Belarus
Europe · Eastern Europe
Belarus is landlocked, so spearfishing means freshwater underwater hunting (подводная охота) in inland fishing grounds. It is a legally recognised method of amateur fishing, but heavily restricted. It is allowed only without scuba/autonomous breathing apparatus, only in daylight, and only in water bodies on lists approved by regional executive committees (облисполкомы). A spearfisher must carry a valid membership card of the Republican State Public Association 'Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen' (РГОО БООР) and a 'certificate for the right to underwater hunting' (удостоверение на право подводной охоты) issued by БООР. Speargun harpoons may have no more than 5 prongs. Shooting from shore/pier or from vessels is prohibited; a spring spawning ban and species-specific closed seasons also apply. Foreigners/non-residents may fish by these methods on payment of a fee set by БООР instead of holding membership.
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 14, 2026
Frèam riaghladh
- §Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 284 of 21 July 2021 'On Fishing and Fishery Management' (Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 21.07.2021 № 284 «О рыболовстве и рыболовном хозяйстве»)
- §Rules of Amateur Fishing (Правила любительского рыболовства), approved by Decree No. 284, in force from 29 July 2022, with amendments of 2023
- §Regulation on the procedure for issuing the certificate for the right to underwater hunting and maintaining the register of underwater hunters, approved by Resolution of the Board of the Republican Council of РГОО БООР No. 109 of 15.12.2021
- Cead riatanach
- Riatanach
- Gunna-sleagha
- Ceadaichte
- Scuba
- Toirmisgte
- Coigrich
- Fàilte
An lagh, verbatim
Teacsaichean laghail
Na foillseachaidhean reachdail agus riaghailteach mionaideach a tha a' riaghladh slighe-biasd an seo, air an luaidh mar a chaidh am foillseachadh, le ceangal ri gach stòras oifigeil.
Definition of underwater hunting (spearfishing)
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
подводная охота – способ любительского рыболовства, включающий поиск, преследование, попытку добычи (вылова) или добычу (вылов) рыбы с использованием подводного ружья либо пистолета путем погружения в воду;
Definition of the certificate for the right to underwater hunting
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
удостоверение на право подводной охоты – документ, предоставляющий право рыболову осуществлять подводную охоту в разрешенных для этого рыболовных угодьях;
Underwater hunting as a method of amateur fishing and document requirement
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
16. Любительское рыболовство в рыболовных угодьях может осуществляться рыболовами следующими способами: подводная охота; лов рыбы на дорожку с судов с двигателями... 17. Любительское рыболовство способами, указанными в абзацах втором–четвертом пункта 16 настоящих Правил, осуществляется в рыболовных угодьях фонда запаса... гражданами Республики Беларусь, иностранными гражданами или лицами без гражданства, постоянно проживающими на территории Республики Беларусь и имеющими вид на жительство в Республике Беларусь, на основании действительного членского билета РГОО «БООР» и удостоверения на право подводной охоты (при ее осуществлении) при их наличии у этих граждан при себе в рыболовных угодьях в месте осуществления рыболовства и с возможностью их предъявления; гражданами Республики Беларусь, иностранными гражданами или лицами без гражданства, постоянно проживающими за пределами Республики Беларусь и временно пребывающими на ее территории, на основании документов, указанных в пункте 19 настоящих Правил, подтверждающих факт оплаты за предоставление права на осуществление любительского рыболовства данными способами. Размер платы определяется РГОО «БООР».
Daylight-only requirement and allowed water bodies determined by regional executive committees
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
20. Подводная охота и лов рыбы на дорожку с судов с двигателями осуществляются в светлое время суток в рыболовных угодьях, перечень которых определяется решениями облисполкомов по согласованию с территориальными органами Министерства природных ресурсов и охраны окружающей среды (далее – Минприроды) и Национальной академией наук Беларуси (далее – НАН Беларуси).
Obligation to keep caught fish until end of underwater hunting; register of underwater hunters
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
26. Сведения о лицах, получивших удостоверение на право подводной охоты, включаются в реестр подводных охотников, который ведется РГОО «БООР»... 27. При осуществлении подводной охоты рыболов обязан сохранять добытую рыбу до окончания подводной охоты.
Prohibitions specific to underwater hunting
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
Запрещается подводная охота: с использованием аквалангов или других автономных дыхательных аппаратов; в темное время суток; ближе 50 метров от обозначенных мест для купания, массового отдыха граждан и занятия водными видами спорта и ближе 150 метров от установленных промысловых орудий рыболовства; с использованием подводного ружья и (или) пистолета, стреляющих гарпуном с наконечником более 5 зубьев; рыболовам, не имеющим при себе в рыболовных угодьях в месте осуществления подводной охоты действительного членского билета РГОО «БООР» и удостоверения на право подводной охоты и не имеющим возможности их предъявления, за исключением лиц, указанных в абзаце третьем пункта 17 настоящих Правил.
Prohibition of speargun fishing from shore or vessels
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
Запрещается: лов рыбы с использованием подводных ружей и (или) пистолетов для подводной охоты с берега (причала, пирса и другого) или судов;
Spring spawning closed period by region
Rules of Amateur Fishing, approved by Decree No. 284 of 21.07.2021
30. В рыболовных угодьях в Брестской и Гомельской областях с 20 марта по 18 мая, Минской, Могилевской и Гродненской областях, а также г. Минске с 1 апреля по 30 мая, Витебской области с 10 апреля по 8 июня рыболовство запрещается, за исключением лова рыбы: одной удочкой с одним крючком или одним спиннингом, оснащенным одной искусственной приманкой, имеющей не более двух одинарных, или двойных, или тройных крючков, в светлое время суток с берега (без захода в воду...).
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
- DùinteAll amateur fishing including underwater hunting, Brest and Gomel regionsMàr 20 – Cèi 18
Spring spawning ban. During this period fishing is prohibited except shore angling with a single rod/spinner from the bank without entering the water; underwater hunting (which requires entering the water) is therefore not permitted.
- DùinteAll amateur fishing including underwater hunting, Minsk/Mogilev/Grodno regions and Minsk cityGib 1 – Cèi 30
Spring spawning ban. Only single-rod shore angling without entering the water is allowed; underwater hunting is not permitted during this period.
- DùinteAll amateur fishing including underwater hunting, Vitebsk regionGib 10 – Ògm 8
Spring spawning ban. Only single-rod shore angling without entering the water is allowed; underwater hunting is not permitted during this period.
- DùinteNorthern pike (щука обыкновенная)Màr 1 – Gib 15
Closed season for pike (in Vitebsk region 9 March - 23 April).
- DùintePikeperch / zander (судак)Gib 15 – Cèi 30
Closed season for pikeperch.
- DùinteWels catfish (сом обыкновенный)Cèi 31 – Iuc 1
Closed season for catfish (also 1 Nov - 31 Mar; in Brest and Gomel regions 19 May - 19 June and 1 Nov - 31 Mar).
- CuingichteUnderwater hunting (daylight only)
Underwater hunting is permitted only during daylight hours (в светлое время суток); it is prohibited at night (в темное время суток) year-round.
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
Apply in person at the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen (РГОО БООР): submit an application and the required documents; the certificate is issued by БООР or its organisational structures to permanent residents holding a БООР membership card.
Faigh do cheadFosgailte am portal oifigeil · gosinspekciya.gov.by
- Seòrsa
- Certificate for the right to underwater hunting (удостоверение на право подводной охоты) plus a valid РГОО БООР membership card. For non-residents temporarily in Belarus, a paid permit (receipt confirming payment of the fee) replaces membership.
- Cosgais
- Exchange/issue of the certificate reported at 0.2 base value (базовая величина); the fee for the right to fish by intensive methods (underwater hunting, trolling, 6-10 hooks) for temporary visitors and foreigners is set by РГОО БООР and reported in the range of about 1-3 base values per month. Exact current tariffs are set by БООР and should be confirmed with them.
- Dligheachd
- Certificate is open-ended (re-issued on name change or if damaged/lost); paid right-to-fish permits are time-limited per the receipt.
- Mar a gheibhear e
- Apply in person at the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen (РГОО БООР): submit an application and the required documents; the certificate is issued by БООР or its organisational structures to permanent residents holding a БООР membership card.
- Ùghdarras
- Republican State Public Association 'Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen' (РГОО БООР)
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Scuba and any other autonomous breathing apparatus are prohibited for underwater hunting (only breath-hold / free-diving)
- Speargun or underwater pistol harpoon must have no more than 5 prongs (зубьев)
- Spearguns/underwater pistols may not be used to take fish from the shore (pier, jetty, etc.) or from vessels - only while submerged
- Underwater hunting permitted in daylight only
- Safety guidance: load and unload the speargun only underwater, pointed away from people
Underwater rifles and pistols firing a harpoon are the defining equipment of подводная охота and are explicitly permitted; the legal limit is on harpoon prongs (max 5), not on number of spears carried.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
General amateur-fishing catch limits under the Rules apply; no underwater-hunting-specific daily quota was found in verbatim text. Limits on invasive species were removed in the 2021/2022 reform.
Gnèithean dìonta — na gabh
- DìontaSpecies listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus (лов запрещен)
- DìontaEuropean eel (угорь)
Taking of Red Book species, eel, undersized fish (below commercial size / промысловая мера), and species under special restriction is prohibited. Specific minimum sizes per species are set in the Rules but were not captured here as verbatim per-species figures for spearfishing.
Cò a dh'fhaodar iasgach
Luchd-tadhail & luchd-còmhnaidh
Mar a tha na riaghailtean eadar-dhealaichte airson luchd-tadhail cèin agus luchd-còmhnaidh ionadail.
Luchd-tadhail cèin
CeadaichteCead sònraichte riatanach
Riatanasan
- Non-residents temporarily in Belarus may underwater-hunt on the basis of a document (receipt / card-cheque) confirming payment of the fee for the right to amateur fishing by this method; the fee is set by РГОО БООР
- Permanently-resident foreigners with a Belarusian residence permit are treated like residents: they need a valid РГОО БООР membership card and a certificate for the right to underwater hunting
- Must comply with all general rules: daylight only, allowed water bodies only, no scuba, harpoon max 5 prongs
Cuingeachaidhean
- Same prohibited methods and zones as residents
- For temporary visitors the certificate for the right to underwater hunting is not required, but the paid right-to-fish document must be carried
Foreign nationals and stateless persons are explicitly accommodated in paragraph 17 of the Rules, distinguishing permanent residents (membership-based) from temporary visitors (fee-based).
Luchd-còmhnaidh
РГОО БООР membership card + certificate for the right to underwater hunting (удостоверение на право подводной охоты)
Riatanasan
- Hold a valid Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen (РГОО БООР) membership card
- Hold a certificate for the right to underwater hunting issued by РГОО БООР
- Carry both documents at the place of underwater hunting and be able to present them
Buannachdan
- Members may fish by intensive methods (underwater hunting, trolling, 6-10 hooks) in reserve-fund grounds and grounds leased for commercial fishing where permitted
Applies to citizens of Belarus and to foreign nationals / stateless persons permanently residing in Belarus with a residence permit.
Càite air a' chladach
Sgìrean ceadaichte & toirmisgte
Sgìrean ainmichte a tha fosgailte no dùinte airson slighe-biasd. Faic an dealbh-iomlan air a' mhapa eadar-ghnìomhach.
Sgìrean ceadaichte
Underwater hunting is permitted only in fishing grounds (рыболовные угодья) of the reserve fund, or grounds leased solely for commercial fishing, that appear on lists approved by each regional executive committee (oblispolkom) in coordination with territorial bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. There is no single national open-zone list; the specific permitted water bodies are set per oblast.
Daylight only; valid РГОО БООР membership card and certificate for the right to underwater hunting required; harpoon max 5 prongs; no scuba; not within 50 m of swimming/recreation areas or 150 m of marked commercial fishing gear.
Krasnoslobodskoe (Краснослободское) reservoir on the Moroch river, Kletsk/Kopyl district, Minsk region. Named in the Minsk regional executive committee (oblispolkom) decision determining the list of fishing grounds where underwater hunting (подводная охота) and trolling from motorised boats are permitted in daylight. Representative example from the per-oblast allowed list; standard underwater-hunting restrictions apply.
Lake Volchino (озеро Волчино), a deep glacial lake (max depth 32.9 m) in Myadelsky district, Minsk region, located within Narochanski National Park. Spearfishing (подводная охота) is one of only two water bodies in the park where it is specifically permitted by the park administration. A park-issued permit (путёвка на подводную охоту) is required in addition to the standard РГОО БООР certificate; daylight only; motors prohibited on the lake.
Lake Rudakovo (озеро Рудаково), a clear glacial lake (max depth 28.6 m, transparency ≥5 m) in Myadelsky district, Minsk region, 4 km northwest of Myadel town, within Narochanski National Park. Spearfishing is one of only two water bodies in the park where it is specifically permitted by the park administration. A park-issued permit (путёвка на подводную охоту) is required in addition to the standard РГОО БООР certificate; daylight only; motors prohibited on the lake.
Sgìrean toirmisgte
- Within 50 m of designated swimming, mass-recreation and water-sports areasrecreation safety zone
Underwater hunting is prohibited closer than 50 metres from marked places for swimming, mass recreation of citizens and water sports.
- Within 150 m of installed commercial fishing gearcommercial fishing exclusion zone
Underwater hunting is prohibited closer than 150 metres from installed commercial fishing implements.
- Water bodies not on the oblispolkom approved listareas outside permitted list / protected areas
Any fishing ground not included on the regional list for underwater hunting is off-limits for spearfishing. This includes specially protected natural areas (reserves/заповедники and заказники) and grounds where the Ministry of Natural Resources or local executive committees have imposed bans.
- Lake Svityaz (Svityazyansky landscape reserve)lake / landscape reserve
Lake Svityaz, a 224-hectare lake at the heart of the Republican landscape reserve 'Svityazyansky' (Novogrudok/Korelichi districts, Grodno region), is listed in the Grodno regional executive committee materials as a water body where underwater hunting (подводная охота) is prohibited. It is a protected natural area not on the open-zone list for spearfishing.
Lake Naroch (озеро Нарочь), the largest lake in Belarus (~79.6 km²), Myadelsky district, Minsk region, is located within Narochanski National Park. The park administration explicitly prohibits spearfishing on Lake Naroch and on all water bodies in the park except Lakes Volchino and Rudakovo.
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Belarus, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Krasnoslobodskoe Reservoir.
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus (Минсельхозпрод)
fisheries policy authority
State Inspectorate for the Protection of Flora and Fauna under the President of Belarus (Государственная инспекция охраны животного и растительного мира)
enforcement / fisheries control authority
Republican State Public Association 'Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen' (РГОО БООР)
licensing organisation (issues underwater-hunting certificates, maintains register)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Минприроды)
environment ministry
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 284 of 21.07.2021 'On Fishing and Fishery Management' - full official text (National Legal Internet Portal, pravo.by)
Oifigeilpravo.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [02]
Decree No. 284 of 21 July 2021 - official page (president.gov.by)
Oifigeilpresident.gov.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [03]
Underwater hunting and setting the fee for the right to amateur fishing (State Inspectorate)
Oifigeilgosinspekciya.gov.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [04]
Answers to questions on the new Fishing Rules, Part 2 (State Inspectorate)
Oifigeilgosinspekciya.gov.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [05]
New procedure, safety and restrictions: BOOR on underwater hunting in Belarus (pravo.by news)
Oifigeilpravo.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [06]
Rules of fishery management and fishing - Ministry of Agriculture and Food (mshp.gov.by)
Oifigeilmshp.gov.byAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [07]
New Rules of Amateur Fishing in Belarus 2022 - detailed review quoting the clauses (antfish.com)
Dàrnaantfish.comAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [08]
Underwater hunting in Belarus: safety and restrictions (Transport Safety Gazette)
Dàrnatbgazeta.byAir faighinn Ògm 14
Notaichean rannsachaidh
Belarus is landlocked (no sea coastline); 'spearfishing' here means freshwater underwater hunting (подводная охота). All verbatim legal text was taken from the full official PDF of Decree No. 284 on the National Legal Internet Portal (pravo.by) and cross-checked against State Inspectorate (gosinspekciya.gov.by) materials; clause numbers (paragraph 16, 17, 20, 30, 38, and the definitions section) are as numbered in the official Rules of Amateur Fishing. Note on sourcing: a FAOLEX document (faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/rus114246.pdf) surfaced in searches but is actually the Krasnodar Krai/Adygea (Russia) fishing rules, not Belarus, and was deliberately NOT used. The exact current monetary tariffs (base-value amounts) set by РГОО БООР for certificates and paid fishing rights vary and should be confirmed directly with БООР; the figures given are approximate as reported in official/secondary news. There is no single national list of open water bodies for underwater hunting - permitted grounds are set per oblast by regional executive committees. Inland/freshwater spearfishing: Freshwater spearfishing (подводная охота) is legally recognised but heavily restricted in Belarus: it is allowed only during daylight hours, only in named inland water bodies on lists approved by each regional executive committee (oblispolkom) in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources, and only by persons holding a valid РГОО БООР membership card and a certificate for the right to underwater hunting (or, for non-residents, a paid permit); scuba is prohibited and the harpoon may have no more than 5 prongs.
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Belarus
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Belarus ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.