Metropolitan French coastline (Atlantic, English Channel, Mediterranean)

Spearfishing in apnea is generally allowed along the open coast outside ports, reserves and prohibited zones, subject to national rules and local prefectoral orders.

Apnea only; min age 16 for speargun; insurance and marking buoy required; no night fishing; 150 m from boats/marked gear; size limits and protected-species rules; from 10 Jan 2026 registration/declaration for sensitive species (all spearfishers in the Mediterranean).

Year-round except night and species moratoriums