SpearfishingMap

Malta

Europe · Southern Europe

Recreational spearfishing is legal in Malta and does not require a dedicated licence, but it is tightly regulated by directly-applicable EU law. Under Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (and previously Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006) spear guns may only be used in recreational fishing WITHOUT an aqualung (underwater breathing apparatus / scuba) and only by day, from dawn until dusk; night spearfishing and spearfishing on scuba are prohibited. Spearfishing is also banned inside marine conservation areas, voluntary marine reserves around wrecks (e.g. Cirkewwa), designated swimmers'/bathing zones and protected archaeological zones at sea. EU minimum conservation reference sizes (Annex IX) apply to catch, recreational catch may not be sold, and bluefin tuna is effectively catch-and-release for recreational fishers. The national framework is the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425.

Restricted
Affidabilità dei datiAffidabilità media

Ultimo aggiornamento Giugno 15, 2026

Quadro normativo di riferimento

  • §Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 of the Laws of Malta (Act II of 2001, as amended)
  • §Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures
  • §Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea
  • §Fishing Vessels Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 425.07
  • §Notice to Mariners No. 5 of 2008 (Conservation Areas Around Wrecks)
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.

01Article 7(1)(g)Malta (EU directly-applicable regulation) · national

Prohibited fishing gears and methods - projectiles and spear guns

Regulation (EU) 2019/1241

ENOriginale

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.

02Article 8(4)Malta (EU directly-applicable regulation, replaced by Reg. (EU) 2019/1241) · national

Restriction on spear-guns with breathing apparatus and at night

Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006

ENOriginale

Spear-guns shall be prohibited if used in conjunction with underwater breathing apparatus (aqualung) or at night from sunset to dawn.

03Long title and Article 1Malta · national

Fisheries Conservation and Management Act - short title and scope

Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 (Act II of 2001)

ENOriginale

To make provision for the regulation, conservation and management of the fisheries of Malta and matters incidental thereto. ... 1. The short title of this Act is Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.

04Article 2 (Interpretation)Malta · national

Definition of commercial fishing (excludes recreational fishing)

Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 (Act II of 2001)

ENOriginale

"commercial fishing" means all fishing operations with the exception of subsistence fishing and recreational fishing;

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.

  • LimitataAll spearfishing (time-of-day restriction)sunset – dawn

    Spearfishing with spear guns is prohibited at night, from sunset/dusk until dawn; spear guns may only be used in daylight (dawn until dusk). Basis: Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g); Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 Art. 8(4).

    legislation.gov.uk
  • LimitataDesignated bathing / swimmers' zones (seasonal, typically summer)unknown – unknown

    Fishing, including spearfishing, is not allowed in designated swimming zones; these are set seasonally (mainly summer) and change year to year, so local notices must be checked.

    spearfishing.mt

Permesso di pescare

Licenza

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

Nessuna licenza richiestatramite Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA), Malta
Nessuna licenza richiesta
Tipo
No dedicated spearfishing licence; recreational shore/underwater fishing requires no permit
Costo
None for recreational spearfishing
Validità
n/a
Come ottenerla
No licence is required to spearfish recreationally in Malta. A special recreational permit from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is only needed for specific activities such as private bluefin tuna fishing or for fishing implements not otherwise permitted.
Autorità
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA), Malta
Portale ufficiale per le licenze · dfa.gov.mt

Attrezzatura e tecnica

Regole sull'attrezzatura

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

Fucile subacqueoConsentito
AutorespiratoreVietato

Restrizioni

  • Spear guns may NOT be used in conjunction with underwater breathing apparatus (aqualung/scuba); free-diving / breath-hold only
  • Spear guns may only be used by day, from dawn until dusk; night spearfishing is prohibited
  • Spear gun defined in EU law as a pneumatic or mechanically powered hand-held gun that shoots a spear for the purpose of underwater fishing

Restrictions derive from directly-applicable EU law (Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g), formerly Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006 Art. 8(4)). No specific national cap on number of spears was identified.

Cosa puoi prelevare

Limiti di cattura e specie protette

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

Limite giornaliero

No specific recreational daily bag limit identified for general species; recreational catch may NOT be sold. Bluefin tuna effectively catch-and-release (retain only if over 115 cm / 30 kg and may not be marketed).

Taglie minime

  • European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)min 25 cm
  • Groupers (Epinephelus spp.)min 45 cm
  • White sea-bream (Diplodus sargus)min 23 cm
  • Gilt-head sea-bream (Sparus aurata)min 20 cm
  • Common sea bream / red porgy (Pagrus pagrus)min 18 cm
  • Red mullets (Mullus spp.)min 11 cm
  • Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)min 115 cm

Specie protette — non prelevare

  • ProtettaAtlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) - recreational catch effectively catch-and-release, may not be marketed
  • ProtettaDusky grouper / groupers (Epinephelus spp.) - minimum size and conservation concern
  • ProtettaDentex and amberjack - minimum legal sizes apply

Minimum sizes are the EU Mediterranean minimum conservation reference sizes set in Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. Bluefin tuna minimum landing reference is 115 cm or 30 kg. Recreational anglers may not sell any part of their catch.

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: no scuba, daylight only, respect protected/swimmer/conservation zones, EU minimum sizes, no sale of catch

No spearfishing licence is required in Malta for residents or tourists, so foreigners may spearfish recreationally under the same EU and national rules. No nationality-specific restriction was identified.

Residenti

No recreational spearfishing licence required

Recreational spearfishing requires no permit for residents. Owning/operating a fishing vessel is separately regulated under the Fishing Vessels Regulations (S.L. 425.07).

Dove sulla costa

Zone consentite e vietate

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

Aree consentite

  • Maltese coastal waters (general, outside protected/swimmer/conservation zones)

    Recreational shore and boat spearfishing is generally permitted in Maltese coastal waters by daylight without scuba, subject to EU minimum sizes and no-sale rules, provided the area is not a marine conservation area, voluntary marine reserve, archaeological zone or designated bathing zone.

    No scuba/aqualung; daylight only; EU Annex IX minimum sizes; catch may not be sold; bluefin tuna catch-and-release for recreational fishers.

    divinginfo.mt

Aree vietate

Vedi sulla mappa

Condizioni in acqua

Condizioni in tempo reale

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

Condizioni marine e meteo in tempo reale vicino a Cirkewwa Voluntary Marine Reserve (P29 and Rozi wrecks area).

Condizioni

A chi rivolgersi

Autorità

Gli enti ufficiali responsabili della pesca e delle licenze.

  • Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA)

    fisheries authority

    dfa.gov.mtGhammieri Government Farm, Triq l-Ingiered, Marsa MRS 3303, Malta; email infofisheries.mafa@gov.mt; tel +356 2292 6990

  • Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights

    environment / agriculture ministry

    agric.gov.mtMalta

  • Transport Malta (Ports and Yachting / Notices to Mariners)

    maritime authority

    transport.gov.mtRescue Coordination Centre tel 21809279 / 22494202

Da dove provengono

Fonti

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

  1. [01]

    Laws related to diving and the marine environment in Malta - divinginfo.mt

    Secondaria
    divinginfo.mtConsultato il Giu 15
  2. [02]

    Spearfishing Malta - Regulations, Rules, Prohibited Zones

    community
    spearfishing.mtConsultato il Giu 15
  3. [03]

    Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Article 7 (Prohibited fishing gears and methods)

    Ufficiale
    legislation.gov.ukConsultato il Giu 15
  4. [04]

    Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex IX (minimum conservation reference sizes, Mediterranean)

    Ufficiale
    legislation.gov.ukConsultato il Giu 15
  5. [05]

    Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Chapter 425 of the Laws of Malta (UN DOALOS copy)

    Ufficiale
    un.orgConsultato il Giu 15
  6. [06]

    Cirkewwa Voluntary Marine Reserve - spearfishing illegal; cites EC 1967/2006 Art 8(4)

    community
    cirkewwavoluntarymarinereserve.blogspot.comConsultato il Giu 15
  7. [07]

    Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) - official website

    Ufficiale
    dfa.gov.mtConsultato il Giu 15
  8. [08]

    Malta Fishing Forum - Local Fishing Regulations (cites S.L. 10.12, EC 1967/2006, EC 302/2009)

    community
    maltafishingforum.comConsultato il Giu 15

Note dei ricercatori

Malta has no standalone spearfishing statute; recreational spearfishing legality is governed by (a) directly-applicable EU technical-measures law - Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 (replacing Council Reg. (EC) 1967/2006), which permits hand-held spears and spear guns in recreational fishing only WITHOUT an aqualung and only from dawn until dusk, and (b) the national Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Cap. 425. Net effect: spearfishing is allowed but restricted (no scuba, daylight only, no protected/swimmer/conservation/archaeological zones, EU minimum sizes, no sale of catch). No recreational licence is required. The verbatim EC 1967/2006 Art. 8(4) text was retrieved from a community page that quotes it directly; the equivalent in-force provision (Reg. (EU) 2019/1241 Art. 7(1)(g)) was retrieved verbatim from the legislation.gov.uk retained-EU-law mirror. EUR-Lex pages would not render via the fetch tool. Cirkewwa coordinates are approximate (the wreck/reserve location, not an official boundary). Confidence set to medium: the in-force legal text and framework are well sourced, but the official EUR-Lex and Maltese government pages for precise national implementing notices and the full list of named conservation/swimmer zones could not all be directly retrieved.

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