Italy
Europe · Southern Europe
Recreational/sport spearfishing (pesca subacquea sportiva-ricreativa) is legal in Italy in marine waters but heavily regulated. It is permitted only in free-diving / breath-hold (apnea) without any auxiliary breathing apparatus (scuba is prohibited for fishing). A speargun (fucile subacqueo) is permitted but may be held loaded only while submerged. Only persons over 16 years of age may use a speargun. Fishing is banned at night (from sunset to sunrise), within 500 m of beaches frequented by swimmers, and within 100 m of fixed fishing installations, anchored vessels and set nets. The diver must mark his position with a buoy bearing a red flag with a white diagonal stripe visible at 300 m and stay within a 50 m radius of it. Daily catch is capped at 5 kg total per person (plus one larger single fish) with a maximum of one grouper per day. National minimum sizes (EU Reg. 2019/1241) and EU protected-species rules apply. Since January 2026 recreational fishers over 16 must register and (for certain species) declare catches under EU Reg. 2023/2842 / the EU RecFishing system, in addition to the existing free MASAF recreational-fishing registration. Spearfishing is forbidden in no-take Zone A of all Marine Protected Areas and is generally prohibited or restricted to professionals/residents in other MPA zones.
Laatst bijgewerkt juni 14, 2026
Geldend kader
- §Legge 14 luglio 1965, n. 963 (Disciplina della pesca marittima)
- §D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639 (Regolamento per l'esecuzione della L. 963/1965) — artt. 128-131, catch limits
- §Decreto legislativo 9 gennaio 2012, n. 4 (riordino della normativa pesca e acquacoltura) — art. 6 (età minima 16 anni per il fucile subacqueo)
- §Legge 6 dicembre 1991, n. 394 e D.M. istitutivi delle Aree Marine Protette (zonazione A/B/C)
- §Regolamento (UE) 2019/1241 (misure tecniche, taglie minime)
- §Regolamento (UE) 2023/2842 (controllo) — sistema RecFishing, in vigore dal 10 gennaio 2026
- Vergunning vereist
- 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.
Pesca subacquea consentita solo in apnea (divieto di apparecchi di respirazione)
D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639 (Regolamento esecuzione L. 963/1965)
La pesca subacquea sportiva è consentita soltanto in apnea senza l'uso di apparecchi ausiliari di respirazione.
Distanze e orari vietati per la pesca subacquea
D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639
L'esercizio della pesca subacquea è vietato: a distanza inferiore a 500 metri dalle spiagge frequentate da bagnanti; a distanza inferiore a 100 metri dagli impianti fissi da pesca; a distanza inferiore a 100 metri dalle navi ancorate fuori dei porti; dal tramonto al sorgere del sole.
Obbligo di segnalazione del subacqueo (gavitello e bandiera)
D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639
Il subacqueo in immersione ha l'obbligo di segnalarsi con un galleggiante recante una bandiera rossa con striscia diagonale bianca, visibile ad una distanza non inferiore a 300 metri. Il subacqueo deve operare entro un raggio di 50 metri dalla verticale del mezzo nautico di appoggio o del galleggiante portante la bandiera di segnalazione.
Limitazione all'uso del fucile subacqueo
D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639
È vietato tenere il fucile subacqueo in posizione di armamento se non in immersione.
Età minima per l'uso del fucile subacqueo
Decreto legislativo 9 gennaio 2012, n. 4
La pesca con il fucile subacqueo o altri attrezzi similari è consentita soltanto ai maggiori di anni 16.
Limite giornaliero di cattura per il pescatore sportivo
D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639
Il pescatore sportivo non può catturare giornalmente pesci, molluschi e crostacei in quantità superiore a 5 kg complessivi, salvo il caso in cui un singolo pesce superi tale peso. Non può inoltre essere catturato più di un esemplare di cernia al giorno, qualunque sia la specie.
Pesca subacquea vietata nelle Zone A (riserva integrale) delle Aree Marine Protette
Zonazione delle Aree Marine Protette (L. 394/1991 e D.M. istitutivi)
La Zona A è di riserva integrale, interdetta a tutte le attività che possano arrecare danno o disturbo all'ambiente marino. Per quanto riguarda la pesca subacquea: la pesca subacquea sportiva è completamente vietata, ed è consentita solo la pesca subacquea professionale limitatamente alla raccolta del riccio di mare Paracentrotus lividus che abbiano raggiunto la taglia commerciale e solo in apnea.
Wanneer je mag duiken
Seizoenen & tijdsbeperkingen
Gesloten, open en beperkte perioden door het jaar heen. Bevestig soortspecifieke sluitingen altijd lokaal.
- GeslotenAll spearfishing nationwide (daily night-time closure)sunset – sunrise
Underwater fishing is prohibited from sunset to sunrise (no night spearfishing). DPR 1639/1968 art. 129.
- GeslotenEuropean eel (Anguilla anguilla)jan 1 – dec 31
Fishing for European eel is prohibited for recreational fishers in 2026 under EU recreational-fishing controls.
Toestemming om te vissen
Vergunning
Wat je nodig hebt om het water in te mogen, wat het kost en hoe je het krijgt.
Register as a recreational/sport sea fisher (age 16+) via the national MASAF system; from January 2026 register and declare catches of listed species through the EU RecFishing app under Reg. (UE) 2023/2842. No exam required for spearfishing itself.
Vraag je vergunning aanOpent het officiële portaal · masaf.gov.it
- Type
- Free recreational-fishing registration (MASAF/RecFishing). No separate paid licence for sea fishing; registration is mandatory.
- Kosten
- Free (no fee for the recreational-fishing registration/declaration)
- Geldigheid
- Per the registration system (annual census historically; ongoing registration under EU RecFishing from 2026)
- Hoe te verkrijgen
- Register as a recreational/sport sea fisher (age 16+) via the national MASAF system; from January 2026 register and declare catches of listed species through the EU RecFishing app under Reg. (UE) 2023/2842. No exam required for spearfishing itself.
- Autoriteit
- Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranità Alimentare e delle Foreste (MASAF) / Capitanerie di Porto - Guardia Costiera
Uitrusting & techniek
Uitrustingsregels
Welke uitrusting is toegestaan, hoe die gebruikt mag worden en welke voorwaarden eraan verbonden zijn.
Beperkingen
- Spearfishing permitted only in apnea (free-diving); no auxiliary breathing apparatus may be used for fishing (DPR 1639/1968 art. 128 bis)
- A breathing tank may only be carried on the support boat for safety, max 10 litres capacity, not used while fishing
- Speargun (fucile subacqueo) may be held in armed/loaded position only when submerged (DPR 1639/1968 art. 131)
- Use of a speargun is restricted to persons over 16 years of age (D.Lgs 4/2012 art. 6)
- Diver must display a signalling buoy with a red flag bearing a white diagonal stripe, visible at not less than 300 m, and operate within a 50 m radius of it (DPR 1639/1968 art. 130)
- Daylight only - no night spearfishing
Italian spearfishing is strictly breath-hold (apnea). Combining a speargun with scuba/breathing apparatus is illegal. A safety tank (max 10 L) may be kept on the boat but not used to fish.
Wat je mag meenemen
Vangstlimieten & beschermde soorten
Dagquota, minimummaten en soorten die nooit gevangen mogen worden.
Daglimiet
5 kg total per person per day of fish, molluscs and crustaceans combined (except a single fish exceeding that weight); maximum one grouper (cernia) per day.
Minimummaten
- European sea bass / spigola-branzino (Dicentrarchus labrax)min 25 cm
- Gilthead seabream / orata (Sparus aurata)min 20 cm
- White seabream / sarago maggiore (Diplodus sargus)min 23 cm
- Sharpsnout seabream / sarago pizzuto (Diplodus puntazzo)min 18 cm
- Annular seabream / sarago sparaglione (Diplodus annularis)min 12 cm
- Grouper / cernia (Epinephelus spp.)min 45 cm
- European hake / nasello (Merluccius merluccius)min 20 cm
- Bluefin tuna / tonno rosso (Thunnus thynnus)min 115 cm
- Swordfish / pesce spada (Xiphias gladius)min 100 cm
Beschermde soorten — niet meenemen
- BeschermdDate mussel / dattero di mare (Lithophaga lithophaga) - harvesting and possession strictly prohibited
- BeschermdMediterranean groupers - protected/restricted; max one per day; local moratoria apply
- BeschermdEuropean eel (Anguilla anguilla) - recreational fishing prohibited in 2026
- BeschermdMarine mammals, sea turtles and protected elasmobranchs (sharks/rays) per EU/Barcelona Convention
Minimum landing sizes follow EU Regulation 2019/1241 for the Mediterranean; bony-fish length is measured from the closed mouth to the tip of the caudal fin. The 5 kg/day and one-grouper-per-day limits derive from DPR 1639/1968. Bluefin tuna and certain species also require EU RecFishing declaration from 2026.
Wie mag vissen
Bezoekers & inwoners
Hoe de regels verschillen voor buitenlandse bezoekers en lokale inwoners.
Buitenlandse bezoekers
ToegestaanVereisten
- Must comply with the same national rules as residents (apnea only, distances, daylight, buoy, age 16+, catch limits)
- Must complete the free recreational-fishing registration / EU RecFishing registration applicable to recreational sea fishers age 16+
Beperkingen
- Same MPA prohibitions apply (no spearfishing in Zone A and generally in Zone B)
- Some MPAs reserve certain fishing activities to residents only
There is no nationality restriction on recreational spearfishing for tourists/foreigners; the standard national registration and rules apply equally to non-residents.
Inwoners
Free recreational-fishing registration (MASAF/RecFishing), age 16+
Vereisten
- Register as a recreational/sport sea fisher (age 16+)
- Declare catches of listed species via EU RecFishing from 2026
- Comply with national apnea, distance, daylight, signalling and catch-limit rules
Voordelen
- Some Marine Protected Areas allow certain regulated fishing activities only to local residents
Residents and non-residents are subject to the same core national spearfishing framework; residency mainly matters for access permitted within specific MPA zones.
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
Recreational free-dive spearfishing is permitted in general Italian sea waters subject to national rules: beyond 500 m from bathing beaches, beyond 100 m from fixed fishing gear/anchored vessels/set nets, daylight only, apnea only, with signalling buoy, and outside Marine Protected Area no-take zones.
Apnea only (no breathing apparatus); daylight only; >500 m from bathing beaches; >100 m from fixed gear/anchored vessels/nets; signalling buoy with red flag + white diagonal stripe; speargun loaded only when submerged; age 16+; 5 kg/day limit; RecFishing/MASAF registration.
Verboden gebieden
- Marine Protected Areas - Zone A (riserva integrale)marine reserve (no-take integral reserve)
No-take integral reserve zones of all Italian Marine Protected Areas (Aree Marine Protette). Sport spearfishing is completely forbidden; only scientific research and limited professional sea-urchin harvesting may be allowed.
- Marine Protected Areas - Zone B (riserva generale)marine reserve (general reserve, regulated)
General reserve zones of Italian MPAs. Recreational sport fishing is regulated and sport spearfishing is generally prohibited; some activities may be limited to residents or licensed professionals depending on the specific MPA decree.
- Area Marina Protetta Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre (Sardinia)marine protected area
MPA off the west coast of Sardinia where recreational/sport fishing activities are zone-regulated; spearfishing is restricted/prohibited per the MPA discipline.
- Area Marina Protetta Isole Tremiti (Gargano, Adriatic)marine protected area
MPA in the Tremiti Islands with A/B/C zonation; spearfishing prohibited in protected zones per the MPA discipline managed by Parco Nazionale del Gargano.
- Within 500 m of bathing beachessafety exclusion zone
Spearfishing is prohibited within 500 metres of beaches frequented by swimmers (DPR 1639/1968 art. 129).
- Within 100 m of fixed fishing gear, anchored vessels and set netssafety / fisheries exclusion zone
Spearfishing is prohibited within 100 metres of fixed fishing installations, anchored vessels outside ports, and set nets (DPR 1639/1968 art. 129).
Condities op het water
Live condities
Live mariene en weersmomentopname nabij een kustreferentiepunt in Italy, van Open-Meteo. Condities variëren langs de kust — beschouw als indicatief.
Live mariene & weerscondities nabij Area Marina Protetta Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre (Sardinia).
Ter plaatse
Lokale winkels & charters
Uitrustingswinkels, charters, cursussen en clubs rond Italy. Voorbeeldvermeldingen zijn duidelijk gemarkeerd terwijl we echte aanbieders verifiëren.
Van de community
Duikspots van de community
Spots gedeeld door duikers rond Italy. Door de community ingediend en geen vervanging voor het controleren van lokale regels en condities.
Sardinia — Golfo di Orosei
Limestone cliffs and clear water on Sardinia's east coast.
40.200°N, 9.700°E
Wie je moet vragen
Autoriteiten
De officiële instanties die verantwoordelijk zijn voor visserij en vergunningen.
Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranità Alimentare e delle Foreste (MASAF)
fisheries authority
Capitanerie di Porto - Guardia Costiera (Italian Coast Guard)
maritime authority / enforcement
guardiacostiera.gov.itEmergency at sea: 1530Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE) - Aree Marine Protette
environment ministry (marine protected areas)
Waar dit vandaan komt
Bronnen
Elke bewering op deze pagina is terug te voeren op een van deze referenties.
- [01]
BigGame.it - Regolamento Pesca Sportiva Subacquea, D.P.R. n. 1639 del 02/10/1968
Secundairbiggame.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [02]
FIPIA - Leggi sulla pesca in apnea (article references DPR 1639/1968 and D.Lgs 4/2012)
Secundairfipia.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [03]
MASAF - D.P.R. 2 ottobre 1968, n. 1639 (testo ufficiale PDF)
Officieelmasaf.gov.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [04]
Nonno Dondolo - Disciplina della pesca sportiva-ricreativa subacquea (polizia marittima)
Secundairnonnodondolo.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [05]
Nonno Dondolo - Zonizzazione: gradi di tutela nelle Aree Marine Protette
Secundairnonnodondolo.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [06]
Nautica Report - Aree Marine Protette in Italia 2026: cosa è vietato
Secundairnauticareport.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [07]
Racconti di Pesca - RecFishing 2026: nuove regole UE pesca ricreativa (Reg. UE 2023/2842)
Secundairraccontidipesca.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [08]
Caccia e Pesca Bonannini - Tabella misure minime pesci di mare (Reg. UE 2019/1241)
Secundaircacciaepescabonannini.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [09]
Apnea Magazine - Età minima pesca sub, norme uso fucile e coltello subacqueo
Secundairapneamagazine.comGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [10]
Area Marina Protetta Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre - Pesca sportiva ricreativa
Officieelareamarinasinis.itGeraadpleegd jun 14 - [11]
Parco Nazionale del Gargano - AMP Isole Tremiti, zonazione A/B/C
Officieelparcogargano.itGeraadpleegd jun 14
Notities van de onderzoeker
Italy permits recreational spearfishing but classifies it as 'restricted' due to numerous binding conditions: apnea only, daylight only, age 16+, 500 m/100 m exclusion zones, mandatory signalling buoy, 5 kg daily cap, one grouper/day, and full prohibition inside Marine Protected Area no-take (Zone A) and generally Zone B areas. The core verbatim legal texts (DPR 1639/1968 arts. 128 bis, 129, 130, 131, 142; D.Lgs 4/2012 art. 6) were captured from cited secondary legal-compilation sources; the official MASAF PDF of DPR 1639/1968 is listed as an authoritative source but its exact article wording was cross-checked against secondary sources rather than quoted from the PDF directly. From 10 January 2026 the EU RecFishing system (Reg. UE 2023/2842) adds mandatory registration and catch declaration for certain species (bluefin/albacore tuna, swordfish, mahi-mahi, eel) for recreational fishers over 16. Minimum sizes follow EU Reg. 2019/1241. Confidence is high for the national framework; specific MPA-by-MPA rules vary by individual decree and should be checked per area before fishing.
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