tamanhos minimosPortugal (mainland) · national

Minimum capture sizes apply to recreational fishing as per commercial sizes

Portaria n.o 14/2014

PTOriginal

E proibida a captura de peixes, crustaceos, moluscos e equinodermes, cujo tamanho seja inferior aos tamanhos minimos fixados na legislacao em vigor para a pesca comercial.

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.

janv.
févr.
mars
avr.
mai
juin
juil.
août
sept.
oct.
nov.
déc.
FerméeRéglementéeOuverte
  • Ferméepesca submarina (spearfishing) - night-timesunset – sunrise

    Spearfishing is prohibited at night, in the period between sunset and sunrise (Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000, Art. 14.o(1)(d)).

    marinha.pt
  • RéglementéeMarine areas of Berlengas, Arrabida, SW Alentejo & Costa Vicentina, Litoral Norte (boat fishing)oct. 1 – mai 30

    From 1 October to 30 May, boat-based recreational fishing in the marine areas of the listed protected areas is authorised only from Thursday to Monday (Portaria n.o 14/2014).

    dgrm.pt

Autorisation de pêcher

Licence

Ce dont vous avez besoin pour être autorisé dans l'eau, ce que cela coûte et comment l'obtenir.

Licence requisevia Direcao-Geral de Recursos Naturais, Seguranca e Servicos Maritimos (DGRM)

Online via the DGRM/Bmar portal (www.bmar.pt) - the route for non-residents and foreigners; at Portuguese Multibanco ATMs (national citizens); at the DGRM counter in Lisbon; or at regional DRAP offices. Licence is dematerialised (digital record).

Obtenez votre licence

Ouvre le portail officiel · dgrm.pt

Licence requise
Type
Licenca de pesca ludica - submarina (underwater/spearfishing), or the 'todas as modalidades' (all-types) licence. Issued for mainland Portugal; Azores and Madeira have separate regional licences.
Coût
Submarina (underwater): EUR 3/day, EUR 10/month, EUR 25/year. All-types (todas): EUR 20/month, EUR 70/year (mainland; urgent issuance costs double).
Validité
Daily, monthly or annual
Comment l'obtenir
Online via the DGRM/Bmar portal (www.bmar.pt) - the route for non-residents and foreigners; at Portuguese Multibanco ATMs (national citizens); at the DGRM counter in Lisbon; or at regional DRAP offices. Licence is dematerialised (digital record).
Autorité
Direcao-Geral de Recursos Naturais, Seguranca e Servicos Maritimos (DGRM)
Portail officiel des licences · dgrm.pt

Matériel et technique

Règles d'équipement

Quel matériel est autorisé, comment il peut être utilisé et les conditions associées.

Fusil harponAutorisée
Plongée bouteilleInterdite

Restrictions

  • Spearfishing may only be practised in apnea (breath-hold); use of artificial breathing apparatus (scuba / compressed gas) while spearfishing is prohibited (Decreto-Lei 246/2000, Art. 9.o(3) and Art. 14.o(1)(o)).
  • Speargun propulsion may not derive from chemical detonation or artificially compressed gas (i.e. powder/pneumatic-explosive guns banned); hand or throwing capture tools allowed.
  • Carrying or keeping a speargun and artificial breathing apparatus simultaneously on board a vessel is prohibited.
  • Mandatory surface signalling: a clearly visible buoy or board flying the international code Alfa flag, kept within 30 m of the spearfisher; vessels must keep a 50 m safety distance from Alfa-flagged signalling equipment/vessels.
  • Use of artificial light sources as a lure/attractant underwater is prohibited (except permitted use of toneira for cephalopods).

Spearfishing must not be practised within the legally established distance of concessioned (lifeguarded) bathing beaches. Minimum age and licence eligibility: minors under 16 are exempt from licensing only when accompanied by a licence holder; licence applications for minors require parental/guardian authorisation.

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

Spearfishing: 15 kg total per practitioner per day, the single largest specimen not counted (general recreational fishing limit is 10 kg). For organisms other than fish and cephalopods, a combined max of 2 kg/day.

Tailles minimales

  • Robalo-legitimo / European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)min 36 cm
  • Dourada / Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)min 19 cm
  • Sargo legitimo / White seabream (Diplodus sargus)min 17 cm
  • Sargo safia (Diplodus vulgaris)min 17 cm
  • Sargo bicudo (Diplodus puntazzo)min 22 cm
  • Sargo veado (Diplodus cervinus)min 27 cm
  • Pargo-legitimo / Common seabream (Pagrus pagrus)min 20 cm
  • Goraz / Blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)min 33 cm
  • Besugo (Pagellus acarne)min 18 cm
  • Bica (Pagellus erythrinus)min 15 cm
  • Corvina-legitima / Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)min 42 cm
  • Salmonete-legitimo / Striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus)min 18 cm
  • Faneca / Pouting (Trisopterus luscus)min 17 cm
  • Lagostas / Spiny lobsters (Palinurus spp.) - carapacemin 9.5 cm
  • Lavagante-europeu / European lobster (Homarus gammarus) - carapacemin 8.7 cm
  • Choco-vulgar / Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - dorsal mantlemin 10 cm
  • Lula-vulgar / European squid (Loligo vulgaris) - dorsal mantlemin 10 cm

Espèces protégées — ne pas prélever

  • ProtégéeMero / Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - capture prohibited in spearfishing nationally; full capture ban in Azores (Portaria 83-B/2024) and Madeira (Resolucao do Conselho do Governo Regional 604/2022)
  • ProtégéeCavalos-marinhos / Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
  • ProtégéeCoral-vermelho / Red coral
  • ProtégéePepinos-do-mar / Sea cucumbers (under Decreto-Lei 38/2021)

Polvo-vulgar / Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) minimum capture weight is 750 g. Minimum sizes are the conservation reference sizes (TMRC) set for commercial fishing and apply equally to recreational/spearfishing catch.

Qui peut pêcher

Visiteurs et résidents

Comment les règles diffèrent pour les visiteurs étrangers et les résidents locaux.

Visiteurs étrangers

Autorisée

Exigences

  • Obtain a recreational fishing licence (pesca ludica submarina or all-types) - non-residents/foreigners apply online via the Bmar portal (www.bmar.pt).
  • Bmar requires online registration/authentication, selection of the pesca ludica category, and bank-transfer payment with proof attached.
  • Allow advance processing time (about 5 working days for regular, 3 for urgent requests).

Restrictions

  • Same rules as residents apply: apnea only, Alfa-flag signalling, no night spearfishing, 15 kg daily limit, no sale of catch, MPA restrictions.
  • Mainland licence does not cover the Azores or Madeira, which require their own regional licences.

International spearfishing competitors registered for a sanctioned tournament may be exempt from the individual licence requirement.

Résidents

Licenca de pesca ludica - submarina (or all-types) issued by DGRM for mainland Portugal

Exigences

  • Hold a valid recreational fishing licence (national citizens can buy at Multibanco ATMs).
  • Comply with apnea-only, signalling, distance, season, size and catch-limit rules.

Avantages

  • Convenient purchase channels (ATM, DGRM counter, DRAP offices, online).
  • Minors under 16 exempt from licensing when accompanied by a licence holder.

Residents of the Azores and Madeira obtain licences through the respective regional systems.

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

  • Mainland Portugal coastal waters (general)

    Spearfishing is permitted along the mainland Atlantic coast outside protected/no-take areas, subject to the licence, apnea-only, signalling, distance-from-bathers and daily-limit rules. Distinct licence regimes apply in the Azores and Madeira.

    Licence required; apnea only; Alfa-flag signalling buoy within 30 m; not within the legally established distance of concessioned bathing beaches; no night spearfishing; 15 kg daily limit; no sale of catch.

    dgrm.pt

Zones interdites

Voir sur la carte

Conditions sur l'eau

Conditions en direct

Aperçu marin et météo en direct près d'un point de référence côtier en Portugal, fourni par Open-Meteo. Les conditions varient le long de la côte — à considérer comme indicatives.

Conditions marines et météo en direct près de Reserva Natural das Berlengas.

Conditions

À qui s'adresser

Autorités

Les organismes officiels responsables de la pêche et des licences.

  • Direcao-Geral de Recursos Naturais, Seguranca e Servicos Maritimos (DGRM)

    fisheries / maritime authority (licensing and conservation)

    dgrm.pt+351 213 035 805; ajuda@bmar.pt

  • Autoridade Maritima Nacional / Policia Maritima

    maritime enforcement authority

    amn.ptunknown

  • Instituto da Conservacao da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF)

    environment / protected areas authority

    icnf.ptunknown

  • Direcao Regional de Pescas (Acores)

    regional fisheries authority (Azores)

    portal.azores.gov.ptunknown

  • Direcao Regional do Mar / Governo Regional da Madeira

    regional fisheries authority (Madeira)

    simplifica.madeira.gov.ptunknown

D'où cela provient

Sources

Chaque affirmation sur cette page renvoie à l'une de ces références.

  1. [01]

    Decreto-Lei n.o 246/2000 (consolidado) - Pesca ludica - Marinha Portuguesa LexMar

    Officielle
    marinha.ptConsulté le juin 15
  2. [02]

    Portaria n.o 14/2014, de 23 de janeiro - texto integral (mirror DRE)

    Secondaire
    dre.tretas.orgConsulté le juin 15
  3. [03]

    Portaria 14/2014 - pagina oficial Diario da Republica

    Officielle
    diariodarepublica.ptConsulté le juin 15
  4. [04]

    DGRM - Licenca de Pesca Ludica (tipos, custos, como obter)

    Officielle
    dgrm.ptConsulté le juin 15
  5. [05]

    DGRM - Licensing (EN) pesca ludica

    Officielle
    dgrm.ptConsulté le juin 15
  6. [06]

    DGRM - Tabela de Tamanhos Minimos de Captura (TMRC), 04-01-2023 (PDF)

    Officielle
    dgrm.ptConsulté le juin 15
  7. [07]

    DGRM - Especies / Tamanhos Minimos / Defesos

    Officielle
    dgrm.ptConsulté le juin 15
  8. [08]

    DGRM - Zonas de Pesca (areas protegidas e restricoes)

    Officielle
    dgrm.ptConsulté le juin 15
  9. [09]

    Jornal da Economia do Mar - A Pesca Maritima Ludica (overview of framework)

    Secondaire
    jornaldaeconomiadomar.comConsulté le juin 15
  10. [10]

    Portal do Governo dos Acores - Portaria n.o 66/2021 / proibicao mero

    Officielle
    portal.azores.gov.ptConsulté le juin 15
  11. [11]

    Madeira - Licenca de pesca ludica (SIMplifica)

    Officielle
    simplifica.madeira.gov.ptConsulté le juin 15

Notes du chercheur

Mainland framework: Decreto-Lei 246/2000 + Portaria 14/2014. Verbatim provisions on the apnea requirement, night ban, signalling buoy, sale ban and DGRM licensing were retrieved from the Marinha Portuguesa LexMar consolidated text of DL 246/2000; the 30 m signalling distance and the 15 kg spearfishing daily limit from a Portaria 14/2014 text mirror. Minimum capture sizes are quoted directly from the official DGRM TMRC table PDF (extracted from the document). The article numbers cited for DL 246/2000 reflect the consolidated text and should be re-checked against the official Diario da Republica before publication. Coordinates for the prohibited MPAs are approximate centroids for map display, not legal boundaries; exact spearfishing boundaries inside each park are defined by that park's own POOC/management plan and should be consulted before diving. The Azores and Madeira autonomous regions operate separate licence and conservation regimes (e.g. mero capture fully banned: Azores Portaria 83-B/2024; Madeira Resolucao 604/2022) - those regional rules are summarised but not fully exhausted here. Confidence is high for mainland core rules; medium for exact in-park boundaries and current article numbering.

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