Denmark
Europe · Northern Europe
Recreational spearfishing (undervandsjagt / UV-jagt) is legal in Danish saltwater for personal use. It is prohibited in freshwater (lakes, rivers, streams). A valid recreational fishing licence (fisketegn / lystfiskertegn) is mandatory for everyone aged 18 and over. Since 14 August 2019, harpoon hunting is forbidden at night (from sunset to sunrise) and the use of breathing apparatus (scuba / compressed-air tanks) is prohibited - only freediving on a single breath is allowed, in line with EU Regulation 2019/1241. Only muscle-powered hand spears and spearguns (rubber/elastic or hand-pumped pneumatic) are permitted; externally gas-pressurised spearguns are not. Catch may not be sold. Hunters must respect minimum sizes, closed seasons, protected species and protection belts (fredningsbælter), notably the 500 m zone around river/stream mouths. Recreational cod fishing is banned in the western Baltic (subdivisions 22-24) for 2026.
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 14, 2026
Frèam riaghladh
- §Lov om fiskeri og fiskeopdræt (Fiskeriloven), consolidated act LBK nr 261 af 21/03/2019 (Danish Fisheries Act)
- §Europa-Parlamentets og Rådets Forordning (EU) 2019/1241 af 20. juni 2019 (technical conservation measures - bans night spearfishing and use of aqualung)
- §Bekendtgørelse om rekreativt fiskeri i salt- og ferskvand samt redskabsfiskeri mv. i saltvand (recreational fishing executive order)
- §Bekendtgørelse om mindstemål for fisk og krebsdyr i saltvand (minimum sizes in saltwater)
- 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.
Prohibition of night spearfishing and use of breathing apparatus (aqualung)
Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures
The following fishing gears and methods shall be prohibited for catching or harvesting marine species: ... (g) 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.
Night harpoon ban and scuba ban for underwater hunting (official Danish summary)
DTU Aqua / Fiskepleje.dk official guidance implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1241
det er forbudt at drive UV-jagt med harpun om natten forstået som tidsrummet fra solnedgang til solopgang; det er forbudt at drive UV-jagt med brug af dykkerudstyr forsynet med lungeautomat/trykflasker; UV-jagt kun må drives som rekreativt fiskeri, dvs. at det er forbudt at sælge fisk fanget ved UV-jagt.
Permitted spearfishing weapons - only muscle-powered (Danish Sports Diving Federation rules)
Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund (DSF) - UV-jagt regler (Danish Sports Diving Federation underwater hunting rules)
Håndspyd, en eller flere fjeder- elastik- eller komprimeret luftharpuner, der udelukkende kan lades med en muskelbevægelse fra udøveren. Selve opsøgningen, såvel som fangsten, må kun udføres af en sportsdykker, hvis dykkemuligheder udelukkende består af dykkerens fysiske kapacitet.
Saltwater only / freshwater prohibition and river-mouth distance for underwater hunting
Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund (DSF) - UV-jagt regler
Det er generelt tilladt at jage i saltvand. I ferskvand er det forbudt. Uv-jagt er ligesom fiskeri forbudt nærmere end 500 meter fra midten af udløbet.
500-metre protection belt (fredningsbælte) around river and stream mouths
DTU Aqua / Fiskepleje.dk - Fiskeriregulering (official guidance on protection belts)
Lyst- og garnfiskeri må derfor ikke finde sted nærmere end 500 meter fra udløb af åer, bække og indsnævringer i hav eller fjord.
Fishing licence (fisketegn) requirement for underwater hunting
DanskUVjagt - UV-jagt regler (referencing Fiskeriloven licence requirement)
For at udøve undervandsjagt skal du have et gyldigt fisketegn. ... er det ulovligt at dyrke uv-jagt med scuba-udstyr. Nye regler for uv-jagt har fra den 14. august 2019 gjort harpunfiskeri forbudt fra solnedgang til solopgang. Du må kun dyrke uv-jagt i saltvand.
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
- DùinteCod (torsk) - recreational fishing in western Baltic Sea, ICES subdivisions 22, 23 and 24 (Bælthavet, Øresund, western Baltic)Fao 1 – Dùb 31
Forbud mod torskefiskeri i hele 2026 - recreational (including spearfishing) cod fishing is banned throughout 2026 in subareas 22-24. Cod has no fixed annual closed season otherwise; minimum size is 35 cm in the Belts/Baltic and North Sea and 30 cm in Skagerrak/Kattegat.
- DùinteProtection belts (fredningsbælter) at river/stream mouths - all fishing including underwater huntingSul 16 – Màr 15
Where a watercourse mouth is less than 2 metres wide, the 500 m protection belt applies during the period 16 September to 15 March (spawning migration of salmonids). Around larger river mouths the 500 m belt applies year-round. Sea trout and salmon also have spawning closed seasons and may be coloured/protected ('farvede' fish) during spawning.
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
Buy online at www.fisketegn.dk (Dankort, Visa, Mastercard, MobilePay, PayPal). Underwater hunters must hold a valid fisketegn before hunting.
Faigh do cheadFosgailte am portal oifigeil · fisketegn.dk
- Seòrsa
- Recreational fishing licence (fisketegn / lystfiskertegn) - mandatory for underwater hunting in saltwater
- Cosgais
- DKK 46 for 1 day; DKK 150 for 1 week; DKK 300 for 1 year
- Dligheachd
- Annual licence valid 1 year from date of payment (or extension of current period); day/week licences can be set to start up to 30 days after purchase. Mandatory for ages 18+ for underwater hunting; the general rod fisketegn applies to ages 18-64 with no upper exemption (license required even over 67).
- Mar a gheibhear e
- Buy online at www.fisketegn.dk (Dankort, Visa, Mastercard, MobilePay, PayPal). Underwater hunters must hold a valid fisketegn before hunting.
- Ùghdarras
- Styrelsen for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri / Fiskeristyrelsen (Danish Agency for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries), under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Only hand spears and spearguns powered by muscle-loaded mechanisms are allowed: rubber/elastic (fjeder-/elastik-) or hand-pumped pneumatic (komprimeret luft) spearguns that can only be loaded by a muscular movement of the user.
- Externally gas-pressurised (gas-powered) spearguns are not permitted.
- Use of breathing apparatus (scuba / aqualung / compressed-air tanks - lungeautomat/trykflasker) is prohibited; only freediving on the diver's own breath-hold capacity is allowed.
- Spearfishing/harpoon hunting is prohibited at night, i.e. from sunset to sunrise (from dawn until dusk only), since 14 August 2019.
Bans on scuba and night spearfishing derive from EU Regulation 2019/1241 Article 7(1)(g), applied in Denmark from 14 August 2019. The 'one breath' / physical-capacity-only rule is also reflected in the Danish Sports Diving Federation (DSF) competition and safety rules.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
No general numeric daily bag limit for most species taken by underwater hunting; catch is for personal use only and may not be sold. Salmon (laks) is limited to one fish per day. Recreational cod fishing is banned in 2026 in subdivisions 22-24.
Meudachdan as lugha
- Cod (torsk) - Belts/Baltic & North Sea incl. Limfjorden, Ringkøbing Fjordmin 35 cm
- Cod (torsk) - Skagerrak/Kattegatmin 30 cm
Gnèithean dìonta — na gabh
- DìontaCod (torsk) - recreational/spearfishing catch banned in 2026 in ICES subdivisions 22-24 (western Baltic)
- DìontaSalmon (laks) - max 1 per day and spawning protections; coloured/spawning fish protected
- DìontaSea trout (havørred) - coloured spawning fish ('farvede' fisk) protected during closed season
- DìontaEuropean eel (ål) - heavily restricted under EU eel recovery rules
Underwater hunters must comply with the official minimum sizes (mindstemål) and closed seasons (fredningstider) published by Fiskeristyrelsen/LFST for saltwater species; values differ by sea area. Commonly hunted species include flatfish (fladfisk/rødspætte/skrubbe), sea trout, garfish (hornfisk), mackerel (makrel) and mullet (multe). Selling the catch is prohibited. Only the two cod minimum sizes were captured verbatim from the official cod page; the full per-species size table is in the official PDF 'Fredning og mindstemål i saltvand' (see sources).
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
CeadaichteRiatanasan
- Hold a valid Danish recreational fishing licence (fisketegn) - available to non-residents online at fisketegn.dk (day/week/year).
- Comply with the same national rules as residents: saltwater only, daylight only, no scuba, muscle-powered spearguns only, minimum sizes, closed seasons and protection belts.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Catch is for personal use only - selling is prohibited.
- Cod fishing banned in 2026 in subdivisions 22-24.
- No spearfishing within 500 m of river/stream mouths or in harbours/freshwater.
Foreign visitors face no separate spearfishing permit beyond the standard fisketegn; the same EU/Danish technical rules apply equally to residents and non-residents.
Luchd-còmhnaidh
Recreational fishing licence (fisketegn / lystfiskertegn)
Riatanasan
- Mandatory fisketegn for all aged 18 and over practising underwater hunting (and generally for rod/spear fishing 18-64, with no exemption above 67).
- Minimum age 18 to use a harpoon; from age 16 allowed with written guardian permission and membership of a local hunting/shooting (UV-jagt) association/club.
Same substantive rules as for foreigners; residents commonly hunt through clubs affiliated with the Danish Sports Diving Federation (Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund).
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 generally permitted along the open Danish saltwater coast, sounds and fjords, subject to the 500 m river-mouth protection belts, harbour/industrial-installation exclusions, daylight-only and no-scuba rules.
Saltwater only; no scuba; daylight only (sunset to sunrise prohibited); muscle-powered spearguns only; valid fisketegn required; minimum sizes and protected species apply; not within 500 m of river/stream mouths.
Sgìrean toirmisgte
- Freshwater (lakes, rivers, streams)freshwater (statutory exclusion)
Underwater hunting is forbidden in all freshwater. 'I ferskvand er det forbudt.' Spearfishing may only be practised in saltwater.
- Protection belts around river and stream mouths (fredningsbælter, 500 m)fisheries protection belt (fredningsbælte)
All fishing, including underwater hunting, is prohibited within 500 metres of the mouths of rivers, streams and narrows in sea or fjord, to protect spawning migrations.
- Harbour facilities and industrial installationsharbour / industrial installation exclusion
Underwater hunting is not permitted in/around harbour facilities and industrial installations ('Harbor facilities and industrial installations are off-limits').
- Copenhagen Harbour fishing ban (Svanemøllehavnen, Færgehavn Nord, Langelinie Lystbådehavn)port / harbour fishing ban
Under the Copenhagen Harbour regulations (Havnereglement, By & Havn / Copenhagen Malmö Port), all fishing is banned in the named harbour basins of Svanemøllehavnen, Færgehavn Nord and Langelinie Lystbådehavn, as well as in ISPS-secured quay areas. A seasonal ban (1 May–30 Sep) also applies from Bryggebroen to the southern end of Langeliniekaj. Spearfishing (undervandsjagt) is a form of fishing and is therefore prohibited in these harbour areas (which also fall under the general harbour/industrial-installation exclusion). Center point given is Svanemøllehavnen, the northernmost and largest of the named basins.
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Denmark, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Copenhagen Harbour fishing ban (Svanemøllehavnen, Færgehavn Nord, Langelinie Lystbådehavn).
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Fiskeristyrelsen / Styrelsen for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri (Danish Agency for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries)
fisheries authority
lfst.dkMinistry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri), CopenhagenFisketegn (official recreational fishing licence system)
licensing authority / fisheries
fisketegn.dkOperated by FiskeristyrelsenDTU Aqua - Fiskepleje.dk (National Institute of Aquatic Resources)
scientific / fisheries management advisory
fiskepleje.dkTechnical University of Denmark (DTU)Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund (Danish Sports Diving Federation) - UV-jagt
national dive/spearfishing federation
uvjagt.sportsdykning.dkIdrættens Hus, Brøndby
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 - technical conservation measures (Article 7(1)(g) on spearguns)
Oifigeileur-lex.europa.euAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [02]
Fiskepleje.dk (DTU Aqua) - Forbud mod UV-jagt om natten med harpun (2019 rules)
Oifigeilfiskepleje.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [03]
Fiskepleje.dk (DTU Aqua) - Fiskeriregulering / fredningsbælter (500 m river-mouth rule)
Oifigeilfiskepleje.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [04]
Fiskeristyrelsen / LFST - Mindstemål i saltvand (saltwater minimum sizes overview)
Oifigeillfst.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [05]
Fiskeristyrelsen / LFST - Torsk (cod minimum sizes and ban)
Oifigeillfst.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [06]
Fisketegn - official Danish recreational fishing licence (prices, validity)
Oifigeilfisketegn.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [07]
Dansk Sportsdykker Forbund - UV-jagt regler (federation rules: weapons, saltwater, 500 m)
Dàrnauvjagt.sportsdykning.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [08]
DanskUVjagt - UV-jagt regler (licence, scuba ban, night ban, saltwater only)
Dàrnadanskuvjagt.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14 - [09]
Kingfish.dk - UV-jagt regler & lovgivning (harbours, protected zones, cod ban)
Dàrnakingfish.dkAir faighinn Ògm 14
Notaichean rannsachaidh
Spearfishing in Denmark is legal but restricted. Key constraints (all source-backed): saltwater only (freshwater banned); valid fisketegn required (DKK 46/day, 150/week, 300/year); daylight-only and no breathing apparatus per EU Reg. 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g), enforced in Denmark since 14 Aug 2019; only muscle-powered spearguns (no externally gas-pressurised guns); catch for personal use only (no sale); minimum sizes and closed seasons per Fiskeristyrelsen; no fishing within 500 m of river/stream mouths (fredningsbælter); harbours/industrial installations excluded. A 2026 recreational cod ban applies in ICES subdivisions 22-24. Minimum age 18 to use a harpoon (16 with guardian consent + club membership). Verbatim legal text captured for the EU regulation (English, primary) and for Danish administrative/federation guidance (Danish). The full national executive-order text (bekendtgørelse) numbers were inferred from official summaries rather than fetched verbatim; the consolidated Fisheries Act (LBK nr 261 af 21/03/2019) and recreational-fishing executive orders are the underlying national instruments. Only two cod minimum sizes were captured verbatim from the official LFST cod page; the complete per-species saltwater size table is published in the official PDF 'Fredning og mindstemål i saltvand'. Confidence is high overall because the load-bearing prohibitions (scuba, night, freshwater, licence, 500 m belt, cod ban) are each confirmed by official sources (EU EUR-Lex, fiskepleje.dk/DTU Aqua, LFST/Fiskeristyrelsen, fisketegn.dk). Inland/freshwater spearfishing: Spearfishing is prohibited in all freshwater (lakes, rivers, streams) in Denmark under general application of the Fisheries Act, with a very narrow statutory exception (Fiskeriloven § 42 stk. 2) for isolated, artificially created waters (such as some gravel pits or put-and-take lakes) that have a single owner and no fish-passable outlet — but no specific named water body has been officially confirmed as an approved spearfishing site.
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Denmark
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Denmark ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.