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
Betrouwbaarheid van gegevensGemiddelde betrouwbaarheid

Laatst bijgewerkt juni 14, 2026

Geldend kader

  • §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)
Vergunning vereist
Niet vereist
Harpoengeweer
Toegestaan
Duikfles
Verboden
Buitenlanders
Welkom

De wet, woordelijk

Wetteksten

De exacte wettelijke en regelgevende bepalingen die speervissen hier reguleren, geciteerd zoals gepubliceerd, met een link naar elke officiële bron.

01Чл. 35, ал. 1Bulgaria · national

Prohibited fishing gear - general ban on harpoon

Закон за рибарството и аквакултурите (Fisheries and Aquaculture Act)

BGOrigineel

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)

BGOrigineel

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)

BGOrigineel

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)

BGOrigineel

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.

Wanneer je mag duiken

Seizoenen & tijdsbeperkingen

Gesloten, open en beperkte perioden door het jaar heen. Bevestig soortspecifieke sluitingen altijd lokaal.

jan
feb
mrt
apr
mei
jun
jul
aug
sep
okt
nov
dec
GeslotenBeperktOpen
  • GeslotenBlack Sea turbot (Psetta maxima / Scophthalmus maximus)apr 15 – jun 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.

    bta.bg
  • GeslotenGeneral spawning-season fishing ban (Black Sea, Danube and inland water bodies)apr 15 – jun 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.

    bta.bg

Toestemming om te vissen

Vergunning

Wat je nodig hebt om het water in te mogen, wat het kost en hoe je het krijgt.

Geen vergunning vereistvia Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA)
Geen vergunning vereist
Type
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
Kosten
unknown
Geldigheid
unknown
Hoe te verkrijgen
For inland recreational fishing, a ticket is issued under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act; no ticket/licence is needed for Black Sea spearfishing.
Autoriteit
Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA)
Officieel vergunningenportaal · iara.government.bg

Uitrusting & techniek

Uitrustingsregels

Welke uitrusting is toegestaan, hoe die gebruikt mag worden en welke voorwaarden eraan verbonden zijn.

HarpoengeweerToegestaan
DuikflesVerboden

Beperkingen

  • 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.

Wat je mag meenemen

Vangstlimieten & beschermde soorten

Dagquota, minimummaten en soorten die nooit gevangen mogen worden.

Daglimiet

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.

Minimummaten

  • Black Sea turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)min 45 cm

Beschermde soorten — niet meenemen

  • BeschermdSturgeon (Acipenser spp.) - prohibited year-round
  • BeschermdBeluga (Huso huso) - prohibited year-round
  • BeschermdBlack 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.

Wie mag vissen

Bezoekers & inwoners

Hoe de regels verschillen voor buitenlandse bezoekers en lokale inwoners.

Buitenlandse bezoekers

Toegestaan

Beperkingen

  • 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.

Inwoners

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

Residents and foreigners are treated identically for Black Sea spearfishing.

Waar aan de kust

Toegestane & verboden zones

Genoemde gebieden die open of gesloten zijn voor speervissen. Bekijk het volledige beeld op de interactieve kaart.

Toegestane gebieden

  • Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters

    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.

    iasrj.eu

Verboden gebieden

Op de kaart

Condities op het water

Live condities

Live mariene en weersmomentopname nabij een kustreferentiepunt in Bulgaria, van Open-Meteo. Condities variëren langs de kust — beschouw als indicatief.

Live mariene & weerscondities nabij Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters.

Condities

Wie je moet vragen

Autoriteiten

De officiële instanties die verantwoordelijk zijn voor visserij en vergunningen.

  • 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

    mzh.government.bgunknown

Waar dit vandaan komt

Bronnen

Elke bewering op deze pagina is terug te voeren op een van deze referenties.

  1. [01]

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

    Officieel
    iasrj.euGeraadpleegd jun 14
  2. [02]

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

    Secundair
    spearfish.orgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  3. [03]

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

    Secundair
    bta.bgGeraadpleegd jun 14
  4. [04]

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

    community
    harpune.infoGeraadpleegd jun 14
  5. [05]

    Fishing Regulations in Bulgaria - The Fish Code

    community
    thefishcode.comGeraadpleegd jun 14
  6. [06]

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

    Officieel
    iara.government.bgGeraadpleegd jun 14

Notities van de onderzoeker

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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