SpearfishingMap

Bulgaria

Europe · Eastern Europe

Recreational spearfishing with a harpoon (speargun) is legal in Bulgaria only in the waters of the Black Sea. The general ban on harpoons in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act (Чл. 35, ал. 1, т. 5) expressly does not apply to recreational fishing in Black Sea waters (Чл. 35, ал. 2); the detailed conditions are set by a ministerial ordinance under Чл. 15, ал. 1. Spearfishing is freediving-only (no SCUBA/oxygen apparatus) and is permitted only during daylight hours. Harpoon use in fresh water (Danube, inland water bodies) remains prohibited. A general spawning-season fishing ban applies annually (issued by order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food / Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture - IARA), and the Black Sea turbot is under a strict closed season (15 April - 15 June). No recreational licence is required for sea fishing for either residents or foreigners; daily retention is limited (up to 3 kg of marine organisms, or one specimen over 3 kg).

Restricted
Affidabilità dei datiAffidabilità media

Ultimo aggiornamento Giugno 14, 2026

Quadro normativo di riferimento

  • §Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act), in force 2001 with later amendments (incl. ДВ бр. 94/2005)
  • §Ordinance on recreational fishing issued under Чл. 15, ал. 1 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act
  • §Annual order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food / Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA) on spawning-season fishing bans
  • §Council Regulation (EU) on Black Sea fishing opportunities (turbot TAC, 45 cm minimum landing size, 15 April - 15 June closure)
Licenza obbligatoria
Non obbligatoria
Fucile subacqueo
Consentito
Autorespiratore
Vietato
Stranieri
Ammessi

La legge, integrale

Testi legali

Le esatte disposizioni di legge e regolamentari che disciplinano la pesca subacquea qui, citate come pubblicate, con un link a ogni fonte ufficiale.

01Чл. 35, ал. 1Bulgaria · national

Prohibited fishing gear - general ban on harpoon

Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act)

BGOriginale

Забранява се стопанският и любителският риболов в обектите по чл. 3, ал. 1 със следните уреди, средства, принадлежности и приспособления: 1. взривни материали, отровни и упойващи вещества; 2. електрически ток и технически устройства и съоръжения за електроулов; 3. дънни тралиращи и драгиращи средства; 4. огнестрелно оръжие; 5. харпун; 6. (нова - ДВ, бр. 94 от 2005 г., в сила от 01.01.2007 г.) кърмаци.

02Чл. 35, ал. 2Bulgaria · national

Harpoon exception for recreational fishing in the Black Sea

Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act)

BGOriginale

Забраната по ал. 1, т. 5 не се отнася за любителски риболов във водите на Черно море. Условията и редът за извършване на любителски риболов с харпун се уреждат с наредбата по чл. 15, ал. 1.

03Чл. 24, ал. 4Bulgaria · national

Recreational fishing - daylight-only restriction

Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act)

BGOriginale

Любителският риболов, в това число и на пъстървови риби, се разрешава само през светлата част на денонощието през всички дни на седмицата, извън периода на забраната по чл. 32, ал. 1.

04Чл. 24, ал. 2Bulgaria · national

Recreational fishing - daily retention (catch) limit

Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act)

BGOriginale

След еднодневен риболовен излет риболовците могат да запазват за себе си до 2 кг пъстървови риби, но не повече от 8 бройки, или до 3 кг от всички останали видове риби.

Quando puoi immergerti

Stagioni e restrizioni temporali

Periodi di chiusura, apertura e restrizione nel corso dell'anno. Conferma sempre localmente le chiusure specifiche per specie.

Gen
Feb
Mar
Apr
Mag
Giu
Lug
Ago
Set
Ott
Nov
Dic
ChiusaLimitataAperta
  • ChiusaBlack Sea turbot (Psetta maxima / Scophthalmus maximus)Apr 15 – Giu 15

    Strict closed season for Black Sea turbot - capture, retention on board, landing and sale all prohibited. Implemented under EU Black Sea fishing-opportunity regulations and the annual Bulgarian spawning-ban order. Minimum landing size 45 cm total length.

  • ChiusaGeneral spawning-season fishing ban (Black Sea, Danube and inland water bodies)Apr 15 – Giu 15

    Annual spawning-season ban issued by order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food / Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA). Dates and covered waters vary by species and elevation each year (e.g. inland waters below 500 m: 15 April - 31 May; above 500 m: 1 May - 15 June). Certain designated water bodies are exempted for recreational fishing under conditions.

Permesso di pescare

Licenza

Cosa ti serve per poter entrare in acqua, quanto costa e come ottenerla.

Nessuna licenza richiestatramite Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA)
Nessuna licenza richiesta
Tipo
No recreational licence required for sea (Black Sea) fishing; a recreational fishing ticket (билет за любителски риболов) applies to inland/fresh waters under Чл. 22
Costo
unknown
Validità
unknown
Come ottenerla
For inland recreational fishing, a ticket is issued under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act; no ticket/licence is needed for Black Sea spearfishing.
Autorità
Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA)

Attrezzatura e tecnica

Regole sull'attrezzatura

Quale attrezzatura è consentita, come può essere usata e le condizioni associate.

Fucile subacqueoConsentito
AutorespiratoreVietato

Restrizioni

  • Freediving only - use of SCUBA, oxygen tanks or other breathing/gas apparatus while spearfishing is prohibited
  • Daylight hours only - night spearfishing is prohibited (Чл. 24, ал. 4)
  • A signal/marker buoy attached to the diver's body by a leash is required
  • Harpoon permitted only in Black Sea waters (Чл. 35, ал. 2); prohibited in fresh water
  • Nets, explosives, poisons, electrical devices/electrofishing and firearms are prohibited (Чл. 35, ал. 1)

The harpoon exception and detailed conditions for recreational spearfishing are governed by the ordinance under Чл. 15, ал. 1 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act. The freediving-only and buoy requirements are reported by secondary spearfishing sources (harpune.info, thefishcode.com); the daylight-only and harpoon/Black Sea rules are confirmed in the verbatim statute text.

Cosa puoi prelevare

Limiti di cattura e specie protette

Quote giornaliere, taglie minime e specie che non devono mai essere prelevate.

Limite giornaliero

Up to 3 kg of marine organisms per day, or a single organism over 3 kg (Black Sea recreational); inland: up to 2 kg of trout species (max 8 specimens) or up to 3 kg of other fish (Чл. 24, ал. 2). Catch may not be sold.

Taglie minime

  • Black Sea turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)min 45 cm

Specie protette — non prelevare

  • ProtettaSturgeon (Acipenser spp.) - prohibited year-round
  • ProtettaBeluga (Huso huso) - prohibited year-round
  • ProtettaBlack Sea turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) - seasonally protected (closed 15 April - 15 June)

Sturgeon and beluga are fully protected. Turbot is seasonally protected with a 45 cm minimum landing size and a closed season; outside the closure typically a maximum of one turbot per day is reported by secondary sources. Catch from recreational fishing may not be sold.

Chi può pescare

Visitatori e residenti

Come le regole differiscono per i visitatori stranieri e i residenti locali.

Visitatori stranieri

Consentito

Restrizioni

  • Same rules as residents apply (freediving only, daylight only, daily limit, prohibited zones, protected species)

Foreigners may spearfish in the Black Sea under the same rules as residents; no special permit is required for saltwater spearfishing.

Residenti

No licence required for Black Sea spearfishing; recreational fishing ticket for inland waters

Residents and foreigners are treated identically for Black Sea spearfishing.

Dove sulla costa

Zone consentite e vietate

Aree denominate aperte o chiuse alla pesca subacquea. Vedi il quadro completo sulla mappa interattiva.

Aree consentite

  • Recreational spearfishing with a harpoon is permitted only in the waters of the Black Sea (Чл. 35, ал. 2 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act), freediving only. Excludes ports, freshwater river mouths and military zones.

    Freediving only (no SCUBA / oxygen apparatus); daylight hours only; daily limit 3 kg or one organism over 3 kg; signal buoy attached to the diver; no sale of catch.

Aree vietate

Condizioni in acqua

Condizioni in tempo reale

Istantanea marina e meteo in tempo reale vicino a un punto di riferimento costiero in Bulgaria, da Open-Meteo. Le condizioni variano lungo la costa — considerale indicative.

Condizioni marine e meteo in tempo reale vicino a Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters.

Condizioni

A chi rivolgersi

Autorità

Gli enti ufficiali responsabili della pesca e delle licenze.

  • Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Изпълнителна агенция по рибарство и аквакултури, IARA)

    fisheries authority

    iara.government.bgoffice@iara.government.bg; tel. +359 2 805 1666 / +359 2 805 1663
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Министерство на земеделието и храните)

    agriculture/fisheries ministry

Da dove provengono

Fonti

Ogni affermazione su questa pagina risale a uno di questi riferimenti.

  1. [01]

    Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act) - full text, IASRJ

    Ufficiale
    iasrj.euConsultato il Giu 14
  2. [02]

    Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите Част I - Spearfish.org (statute reproduction)

    Secondaria
    spearfish.orgConsultato il Giu 14
  3. [03]

    Fishing Ban During Spawning Season Now in Force across Bulgaria - BTA (Bulgarian News Agency)

    Secondaria
    bta.bgConsultato il Giu 14
  4. [04]

    Spearfishing in Europe - Law, Rules and Restrictions (Bulgaria section) - harpune.info

    community
    harpune.infoConsultato il Giu 14
  5. [05]

    Fishing Regulations in Bulgaria - The Fish Code

    community
    thefishcode.comConsultato il Giu 14
  6. [06]

    Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA) - official website

    Ufficiale
    iara.government.bgConsultato il Giu 14

Note dei ricercatori

Spearfishing is legal in Bulgaria ONLY in Black Sea waters, by way of an express exception to the general harpoon ban (Чл. 35, ал. 2 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act). The four law_texts entries are verbatim Cyrillic excerpts retrieved from the statute (iasrj.eu and spearfish.org reproduction). Freediving-only (no SCUBA) and the mandatory signal buoy attached to the diver are not present in the statute excerpts retrieved and are sourced from spearfishing community sites (harpune.info, thefishcode.com); the precise wording lives in the recreational-fishing ordinance issued under Чл. 15, ал. 1, which could not be retrieved verbatim - confidence on those two points is medium. The turbot closed season (15 April - 15 June) and 45 cm minimum size derive from EU Black Sea regulations and the annual Bulgarian spawning-ban order (BTA). Daily limit, no-sale rule, and prohibited zones (ports, freshwater mouths, military objects) are consistent across the statute and secondary sources. Overall data_confidence: medium - core legality and statute text are well-sourced; some operational details (buoy, scuba, exact ordinance text) rest on secondary sources.

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