Jersey
Europe · Northern Europe
Jersey (a British Crown Dependency) has no law that prohibits recreational spearfishing for finfish, and no licence is required for individual recreational sea angling. However, the Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003 make it an offence to take any SHELLFISH (other than crabs) from the sea while submerged and breathing with breathing apparatus, or while wearing a face visor, mask or goggles. The only exception is scallops, which may be dived for (SCUBA or free-diving) under a scallop diving permit issued by the Minister for the Environment. Recreational spearfishing for fish must still respect species bag limits and minimum landing sizes set under the Sea Fisheries (Bag Limits) (Jersey) Order 2020 and related orders, and the Portelet Bay no-take zone, where all fishing and taking of aquatic resources is banned.
Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 15, 2026
Frèam riaghladh
- §Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994
- §Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003 (R&O.104/2003, in force 1 January 2004)
- §Sea Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Portelet Bay) (Jersey) Regulations 2022 (R&O.51/2022, in force 2 May 2022)
- §Sea Fisheries (Bag Limits) (Jersey) Order 2020
- §Aquatic Resources (Jersey) Law 2014
- Cead riatanach
- Chan eil riatanach
- Gunna-sleagha
- Ceadaichte
- Scuba
- Ceadaichte
- 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.
Interpretation (definitions)
Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003
In these Regulations – “breathing apparatus” includes any apparatus used to enable or facilitate respiration under water; “permit” means a permit granted under Regulation 3 and “permit holder” shall be construed accordingly; “shellfish” does not include crabs.
Restriction on underwater fishing
Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it is an offence for any person, while totally or partially submerged and breathing with the aid of breathing apparatus, or wearing a face visor, a mask or goggles, to take any shellfish from the sea. (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to – (a) any person taking shellfish from the sea under the authority of the Minister, for the purpose of scientific investigation or for the purpose of transplanting shellfish from one fishing ground to another; or (b) any permit holder taking scallops from the sea in accordance with any conditions applicable to the permit.
Permits for underwater fishing of scallops
Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003
(1) The Minister may, if he or she thinks fit, and upon receipt of such particulars as he or she may require and such fee as he or she has, by Order, prescribed, grant any person a permit authorizing him or her to take scallops from the sea or from a specified portion of the sea while totally or partially submerged and breathing with the aid of breathing apparatus, or wearing a face visor, a mask or goggles. ... (3) A permit may be granted under paragraph (1) subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit, including ... conditions as to – (a) the duration of the permit; (b) the part of the sea to which the permit relates; (c) the periods during which scallops may be taken; (d) the quantity of scallops that may be taken within a period; (e) the use to which scallops taken may be put; and (f) the maintenance of records of the date, place and quantity of scallops taken ...
Portelet no-take zone – prohibition on fishing and taking aquatic resources
Sea Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Portelet Bay) (Jersey) Regulations 2022
A person commits an offence ... who, within Portelet no-take zone – (a) fishes for sea fish by any method; or (b) uses a fishing boat. A person commits an offence ... who takes any aquatic resource from within Portelet no-take zone. [The zone is bounded on the seaward side by a straight line from 49°10.150N 2°10.988W to 49°10.015N 2°10.374W, determined in accordance with the World Geodetic System 1984.]
Underwater fishing rule (plain-language official guidance)
A Guide for Recreational Fishing and Marine Users in Jersey (Government of Jersey, Marine Resources)
Underwater Fishing: It is illegal to take any shellfish, other than crabs, from the sea with the aid of underwater breathing apparatus, including mask / goggles. Scallops may be dived for if the correct permit is held. ... Diving for scallops: Scallops may only be collected using SCUBA or free diving equipment if a valid scallop diving permit is held.
Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh
Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine
Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.
- DùinteBass (European seabass)Gea 1 – Màr 31
No bass may be retained during the closed season in February and March; the recreational bag limit for bass is 0 in those months. Outside the closed season the bag limit is 2 fish per person per day (vessel limit 10).
- CuingichteOrmer (Haliotis tuberculata) – hand gathering / free diving, not spearfishingDàm 1 – Gib 30
Fishing for ormers may only take place from 1 October to 30 April, and only on the first day of each new or full moon and the 3 following days. Daily limit 20 ormers per person (100 per boat with 5+ persons). Minimum size 9 cm. Note: ormers are shellfish, so taking them with breathing apparatus/mask/goggles is prohibited under the Underwater Fishing Regulations 2003.
Cead iasgaich
Cead
Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.
- Seòrsa
- No licence required for individual recreational sea fishing (rod and line, hand gathering, spearfishing for fish). A scallop diving permit is required only to dive for scallops; a Jersey Fishing Boat licence is required only for commercial fishing.
- Cosgais
- unknown
- Dligheachd
- unknown
- Mar a gheibhear e
- Recreational anglers do not need a licence. To dive for scallops, apply online for a scallop diving permit (search 'scallop diving' on www.gov.je). Commercial vessels apply to Marine Resources for a Jersey Fishing Boat licence.
- Ùghdarras
- Marine Resources, Government of Jersey (Department of the Environment)
Uidheam & dòigh
Riaghailtean uidheamachd
Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.
Cuingeachaidhean
- Spearfishing for finfish is not specifically regulated and is not prohibited by Jersey law, but no shellfish (other than crabs) may be taken while submerged and breathing with breathing apparatus, or wearing a face visor, mask or goggles.
- Breathing apparatus (including any apparatus used to enable or facilitate respiration under water) may not be used to take shellfish except scallops under a permit.
- Scallops may only be collected by SCUBA or free diving if a valid scallop diving permit is held.
- All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited inside the Portelet Bay no-take zone.
Jersey law frames the rule around 'underwater fishing' for shellfish rather than around spearguns specifically; there is no published speargun ban or spear-count limit for finfish. SCUBA itself is lawful, but using breathing apparatus to take shellfish (other than crabs or permitted scallops) is an offence.
Dè ghabhas tu
Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta
Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.
Crìoch làitheil
Per-species recreational bag limits apply under the Sea Fisheries (Bag Limits) (Jersey) Order 2020. Examples (per person / per vessel): Bass 2 / 10; Wrasse species 2 / 10; Common Octopus 2 / per-person-limit; Round fish group (Cod, Haddock, Hake, Poor Cod, Rockling, Ling, Whiting etc.) 10 / 50 combined; Brown Crab 5 / 5; Spider Crab 10 / 50; Velvet Crab 40 / 40; European Lobster 5 / 5; Ormer 20 / 100; Scallop 24.
Meudachdan as lugha
- Bassmin 42 cm
- Black Breammin 23 cm
- Brillmin 30 cm
- Codmin 35 cm
- Conger Eelmin 58 cm
- Dabmin 15 cm
- Floundermin 25 cm
- Haddockmin 30 cm
- Horse Mackerelmin 15 cm
- Lemon Solemin 25 cm
- Lingmin 63 cm
- Mackerelmin 20 cm
- Mulletmin 20 cm
- Plaicemin 27 cm
- Pollackmin 30 cm
- Red Mulletmin 15 cm
- Red Sea Breammin 25 cm
- Sardinemin 11 cm
- Solemin 24 cm
- Turbotmin 30 cm
- Whitingmin 27 cm
- Brown Crabmin 15 cm
- Spider Crabmin 12 cm
- Velvet Crabmin 6.5 cm
- European Lobstermin 8.9 cm
- Ormermin 9 cm
- Scallopmin 10.5 cm
- Common Whelkmin 4.5 cm
Gnèithean dìonta — na gabh
- DìontaAlbacore Tuna
- DìontaAngel Shark
- DìontaBasking Shark
- DìontaBigeye Tuna
- DìontaBlack Skate
- DìontaBluefin Tuna
- DìontaBlue Shark
- DìontaCommon Skate
- DìontaGiant Goby
- DìontaOrange Roughy
- DìontaPorbeagle Shark
- DìontaShad species
- DìontaSmall-eyed Ray
- DìontaSmooth Hammerhead Shark
- DìontaSpurdog
- DìontaTope
- DìontaWhite Shark
- DìontaWhite Skate
Species listed under protected_species have a 0 bag limit (must not be retained). European Lobster minimum size is scheduled to change to 9 cm on 1 August 2026. Bag limits and minimum sizes are set by recreational/Bag Limits orders made under the Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994. Latin names of species are in the Sea Fisheries (Bag Limits) (Jersey) Order 2020.
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
CeadaichteCuingeachaidhean
- Same rules apply to visitors as to residents: no shellfish (other than crabs) may be taken with breathing apparatus; scallop diving needs a permit; the Portelet no-take zone is closed to all; species bag limits and minimum sizes apply.
No nationality-based restriction was found in Jersey law for individual recreational sea fishing or spearfishing for fish. No recreational fishing licence is required for individuals.
Luchd-còmhnaidh
No recreational licence required for residents (same as visitors).
Jersey does not operate a recreational sea-fishing licence system for individuals; residents and visitors are subject to the same bag limits, minimum sizes, the shellfish underwater-fishing prohibition and the Portelet no-take zone.
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
- Portelet Bay No-Take Zone (NTZ)no-take zone (highly protected marine area)
Highly Protected Marine Area at Portelet Bay where all fishing of any kind and the taking of any aquatic resource (any living creature, plant or seaweed) is prohibited for both commercial and recreational users, including spearfishing. In force since 2 May 2022 under the Sea Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Portelet Bay) (Jersey) Regulations 2022. The zone is bounded on the seaward side by a straight line from 49°10.150N 2°10.988W to 49°10.015N 2°10.374W (WGS 1984).
Suidheachaidhean air an uisge
Suidheachaidhean beò
Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Jersey, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.
Mara & sìde beò faisg air Portelet Bay No-Take Zone (NTZ).
Cò ri fhaighneachd
Ùghdarrasan
Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.
Marine Resources, Government of Jersey (Department of the Environment)
fisheries authority
gov.je+44 (0) 1534 441600; marineresources@gov.jePorts of Jersey (Jersey Harbours)
maritime authority
ports.jeunknownJersey Legal Information Board (Jersey Law)
official legislation portal
jerseylaw.jeunknown
On a thàinig seo
Stòrasan
Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.
- [01]
Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003 – Revised Edition (FAOLEX/jerseylaw.je consolidation, full verbatim text)
Oifigeilfaolex.fao.orgAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [02]
Sea Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Portelet Bay) (Jersey) Regulations 2022 – Jersey Legal Information Board
Oifigeiljerseylaw.jeAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [03]
Fishing regulations – Government of Jersey (gov.je)
Oifigeilgov.jeAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [04]
A Guide for Recreational Fishing and Marine Users in Jersey – Government of Jersey, Marine Resources
Oifigeilgov.jeAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [05]
Minimum sizes of fish table – Government of Jersey
Oifigeilgov.jeAir faighinn Ògm 15 - [06]
Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994 – Jersey Legal Information Board (revised laws, chapter 14.825)
Oifigeiljerseylaw.jeAir faighinn Ògm 15
Notaichean rannsachaidh
Jersey is a British Crown Dependency in the Channel Islands with its own fisheries legislation. Key finding: spearfishing for FINFISH is lawful and unlicensed for individuals, but it is an offence to take any SHELLFISH (other than crabs) while submerged and breathing with breathing apparatus or wearing a face visor, mask or goggles (Underwater Fishing Regulations 2003) – so spearing/collecting shellfish (lobster, ormer, scallops, etc.) underwater is banned except scallops under a diving permit. All fishing, including spearfishing, is banned in the Portelet Bay no-take zone (since 2 May 2022). Bag limits, minimum landing sizes and 0-limit protected species apply to all catch. The Portelet centroid coordinate (49.16942, -2.18313) was computed as the midpoint of the two seaward boundary points given verbatim in the 2022 Regulations; the exact bay boundary is in the Schedule to those Regulations. No speargun-specific ban, spear-count limit, or recreational licence was found. Confidence is high: all key provisions come from official Jersey legislation and Government of Jersey publications fetched directly. Inland/freshwater spearfishing: Jersey has no significant natural lakes or rivers and no dedicated inland fisheries law; all spearfishing/underwater-fishing legislation (Sea Fisheries (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations 2003, Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994, Aquatic Resources (Jersey) Law 2014) applies only to the sea and territorial waters — freshwater spearfishing is not addressed by statute, and access to the island's reservoirs (managed by Jersey Water in partnership with the Jersey Freshwater Angling Association) is restricted to licensed members for rod-and-line coarse fishing and fly/game fishing only, making freshwater spearfishing effectively not a permitted activity.
Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Jersey
Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Jersey ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.