Slovakia
Europe · Eastern Europe
Slovakia is a landlocked country with no sea coastline; only freshwater fishing exists. Recreational fishing is governed by Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (effective 1 January 2019) and its implementing Decree No. 381/2018 Coll. Spearfishing (underwater fishing / podvodný lov) is effectively prohibited: § 15(1)(a) of Act 216/2018 expressly bans the use of harpoons (harpúny), spears/spikes (bodce), the shooting of fish (strieľať ryby), and any method of spearing/snagging fish (akýmkoľvek spôsobom ich podsekávať). The implementing decree (§ 14) lists the only lawful methods of fishing — float, bottom (ledger), spinning/trolling, fly fishing, ice fishing and the landing net (čereň up to 1 m2) — none of which include underwater/speargun fishing. Consequently recreational spearfishing is not a permitted method anywhere in Slovak inland waters.
Zuletzt aktualiséiert Juni 15, 2026
Gouvernéierende Kader
- §Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries and amending Act No. 455/1991 Coll. (Zákon č. 216/2018 Z. z. o rybárstve), effective 1 January 2019
- §Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 381/2018 Coll. implementing Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Vyhláška č. 381/2018 Z. z.)
- Lizenz erfuerdert
- Erfuerdert
- Spiergewier
- Verboten
- Scuba
- Verboten
- Auslänner
- Net erlaabt
D'Gesetz, verbatim
Gesetzestexte
Déi exakt gesetzlech a regulatoresch Bestëmmungen, déi d'Speerfëscherei hei gouvernéieren, esou wéi publizéiert zitéiert, mat engem Link op all offiziell Quell.
Prohibited methods of fishing (Zákaz lovu rýb – Všeobecné ustanovenia)
Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Zákon č. 216/2018 Z. z. o rybárstve)
§ 15 Všeobecné ustanovenia (1) Zakazuje sa a) používať na lov rýb výbušniny, chemikálie, jedy, návnady s jedom alebo s umŕtvujúcim prostriedkom, harpúny, bodce, udice bez prútov, ako aj strieľať ryby, loviť ich na šnúry, do rúk a do ôk a akýmkoľvek spôsobom ich podsekávať,
Prohibited methods of fishing (continued) – electric current, traps, nets, night fishing with light
Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Zákon č. 216/2018 Z. z. o rybárstve)
b) zbierať a poškodzovať ikry, používať na lov rýb elektrický prúd, omamné látky, loviť ryby v noci za pomoci svetla, používať lapadlá, čerene s väčšou plochou ako 1 m2, vrše, koše, používať akékoľvek stále zariadenia na lovenie rýb alebo siete a zabraňovať ťahu rýb proti vode,
Protection of fish – closed seasons (Ochrana rýb)
Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Zákon č. 216/2018 Z. z. o rybárstve)
§ 13 Ochrana rýb (1) V pstruhových vodách sa zakazuje lov všetkých rýb od 1. októbra do 15. apríla. (2) V lipňových vodách sa zakazuje lov všetkých rýb od 1. januára do 31. mája. (3) V kaprových vodách sa zakazuje lov všetkých rýb od 15. marca do 31 mája; to neplatí od 1. mája do 31. mája, ak užívateľ uskutočňuje rybárske preteky alebo športové rybárske preteky.
Fishing licence (Rybársky lístok) – issuing authority and types
Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Zákon č. 216/2018 Z. z. o rybárstve)
Rybársky lístok vydáva obec, mesto a v hlavnom meste Slovenskej republiky Bratislave a v meste Košiciach mestská časť na základe žiadosti fyzickej osoby, ktorá je spôsobilá na právne úkony. (3) Rybársky lístok sa vydáva a) týždenný, b) mesačný, c) ročný, d) trojročný. (5) Vydanie rybárskeho lístka podlieha správnemu poplatku podľa osobitného predpisu.
Wann Dir dauche kënnt
Saisons & Zäitbeschränkungen
Geschlossen, geöffent a ageschränkt Perioden iwwer d'Joer. Bestätegt ëmmer artenspezifisch Schliesszäiten lokal.
- ZouAll fish in trout waters (pstruhové vody)Okt 1 – Apr 15
§ 13(1) Act 216/2018: fishing of all fish in trout waters is prohibited from 1 October to 15 April.
- ZouAll fish in grayling waters (lipňové vody)Jan 1 – Mee 31
§ 13(2) Act 216/2018: fishing of all fish in grayling waters is prohibited from 1 January to 31 May.
- ZouAll fish in carp waters (kaprové vody)Mär 15 – Mee 31
§ 13(3) Act 216/2018: fishing of all fish in carp waters is prohibited from 15 March to 31 May (an exception from 1 May to 31 May applies where the user holds fishing competitions). Note: these seasons govern lawful angling only; spearfishing itself is prohibited year-round under § 15(1)(a).
Erlaabnis zum Fëschen
Lizenz
Wat Dir braucht fir am Waasser erlaabt ze sinn, wat et kascht a wéi Dir et kritt.
Apply at the municipality (obec/mesto; in Bratislava and Košice the city district). A fishing permit is obtained separately from the holder of the angling right, typically the Slovak Fishing Union (Slovenský rybársky zväz).
Är Lizenz kréienÖffnet dat offiziellt Portal · slov-lex.sk
- Typ
- Fishing licence (rybársky lístok) plus a fishing permit (povolenie na rybolov); available weekly, monthly, annual or three-year. Note: the licence permits lawful angling methods only — it does NOT authorise spearfishing, which is a prohibited method under § 15(1)(a).
- Käschten
- Administrative fee set by Act No. 145/1995 Coll. on administrative fees (approx. EUR 1.50 weekly, EUR 3 monthly, EUR 7 annual, EUR 17 three-year); fishing permit price set separately by the angling-rights holder.
- Gëltegkeet
- Weekly, monthly, annual (calendar year) or three-year, per § 12(3)
- Wéi ze kréien
- Apply at the municipality (obec/mesto; in Bratislava and Košice the city district). A fishing permit is obtained separately from the holder of the angling right, typically the Slovak Fishing Union (Slovenský rybársky zväz).
- Autoritéit
- Municipality (obec/mesto) for the rybársky lístok; angling-rights holder (e.g. Slovenský rybársky zväz) for the povolenie na rybolov
Ausrüstung & Technik
Ausrüstungsreegelen
Wéi Ausrüstung erlaabt ass, wéi se benotzt duerf ginn a wéi Bedéngungen drun hänken.
Aschränkungen
- Harpoons (harpúny) prohibited – § 15(1)(a) Act 216/2018
- Spears/spikes (bodce) prohibited – § 15(1)(a)
- Shooting fish (strieľať ryby) prohibited – § 15(1)(a)
- Any method of spearing/snagging fish (podsekávať) prohibited – § 15(1)(a)
- Use of electric current and stupefying/narcotic substances prohibited – § 15(1)(b)
- Night fishing with the aid of light prohibited – § 15(1)(b)
The implementing Decree 381/2018 (§ 14) defines the only permitted fishing methods: float fishing (lov na plávanú), bottom/ledger fishing (lov na položenú), spinning/trolling (lov prívlačou), fly fishing (lov muškárením), ice fishing (lov pod ľadom) and the landing net (lov čereňom, max 1 m2). Underwater fishing with a speargun or harpoon is not a permitted method and is expressly banned by § 15(1)(a) of Act 216/2018.
Wat Dir mat kënnt huelen
Fangbeschränkungen & geschützte Arten
Deeglech Quoten, Mindestgréissten a Arten, déi ni geholl duerfen ginn.
Deeglech Limit
Set by Decree 381/2018 for permitted angling methods (e.g. for carp waters generally a daily retention limit applies). Not applicable to spearfishing, which is prohibited.
Minimum legal sizes and daily/annual retention limits for lawful angling are set out in Decree 381/2018 Coll.; they were not transcribed here because spearfishing is prohibited and the focus of this record is the spearfishing ban. Consult Decree 381/2018 for species-specific minimum sizes.
Wien fësche duerf
Besucher & Awunner
Wéi d'Reegelen fir auslännesch Besucher a lokal Awunner ënnerscheeden.
Auslännesch Besucher
Net erlaabtUfuerderungen
- Foreign anglers may obtain a fishing licence and permit on the same basis as residents, but only for permitted angling methods.
- Spearfishing is prohibited for everyone, residents and foreigners alike, under § 15(1)(a) Act 216/2018.
Aschränkungen
- No spearfishing/underwater fishing is permitted for foreigners (or anyone) in Slovak inland waters.
There is no foreigner-specific spearfishing regime because spearfishing is prohibited nationally for all persons.
Awunner
Rybársky lístok (fishing licence) issued by the municipality + povolenie na rybolov (fishing permit) for lawful angling methods only
Ufuerderungen
- Hold a valid fishing licence and permit during fishing (§ 12(10))
- Carry the licence/permit and present it on request to police, municipal police or the fishing guard (§ 12(10))
Residents may angle by permitted methods only; spearfishing is prohibited for everyone under § 15(1)(a).
Wien ze froen
Autoritéiten
Déi offiziell Gremien, déi fir Fëscherei a Lizenzéierung zoustänneg sinn.
Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo životného prostredia SR)
environment ministry (fisheries regulator)
Slovak Fishing Union (Slovenský rybársky zväz – Rada Žilina)
national angling-rights holder / fisheries organisation
Wou dëst hierkommt
Quellen
All Behaaptung op dëser Säit geet op eng vun dëse Referenze zréck.
- [01]
Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries – consolidated text effective 1 January 2019 (official Slov-Lex legal portal)
Offiziellslov-lex.skOpgeruff Jun 15 - [02]
Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 381/2018 Coll. implementing the Fisheries Act – overview of permitted fishing methods
Sekundärpodsplavom.skOpgeruff Jun 15 - [03]
FAO/EastFish – Slovakia: current status of recreational fishing
Offiziellfao.orgOpgeruff Jun 15 - [04]
FAOLEX – Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries (Slovakia), PDF
Offiziellfaolex.fao.orgOpgeruff Jun 15
Fuerschernotizen
Slovakia is landlocked (no sea coastline); only freshwater (inland) fishing exists. The verbatim prohibition in § 15(1)(a) of Act 216/2018 Coll. — banning harpoons (harpúny), spears (bodce), shooting fish (strieľať ryby) and any spearing/snagging of fish — was retrieved directly from the official Slov-Lex consolidated text and renders recreational spearfishing unlawful nationwide. Violations may constitute the offence of poaching (pytliactvo) under § 310 of the Slovak Criminal Code. The implementing Decree 381/2018 independently confirms the ban by enumerating only rod/net angling methods as permitted. Catch limits and minimum legal sizes for lawful angling exist in Decree 381/2018 but were not fully transcribed, as spearfishing is the subject of this record and is prohibited. Confidence is high: the core legal prohibition is quoted verbatim from the official government legislative portal. Inland/freshwater spearfishing: Prohibited in all inland waters nationwide under § 15(1)(a) of Act No. 216/2018 Coll. on Fisheries, which expressly bans the use of harpoons (harpúny), spears/spikes (bodce), and shooting fish (strieľať ryby) as well as snagging fish by any method; no named lake, river or reservoir exemption exists. Slovakia is landlocked (freshwater only). Verified against the verbatim § 15(1)(a) text on slov-lex (https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2018/216/20190101.html) already recorded in the canonical data file, corroborated by web search of Act 216/2018 listing harpoons/spears/shooting among forbidden methods.
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