Montenegro
Europe · Southern Europe
Recreational spearfishing is legal in Montenegro but tightly regulated. A sport-recreational fishing licence is mandatory, and a dedicated speargun (podvodna puska) authorisation is required to carry/use a speargun. Spearfishing must be done on breath-hold only: combining a diving/breathing apparatus (scuba/aqualung) with a speargun is prohibited. Night spearfishing (from sunset to sunrise) is banned, as is spearfishing by persons under the relevant minimum age (16 under the consolidated 2009 Law; reported as 18 under the 2025 reform). Catch may not be sold. Fishing is prohibited inside marked bathing areas (1 May - 1 October, by day) and inside declared marine protected areas (Platamuni, Katic, Stari Ulcinj). Date mussel (Litophaga litophaga) and other protected species may not be taken.
L-aħħar aġġornat Ġunju 15, 2026
Qafas governattiv
- §Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture (Zakon o morskom ribarstvu i marikulturi), Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09 (14 Aug 2009), amended 40/11 (8 Aug 2011)
- §Law on Recreational and Sport Fishing / reform of marine fisheries (sportsko-rekreativni ribolov), adopted 2025 (reported in force from September 2025) - secondary-source reported
- Liċenzja meħtieġa
- Meħtieġ
- Isperunar
- Permess
- Scuba
- Projbit
- Barranin
- Merħba
Il-liġi, verbatim
Testi legali
Id-dispożizzjonijiet statutorji u regolatorji eżatti li jirregolaw is-sajd bl-isperunar hawnhekk, citati kif ippubblikati, b'link għal kull sors uffiċjali.
Prohibition of diving apparatus with a speargun
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Pri obavljanju privrednog ili sportsko - rekreativnog ribolova zabranjena je upotreba ronilackog aparata sa podvodnom puskom, kao i drzanje ovih sredstava u ribolovnim plovnim objektima ili njihovo nosenje uz obalu ili drzanje na obali. Pod ronilackom opremom iz stava 1 ovog clana smatraju se sve vrste ronilackih aparata ili slicnih naprava pomocu kojih je zaronjenom licu omoguceno disanje pod vodom.
Speargun carriage, night and minimum-age restrictions for sport-recreational spearfishing
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Sportsko rekreativnim ribolovom ne smije se ometati privredni ribolov. Zabranjeno je, bez dozvole za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov, na plovnom objektu drzati ribolovni alat i opremu za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov. Zabranjeno je, bez dozvole za ribolov podvodnom puskom, nosenje podvodne puske obalom i drzanje na ribolovnom plovnom objektu. Zabranjeno je obavljati sportsko-rekreativni ribolov podvodnom puskom od zalaska do izlaska sunca. Zabranjeno je obavljanje sportsko-rekreativnog ribolova podvodnom puskom licu koje nije navrsilo 16 godina zivota.
Sport-recreational fishing licence requirement
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Sportsko-rekreativnim ribolovom mogu se baviti fizicka lica koja imaju dozvolu za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov. Obrazac dozvole za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov distribuira organ uprave Savezu za sportski ribolov na moru Crne Gore (u daljem tekstu: Savez). Dozvolu za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov izdaju sportsko-ribolovni klubovi koji su clanovi Saveza. U opstinama u kojima nije osnovan sportsko-ribolovni klub koji je clan Saveza, dozvolu izdaje organ lokalne uprave nadlezan za poslove sporta i rekreacije.
Licence types: permanent and temporary (temporary available to non-citizens)
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Dozvola za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov moze biti stalna i povremena. Stalna dozvola za sportsko-rekretivni ribolov izdaje se za tekucu kalendarsku godinu, a povremena najvise do 30 dana. Povremena dozvola za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov moze se izdati licu koje nije drzavljanin Crne Gore.
Daily catch quantity set by Ministry; sale of catch prohibited
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Sportsko-rekreativni ribolov moze se obavljati uz upotrebu dozvoljenih ribolovnih alata i opreme. Kolicinu ribe koju nosilac dozvole za sportsko rekreativni ribolov moze uloviti u toku dana propisuje Ministarstvo. Nosilac dozvole za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov ne smije stavljati ulov u promet.
Fishing prohibited in marked bathing areas, 1 May - 1 October by day
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Ribolov je zabranjen na uredenim i oznacenim kupalistima, u vremenu od 1. maja do 1. oktobra, od izlaska do zalaska sunca.
Prohibition of explosives, chemicals and other killing/stunning means
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Zabranjeno je loviti ribu i druge morske organizme eksplozivom, hemijskim sredstvima ili drugim sredstvima koja ih ubijaju, omamljuju ili truju, kao i tako ulovljenu ribu i druge morske organizme sakupljati i stavljati u promet. Zabranjeno je drzati na plovnim objektima i na obali eksplozivna ili hemijska sredstva pomocu kojih se moze ubijati, trovati ili omamljivati riba i drugi morski organizmi.
Protection of date mussel (Litophaga litophaga) and rocky shore habitat
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Radi zastite kamenite obale, kao posebnog stanista u ribolovnom moru, zabranjen je ulov, stavljanje u promet na teritoriji Crne Gore i izvoz prstaca (Litophaga litophaga).
Fishing gear/trawl prohibitions in the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska)
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 56/09, 40/11
Na podrucju Bokokotorskog zaliva zabranjen je ribolov: 1) pridnenim kocama; 2) lebdecim kocama i 3) plivaricama velikog ribolova.
Meta tista' tgħum
Staġuni u restrizzjonijiet tal-ħin
Perjodi magħluqa, miftuħa u ristrett matul is-sena. Ivverifika dejjem it-tgħeluq speċifiku għall-ispeċi lokalment.
- MagħluqAll marked and managed bathing areas (beaches) along the Montenegrin coastMej 1 – Ott 1
Article 19 of the Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture: fishing (including spearfishing) is prohibited at marked/managed bathing areas from 1 May to 1 October, during daylight hours (from sunrise to sunset).
- MagħluqSpeargun spearfishing - nightly closuresunset – sunrise
Article 63: sport-recreational spearfishing with a speargun is prohibited from sunset to sunrise (night spearfishing banned).
Permess biex tistada
Liċenzja
Dak li għandek bżonn biex tkun permess fl-ilma, dak li jiswa, u kif tiksbu.
Issued by sport-fishing clubs that are members of the Association for Sport Fishing on the Sea of Montenegro (Savez za sportski ribolov na moru Crne Gore); where no member club exists in a municipality, by the local self-government body for sport and recreation. Diving centres/clubs may issue daily licences for spearfishing. Bring valid passport/ID and pay the fee.
Ikseb il-liċenzja tiegħekJiftaħ il-portal uffiċjali · gov.me
- Tip
- Sport-recreational fishing licence (dozvola za sportsko-rekreativni ribolov); a separate speargun authorisation (dozvola za ribolov podvodnom puskom) is required to carry/use a speargun.
- Spiża
- Reported (2025/2026): residents annual without speargun ~EUR 20, with speargun ~EUR 40-60, under-18 ~EUR 5; tourists/foreigners temporary: ~EUR 5 (1 day), ~EUR 10 (up to 5 days), ~EUR 15 (up to 10 days), ~EUR 30-60 (up to 30 days). Speargun licence for persons over 18 reported at EUR 40. Statutory fee set by the Ministry; figures are from secondary sources.
- Validità
- Permanent licence: current calendar year (1 Jan - 31 Dec regardless of purchase date). Temporary licence: up to 30 days (temporary licence available to non-citizens of Montenegro).
- Kif tikseb
- Issued by sport-fishing clubs that are members of the Association for Sport Fishing on the Sea of Montenegro (Savez za sportski ribolov na moru Crne Gore); where no member club exists in a municipality, by the local self-government body for sport and recreation. Diving centres/clubs may issue daily licences for spearfishing. Bring valid passport/ID and pay the fee.
- Awtorità
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Directorate for Fisheries (organ uprave), via the Association for Sport Fishing on the Sea of Montenegro
Apparat u teknika
Regoli tal-apparat
L-apparat li huwa permess, kif jista' jintuża, u l-kundizzjonijiet mehmuża.
Restrizzjonijiet
- Speargun must be without explosive ammunition; explosives/chemicals to kill, stun or poison fish are prohibited (Article 21)
- Use of a diving/breathing apparatus (scuba/aqualung) together with a speargun is prohibited - spearfishing is breath-hold (apnea) only (Article 22)
- Carrying a speargun along the coast or keeping it on a fishing vessel without a speargun authorisation is prohibited (Article 63)
- No spearfishing with a speargun from sunset to sunrise (Article 63)
- Minimum age 16 to spearfish with a speargun under the consolidated 2009 Law (Article 63); reported as 18 under the 2025 reform
- A surface marker float/buoy is reported to be required for safety; keep clear of swimmers/bathing areas
Permitted underwater gear under the reform is reported to be the speargun without explosive charge, harpoons/spears and traps. Combining scuba tanks with a speargun remains illegal.
Dak li tista' tieħu
Limiti tal-qabda u speċi protetti
Kwoti ta' kuljum, daqsijiet minimi, u speċi li ma jistgħux jittieħdu qatt.
Limitu ta' kuljum
Set by the Ministry (Article 62). Reported under the 2025 reform: up to 5 kg of fish/other marine organisms per day plus one specimen exceeding 5 kg (earlier guidance cited 3 kg + one fish over 3 kg). The kg limit does not apply to tuna/swordfish or to catch during sanctioned competitions. Catch may not be sold.
Speċi protetti — tieħux
- ProtettDate mussel / date shell (Litophaga litophaga / prstac) - catch, trade within Montenegro and export prohibited (Article 26)
- ProtettAll species on the official list of protected species published in the Official Gazette (Article 15) - prohibited to catch, take, buy, sell, store, transport or keep on board
- ProtettBluefin tuna and swordfish (big-game species) - reserved; require a special daily big-game licence and are not available to ordinary recreational anglers without it
Statutory minimum sizes for individual species are set by Ministry by-law (Article 16) and were not retrieved verbatim; consult the Order on minimum sizes / juveniles protection and authorised clubs for current figures. Fish below the prescribed minimum size may not be taken, kept on board, sold or transported (Article 16).
Min jista' jistada
Viżitaturi u residenti
Kif ir-regoli jvarjaw għall-viżitaturi barranin u r-residenti lokali.
Viżitaturi barranin
PermessLiċenzja speċjali meħtieġa
Rekwiżiti
- Obtain a temporary (povremena) sport-recreational fishing licence (up to 30 days), which is the licence type available to non-citizens (Article 60)
- For spearfishing, also obtain the speargun authorisation; bring a valid passport and pay the fee
- Purchase via an authorised member sport-fishing club or diving centre
Restrizzjonijiet
- Same rules as residents apply: breath-hold only (no scuba with speargun), no night spearfishing, no fishing in MPAs or marked bathing areas in season, catch may not be sold
- Big-game (tuna/swordfish) spearfishing is not allowed; vessel big-game fishing needs a special daily licence, AIS and catch reporting
Tourists typically buy a daily/short-term temporary licence. Children under 14 may fish without a licence only under adult supervision (secondary source).
Residenti
Permanent (stalna) sport-recreational fishing licence valid for the calendar year, plus speargun authorisation for spearfishing.
Rekwiżiti
- Hold a valid sport-recreational fishing licence issued by a member sport-fishing club or local authority
- Hold a speargun authorisation to use/carry a speargun
- Carry the licence while fishing (Article 59)
Vantaġġi
- Annual (calendar-year) validity
- Generally lower fees than foreign tourists; reduced fee for under-18s (reported)
Membership cards of sport-fishing and diving clubs do NOT count as a fishing licence (Article 64).
Fejn fuq il-kosta
Żoni permessi u projbiti
Żoni nominati li huma miftuħa jew magħluqa għas-sajd bl-isperunar. Ara l-kwadru sħiħ fuq il-mappa interattiva.
Żoni permessi
Recreational spearfishing on breath-hold is permitted along almost the entire Adriatic coastline of Montenegro with a valid sport-recreational fishing licence and speargun authorisation, outside marine protected areas, marked bathing areas (in season), ports/anchorages and military zones.
Licence + speargun permit required; daylight only; breath-hold only (no scuba); keep clear of swimmers and bathing areas; reported minimum distance ~100 m from swimmers/beaches; catch may not be sold.
Żoni projbiti
- Platamuni Marine Nature Parkmarine protected area (nature park)
First marine protected area in Montenegro, declared April 2021, near Budva (coast between Traste and Jaz, off Krimovica/Zagora/Glavaticici), approx. 1,087 ha. Protects Posidonia oceanica seagrass and coastal/rocky habitats. Fishing and spearfishing are restricted/prohibited as an MPA.
- Katic Marine Nature Parkmarine protected area (nature park)
Second marine and coastal protected area, proclaimed 16 September 2021, off Petrovac/Buljarica (Katic and Sveta Nedjelja islets). Fishing and spearfishing restricted/prohibited as an MPA.
- Stari Ulcinj Marine Nature Parkmarine protected area (nature park)
Third marine protected area, proclaimed December 2021 near Ulcinj (Stari Ulcinj / Old Ulcinj rocky islet and surrounding waters). High biodiversity value; the area is reported as endangered by uncontrolled and illegal fishing, including unauthorised spearfishing. Fishing/spearfishing restricted/prohibited as an MPA.
- Marked/managed bathing areas (seasonal)seasonal closure (bathing areas)
All marked and managed bathing areas (beaches) along the coast are closed to fishing, including spearfishing, from 1 May to 1 October during daylight hours (Article 19).
- Ports, harbour approaches and anchoragesport / navigation zone
Fishing in port areas, harbour entrances/approaches and anchorages is allowed only with consent of the port user, the harbour master's office (lucka kapetanija) and the Institute; otherwise prohibited.
Kundizzjonijiet fuq l-ilma
Kundizzjonijiet diretti
Snapshot marinam u tal-temp ħajja ħdejn punt ta' referenza kostali f'Montenegro, minn Open-Meteo. Il-kundizzjonijiet jvarjaw tul il-kosta — ittratta bħala indikattiv.
Marina ħajja u temp ħdejn Platamuni Marine Nature Park.
Lil min titlob
Awtoritajiet
Il-korpi uffiċjali responsabbli mis-sajd u l-liċenzjar.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Directorate for Fisheries (Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, sumarstva i vodoprivrede / organ uprave za ribarstvo)
fisheries authority
Association for Sport Fishing on the Sea of Montenegro (Savez za sportski ribolov na moru Crne Gore, SSRM)
national sport-fishing federation (licence issuer)
Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro (Institut za biologiju mora)
scientific advisory institute
Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro (Morsko dobro) / Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
marine protected areas / environment authority
Minn fejn ġej dan
Sorsi
Kull talba f'din il-paġna tmur lura għal waħda minn dawn ir-referenzi.
- [01]
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture (Zakon o morskom ribarstvu i marikulturi), consolidated text, Official Gazette 56/09, 40/11 (PDF hosted by EPA Montenegro)
Uffiċjaliepa.org.meAċċessat Ġun 15 - [02]
Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture (OG 56/09) - English summary, FAO AdriaMed legislation
Uffiċjalifaoadriamed.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [03]
Cabinet proclaims third marine protected area - Nature Park Stari Ulcinj (Government of Montenegro)
Uffiċjaligov.meAċċessat Ġun 15 - [04]
The Montenegrin government proclaims its second Marine Protected Area (MedPAN)
Sekondarjumedpan.orgAċċessat Ġun 15 - [05]
Spearfishing in Montenegro - How to Get a License (KotorFisherman)
Sekondarjukotorfisherman.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [06]
Fishing in Montenegro - Rules, Licenses & Tips (KotorFisherman)
Sekondarjukotorfisherman.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [07]
Dozvola za podvodni ribolov - Savez za sportski ribolov na moru (SSRM)
Uffiċjalissrm-cg.comAċċessat Ġun 15 - [08]
In Montenegro, Marine Areas Are Protected Only on Paper (Earth Journalism Network)
Sekondarjuearthjournalism.netAċċessat Ġun 15
Noti tar-riċerkatur
Spearfishing is legal but restricted in Montenegro. Verbatim provisions are taken from the consolidated Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture (Official Gazette 56/09, amended 40/11), retrieved as machine-extracted text from the EPA-hosted PDF; orthographic diacritics were normalised to plain Latin in the verbatim_text fields (content otherwise unchanged). Core rules: licence mandatory (Art. 59-60); speargun authorisation required (Art. 63); breath-hold only, scuba+speargun banned (Art. 22); no night spearfishing (Art. 63); minimum age 16 under the 2009 Law (Art. 63), reported raised to 18 under the 2025 reform; no sale of catch (Art. 62); date mussel and listed protected species banned (Art. 15, 26); seasonal bathing-area closure 1 May-1 Oct by day (Art. 19). A new Law on Recreational and Sport Fishing was adopted in 2025 (reported in force ~Sept 2025) introducing a ~5 kg/day limit (+1 specimen >5 kg), a big-game licence category and an Article 31 on underwater fishing; the verbatim 2025 text was not retrievable from a primary portal during research (the Sluzbeni list and propisi.net article URLs returned HTTP 404), so 2025-specific figures (5 kg limit, age 18, fees) are flagged as secondary-source reported. Three declared marine protected areas (Platamuni, Katic, Stari Ulcinj) restrict/prohibit fishing; their coordinates are approximate locality centroids except Stari Ulcinj (confirmed). Confidence is high for the legal framework and core spearfishing rules (primary verbatim text), medium for exact 2025 fee/limit figures and MPA boundary coordinates.
Avżani meta r-regoli ta' Montenegro jinbidlu
Nibgħtulek email meta l-istaġuni jew ir-regolamenti ta' Montenegro jiġu aġġornati fis-sett tad-data tagħna.