Switzerland
Europe · Western Europe
Switzerland is landlocked, so only freshwater (lake and river) fishing exists. Spearfishing / underwater hunting is effectively prohibited throughout the country. Federal law (Federal Act on Fishing, BGF, SR 923.0, 1991) sets the principles and leaves the regulation of permitted fishing gear and methods to the cantons; in practice the cantonal and inter-cantonal fishing regulations ban it. They forbid both (a) the use of weapons, harpoons, fish forks and snares and (b) fishing while diving with or without diving equipment and the use of any device intended to harpoon or injure fish. No canton issues a spearfishing licence. Recreational angling, by contrast, is widely permitted under cantonal licences (a SaNa certificate of competence is required for licences of one month or longer).
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 21, 2024
Frèam riaghladh
- §Federal Act on Fishing (Bundesgesetz uber die Fischerei, BGF), SR 923.0, of 21 June 1991
- §Ordinance to the Federal Act on Fishing (Verordnung zum Bundesgesetz uber die Fischerei, VBGF), SR 923.01
- §Cantonal fishing acts and ordinances (e.g. Canton Bern Direktionsverordnung uber die Fischerei, FiDV, BSG 923.111.1)
- §Inter-cantonal concordats for shared waters (e.g. Konkordat uber die Fischerei im Murtensee, SR/RSF 923.61)
- §Federal Constitution Art. 79 (Confederation lays down principles on fishing; cantons implement)
- Gunna-sleagha
- Toirmisgte
- Scuba
- Toirmisgte
- Coigrich
- Chan eil ceadaichte
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.
Prohibited gear and methods (all waters): weapons, harpoons, fish forks, snares
Direktionsverordnung uber die Fischerei (FiDV), BSG 923.111.1, of 22 September 1995 (status 1 January 2024)
Art. 5 Verbotene Gerate und Methoden. 1 In samtlichen Gewassern ist es untersagt, fur den Fisch- und Krebsfang a betaubende, explodierende oder sonstwie schadliche Stoffe sowie elektrischen Strom zu verwenden; b Waffen, Harpunen, Fischgabeln oder Schlingen zu gebrauchen; c den Durchzug der Fische durch Anbringen von Gittern oder auf andere Weise zu erschweren oder zu verhindern; d die Abflussverhaltnisse von Gewassern zu verandern oder e den Fisch mit einem Angelgerat absichtlich an einem anderen Korperteil als dem Maul zu fangen.
Prohibited methods: fishing by diving and harpooning/injuring fish (Lake Murten concordat)
Ausfuhrungsreglement zum Konkordat uber die Fischerei im Murtensee in den Jahren 2025, 2026 und 2027, SR/RSF 923.61, of 21 June 2024
Art. 6 Verbotene Methoden. 1 Es ist verboten: a) Wasserorganismen mit elektrischem Strom oder Sprengstoff zu fangen, zu betauben oder zu toten; b) akustische oder elektronische Gerate oder Lichtquellen zu benutzen, um Wasserorganismen anzulocken, mit Ausnahme des Wallerholzes und kunstlicher Koder; c) Wasserorganismen mit im Wasser verteilten Substanzen anzulocken, insbesondere auch das Kodern; d) fur die Ausubung der Fischerei mit oder ohne Tauchgerat zu tauchen; e) mit der Hand, mit Schlingen oder mit Geraten, die dazu dienen, die Fische zu harpunieren oder zu verletzen, zu fischen.
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
- DùinteSpearfishing / underwater hunting (all waters, all species, year-round)Fao 1 – Dùb 31
Spearfishing is prohibited year-round throughout Switzerland; the prohibition is on the method itself, not seasonal. (Recreational angling has species-specific closed seasons set by each canton, which are not detailed here.)
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
Angling permits are obtained from the relevant cantonal fisheries authority; SaNa certificate via a one- to two-day course. There is no permit available for spearfishing.
Faigh do cheadFosgailte am portal oifigeil · bafu.admin.ch
- Seòrsa
- No spearfishing licence exists. Recreational angling licences are issued per canton; a SaNa certificate of competence (Sachkundenachweis) is required for licences of one month or longer.
- Cosgais
- unknown
- Dligheachd
- Varies by canton (daily, weekly, monthly, annual angling permits)
- Mar a gheibhear e
- Angling permits are obtained from the relevant cantonal fisheries authority; SaNa certificate via a one- to two-day course. There is no permit available for spearfishing.
- Ùghdarras
- Cantonal fisheries authorities (Fischereiinspektorat / service de la peche)
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Use of weapons, harpoons, fish forks and snares for fishing is prohibited (Canton Bern FiDV Art. 5)
- Fishing while diving, with or without diving equipment (e.g. scuba/freediving), is prohibited (Lake Murten concordat Art. 6 lit. d)
- Use of any device intended to harpoon or injure fish is prohibited (Lake Murten concordat Art. 6 lit. e)
- Stunning, explosive or otherwise harmful substances and electric current are prohibited
- Permitted fishing gear and methods are defined positively by each canton; they consist essentially of rod-and-line angling, not spearing
Spearguns and harpoons are not a permitted fishing method anywhere in Switzerland. Under federal weapons law a harpoon is treated as a dangerous object, but the operative ban on fishing with it is in the cantonal/inter-cantonal fishing regulations.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
Set per canton for angling (not applicable to spearfishing, which is prohibited). Example: on Lake Murten further fishing is forbidden after taking six 'Edelfische' (noble fish).
Catch and size limits apply to permitted (rod) fishing and are defined by each canton; they are not relevant to spearfishing, which is not a lawful method. About 75% of Switzerland's native fish species are threatened (BAFU Red List).
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
Chan eil ceadaichteCuingeachaidhean
- Spearfishing is prohibited for everyone (residents and foreigners alike); no visitor spearfishing permit exists.
- For lawful angling, foreigners need the relevant cantonal permit and, for permits of one month or longer, a SaNa certificate of competence or an equivalent foreign certificate.
Tourists may obtain short-term (daily/weekly) angling permits in many cantons without the SaNa certificate, but this covers rod fishing only, never spearfishing.
Luchd-còmhnaidh
Cantonal recreational angling permit (no spearfishing permit available)
Riatanasan
- SaNa certificate of competence (Sachkundenachweis) for angling permits of one month or longer
Residents are subject to the same prohibition on spearfishing as everyone else; lawful fishing is rod-and-line angling under cantonal rules.
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 toirmisgte
- Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)freshwater lake (no spearfishing permitted)
Spearfishing is not permitted on Lake Geneva on either the Swiss or the French side. Diving with a speargun for fishing is prohibited; reports indicate one may not approach within ca. 50 m of the water with a speargun. Community/dive sources only for the lake-specific detail.
- Lake Murten (Murtensee)freshwater lake (no spearfishing permitted)
Inter-cantonal concordat waters where fishing by diving (with or without diving equipment) and harpooning or otherwise injuring fish are expressly forbidden (Art. 6 of the 2025-2027 implementing regulation).
- All waters of Canton Bernall cantonal freshwater (no spearfishing permitted)
In all waters of the canton it is forbidden to use weapons, harpoons, fish forks or snares for catching fish and crayfish (FiDV Art. 5 para. 1 lit. b).
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Switzerland, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Lake Geneva (Lac Leman).
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN / BAFU)
environment ministry / federal fisheries policy
bafu.admin.chwasser@bafu.admin.ch, +41 58 462 69 69Cantonal fisheries authorities (e.g. Fischereiinspektorat des Kantons Bern)
fisheries authority
weu.be.chunknown
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
Direktionsverordnung uber die Fischerei (FiDV), Canton Bern, BSG 923.111.1 (status 1.1.2024)
Oifigeilweu.be.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [02]
Ausfuhrungsreglement zum Konkordat uber die Fischerei im Murtensee 2025-2027 (SR/RSF 923.61)
Oifigeilfvmurten.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [03]
Federal Act on Fishing (BGF), SR 923.0, fedlex consolidated text
Oifigeilfedlex.admin.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [04]
Art. 5 Verbotene Methoden / Moyens interdits (SR/RSF 923.61, bilingual)
Oifigeilfr.droit-bilingue.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [05]
BAFU/FOEN - Sustainable fishing (federal framework, cantonal competence, SaNa)
Oifigeilbafu.admin.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [06]
The Local CH - Everything you need to know about fishing in Switzerland (licences, SaNa)
Dàrnathelocal.chAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [07]
SwissSpearo blog - spearfishing not allowed in Switzerland incl. Lake Geneva (community)
communityswissspearo.blogspot.comAir faighinn Ògm 15
Notaichean rannsachaidh
Switzerland is landlocked (no sea coast); only freshwater fishing exists. Spearfishing/underwater hunting is not a lawful fishing method anywhere in the country. The Federal Constitution (Art. 79) gives the Confederation power to set fishing principles while cantons implement; the Federal Act on Fishing (BGF, SR 923.0, 1991) accordingly delegates the choice of permitted gear and methods to the cantons (BAFU: cantons 'lay down the management rules, e.g. permitted fishing gear and methods'). The operative spearfishing bans are therefore found in cantonal and inter-cantonal instruments, two of which are quoted verbatim here (Canton Bern FiDV Art. 5, prohibiting weapons/harpoons/fish forks/snares; and the Lake Murten concordat Art. 6, prohibiting fishing while diving and any device to harpoon or injure fish). Identical wording (diving + harpoon prohibition) appears in the bilingual federal/inter-cantonal text at droit-bilingue.ch. We did not enumerate all 26 cantonal regulations individually, but no Swiss canton is known to permit spearfishing and none issues a spearfishing licence; data_confidence is high for the national prohibition and the two quoted instruments. Lake-Geneva-specific detail (50 m rule) rests on a community/dive source and is marked accordingly. Confidence: high overall. Inland/freshwater spearfishing: Spearfishing is prohibited in all inland/freshwater bodies throughout Switzerland — no canton permits it, no spearfishing licence exists, and cantonal/inter-cantonal fishing regulations expressly ban both the use of spearguns/harpoons and fishing while diving (e.g. Canton Bern FiDV Art. 5; Lake Murten concordat 2025-2027 Art. 6).
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Switzerland
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Switzerland ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.