Poland
Europe · Eastern Europe
Spearfishing (lowiectwo podwodne / amatorski polow ryb kusza) is legal in Poland but tightly regulated. It is treated as a form of amateur fishing under the Inland Fisheries Act of 18 April 1985 and its implementing regulation of 12 November 2001. A practitioner must hold a karta lowiectwa podwodnego (underwater hunting card), issued from age 18 after passing a state exam, plus a permit (zezwolenie) from the holder of fishing rights to the water. Only a muscle-powered crossbow firing a tethered harpoon is allowed; SCUBA/breathing apparatus is forbidden (breath-hold only); hunting is daytime-only; the diver must stay within 50 m of a yellow surface float of at least 5 litres buoyancy. On State-owned inland waters a closed season runs from 15 October to 15 May, and salmonids and eel may not be taken with a crossbow. Protection periods, minimum sizes and catch limits for individual species apply as for rod fishing.
Sist oppdatert Juni 15, 2026
Styrende rammeverk
- §Ustawa z dnia 18 kwietnia 1985 r. o rybactwie srodladowym (Inland Fisheries Act of 18 April 1985, consolidated)
- §Rozporzadzenie Ministra Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi z dnia 12 listopada 2001 r. w sprawie polowu ryb oraz warunkow chowu, hodowli i polowu innych organizmow zyjacych w wodzie (Dz.U. 2001 nr 138 poz. 1559; consolidated text Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2003)
- Lisens påkrevd
- Påkrevd
- Spydgevær
- Tillatt
- Scuba
- Forbudt
- Utlendinger
- Velkommen
- Maks spyd
- 1
Loven, ordrett
Lovtekster
De eksakte lovfestede og regulatoriske bestemmelsene som gjelder for spearfishing her, sitert slik de er publisert, med lenke til hver offisiell kilde.
Definition of amateur fishing including crossbow (spearfishing)
Ustawa o rybactwie srodladowym z dnia 18 kwietnia 1985 r.
Za amatorski polow ryb uwaza sie pozyskiwanie ryb wedka lub kusza, przy czym dopuszcza sie, w miejscu i w czasie prowadzenia polowu ryb wedka, pozyskiwanie ryb na przynete przy uzyciu podrywki wedkarskiej.
Card requirement and age for the underwater hunting card
Ustawa o rybactwie srodladowym z dnia 18 kwietnia 1985 r.
Amatorski polow ryb moze uprawiac osoba posiadajaca dokument uprawniajacy do takiego polowu, zwany dalej 'karta wedkarska' lub 'karta lowiectwa podwodnego' [...] Karte wedkarska oraz karte lowiectwa podwodnego wydaje starosta wlasciwy dla miejsca zamieszkania osoby ubiegajacej sie o karte, ktora zlozyla z wynikiem pozytywnym egzamin [...] Karte wedkarska wydaje sie osobie, ktora ukonczyla 14 lat. Karte lowiectwa podwodnego wydaje sie osobie, ktora ukonczyla 18 lat.
Crossbow specification, yellow float, 50 m radius, submersion and daytime-only rule
Rozporzadzenie Ministra Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi z dnia 12 listopada 2001 r. w sprawie polowu ryb oraz warunkow chowu, hodowli i polowu innych organizmow zyjacych w wodzie (tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2003)
kusza napinana sila miesni, miotajaca harpun na uwiezi, ktory nie moze miec wiecej niz 3 ostrza rozstawione w taki sposob, aby nie wykraczaly poza obwod kola o srednicy 30 mm [...] w promieniu nie wiekszym niz 50 m od ustawionego na powierzchni wody plywaka koloru zoltego o wypornosci co najmniej 5 litrow [...] kusza podczas napinania i zwalniania byla w calosci zanurzona w wodzie [...] wylacznie w porze dziennej: po uplywie godziny od wschodu slonca, nie pozniej jednak niz na godzine przed zachodem slonca.
Closed season and prohibited species for crossbow hunting on State-owned inland waters
Zasady uprawiania lowiectwa podwodnego (rules summarising the Inland Fisheries Act and 2001 Regulation as applied to State Treasury inland waters)
Na akwenach srodladowych podlegajacych ustawom panstwowym lowiectwo podwodne jest zabronione w okresie od 15 pazdziernika do 15 maja. [...] lowcom podwodnym nie wolno na akwenach srodladowych podlegajacych przepisom ustaw panstwowych polowac na ryby lososiowate i wegorze. [...] lowiectwo podwodne wolno w Polsce uprawiac tylko i wylacznie nurkujac na wstrzymanym oddechu, a wiec bez uzycia aparatow do oddychania pod woda.
Når du kan dykke
Sesonger og tidsbegrensninger
Lukkede, åpne og begrensede perioder gjennom året. Bekreft alltid artsspesifikke lukkinger lokalt.
- LukketUnderwater hunting (crossbow) on State Treasury inland watersOkt 15 – Mai 15
On inland waters subject to State law, underwater hunting with a crossbow is prohibited from 15 October to 15 May; the open season is effectively 16 May to 14 October.
- BegrensetDaily time window for crossbow hunting
Crossbow hunting is permitted only in daytime: from one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset (po uplywie godziny od wschodu slonca, nie pozniej niz na godzine przed zachodem slonca).
Tillatelse til å fiske
Lisens
Hva du trenger for å ha lov til å dykke, hva det koster, og hvordan du skaffer det.
Reach age 18, pass the state exam for the underwater hunting card before an authorised organisation, obtain the card from the starosta (district authority) of your place of residence, then buy a crossbow-fishing permit from the entity holding fishing rights to the water (e.g. Wody Polskie regional board or PZW district).
Skaff lisensen dinÅpner den offisielle portalen · lexlege.pl
- Type
- Karta lowiectwa podwodnego (underwater hunting card) plus zezwolenie (permit) from the holder of fishing rights to the specific water
- Kostnad
- unknown
- Gyldighet
- Card is issued by the starosta and is generally long-term; the separate water permit (zezwolenie) is time-limited per fishery/season.
- Hvordan du får det
- Reach age 18, pass the state exam for the underwater hunting card before an authorised organisation, obtain the card from the starosta (district authority) of your place of residence, then buy a crossbow-fishing permit from the entity holding fishing rights to the water (e.g. Wody Polskie regional board or PZW district).
- Myndighet
- Starosta (district office) issues the card; Wody Polskie / Polish Angling Association (PZW) / fishery operators issue the water permit.
Utstyr og teknikk
Utstyrsregler
Hvilket utstyr som er tillatt, hvordan det kan brukes, og hvilke betingelser som gjelder.
Begrensninger
- Only a muscle-powered crossbow (kusza napinana sila miesni) is permitted; no powered or compressed-gas mechanisms.
- The harpoon is fired on a tether (na uwiezi) and may have no more than 3 blades arranged within a circle of 30 mm diameter.
- SCUBA or any underwater breathing apparatus is forbidden; only breath-hold (apnea) diving is allowed.
- The crossbow must be fully submerged in water when loaded and released.
- The hunting position must be marked with a yellow surface float of at least 5 litres buoyancy, and the diver must stay within 50 m of it.
- Daytime only: from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
max_spears reflects the single tethered harpoon fired by the crossbow (the harpoon itself may carry up to 3 blades within a 30 mm circle).
Hva du kan ta
Fangstbegrensninger og vernede arter
Daglige kvoter, minimumsstørrelser og arter som aldri må tas.
Daglig grense
Per-species daily limits apply as for amateur fishing; commonly cited under fishery permits: tench (lin) 4, bream (leszcz) 10, carp (karp) 3, catfish (sum) 1, pike (szczupak) 2, zander (sandacz) 2, burbot (mietus) 2. Exact limits are set by each water permit (zezwolenie).
Vernede arter — skal ikke tas
- VernetSalmonids (ryby lososiowate) - may not be taken with a crossbow on State-owned inland waters
- VernetEel (wegorz) - may not be taken with a crossbow on State-owned inland waters
General statutory protection periods and minimum sizes for individual species apply to crossbow fishing as they do to rod fishing. Beyond the crossbow-specific ban on salmonids and eel on State waters, species-specific minimum sizes are set nationally and by each fishery; not enumerated here to avoid fabrication.
Hvem kan fiske
Besøkende og innbyggere
Hvordan reglene er forskjellige for utenlandske besøkende og lokale innbyggere.
Utenlandske besøkende
TillattSpesiell lisens påkrevd
Krav
- Hold an underwater hunting card (karta lowiectwa podwodnego) - the statutory card requirement applies regardless of nationality.
- Hold a valid permit (zezwolenie) for the specific water.
- Carry photo ID.
Begrensninger
- Same equipment, season, daytime, float and species rules as for residents.
The law conditions amateur fishing on possession of the card and permit rather than on residency; foreigners must satisfy the same card/exam requirement. Recognition of equivalent foreign qualifications was not verified in sources.
Innbyggere
Karta lowiectwa podwodnego + water permit (zezwolenie)
Krav
- Age 18 or older.
- Pass the state exam covering nature protection, amateur fishing rules for the crossbow, crossbow safety, and free-diving safety.
- Obtain the card from the starosta of place of residence.
- Buy a crossbow-fishing permit for the chosen water.
Persons under 14 are exempt from the fishing-card requirement for rod fishing, but the underwater hunting card is issued only from age 18, so there is no equivalent youth exemption for spearfishing.
Hvor langs kysten
Tillatte og forbudte soner
Navngitte områder som er åpne eller lukkede for spearfishing. Se hele bildet på det interaktive kartet.
Tillatte områder
Lakes and rivers in inland waters where the holder of fishing rights (e.g. Wody Polskie / Polish Angling Association PZW / fishery operators) has issued a crossbow-fishing permit. Spearfishing is allowed with a karta lowiectwa podwodnego plus the relevant zezwolenie, subject to the daytime, 50 m float and submersion rules.
Underwater hunting card + permit required; daytime only; within 50 m of a yellow float; breath-hold only; closed 15 Oct - 15 May on State-owned waters; salmonids and eel may not be taken.
Forbudte områder
- State Treasury inland waters during 15 October - 15 Mayseasonal closed zone
Underwater hunting is banned on State-owned inland waters during the closed period 15 October to 15 May.
- Słowiński National Park – Baltic marine watersnational park / marine waters
Within the marine (Baltic Sea) waters of Słowiński National Park, the official park fishing regulation explicitly prohibits taking fish and other marine organisms with a crossbow (kusza). Recreational fishing is allowed only from shore (beach/wading) along the strip between sea-shore markers 200–211 km, excluding designated bathing places (150 m buffer); crossbow/spearfishing is banned. The park lies on the Pomeranian Voivodeship Baltic coast around Łeba–Smołdzino–Rowy, encompassing coastal lagoon lakes Łebsko and Gardno.
- Wolin National Park – inland lakesnational park / inland lakes
All inland lakes lying within Wolin National Park (on Wolin island, West Pomeranian Voivodeship — Warnowskie, Rabiąż, Czajcze, Domysłowskie, Gardno, Turkusowe) are under full protection with a complete ban on fishing, which precludes spearfishing/crossbow fishing. Recreational fishing in the park is restricted to the Pomeranian Bay shore strip, the Szczecin Lagoon (from boats, outside vegetation zones) and the reverse Świna Delta — not the inland lakes.
Betingelser på vannet
Sanntidsbetingelser
Sanntids marin- og væroversikt nær et kystnært referansepunkt i Poland, fra Open-Meteo. Betingelsene varierer langs kysten — behandle dette som veiledende.
Live marin- og værdata nær Słowiński National Park – Baltic marine waters.
Hvem du skal spørre
Myndigheter
De offisielle organene ansvarlige for fiskeri og lisensiering.
Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)
fisheries authority
Panstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie (Polish Waters - state water management authority)
water management / fishing-rights authority for State inland waters
Polski Zwiazek Wedkarski (Polish Angling Association, PZW)
angling association / permit issuer and exam organiser
Glowny Inspektorat Rybolowstwa Morskiego (Main Inspectorate of Sea Fisheries, GIRM)
maritime fisheries authority (recreational sea fishing on the Baltic)
Panstwowa Straz Rybacka (State Fishing Guard)
enforcement authority
Hvor dette kommer fra
Kilder
Hvert påstand på denne siden kan spores tilbake til en av disse referansene.
- [01]
Ustawa o rybactwie srodladowym - Art. 7 (lexlege.pl)
Sekundærlexlege.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [02]
Rozporzadzenie MRiRW z 12 listopada 2001 r. w sprawie polowu ryb - tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2003 (INFOR.pl)
Offisiellinfor.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [03]
Rozporzadzenie MRiRW z 12 listopada 2001 r. - metryka (ISAP, Internetowy System Aktow Prawnych)
Offisiellisap.sejm.gov.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [04]
Podstawowe przepisy dotyczace lowiectwa podwodnego w Polsce (Stowarzyszenie Spearfishing Poland)
communitysspoland.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [05]
Regulamin amatorskiego polowu ryb kusza (Polski Zwiazek Wedkarski)
Offisiellpzw.org.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [06]
Polowy kusza (Gospodarstwo Rybackie Slawa) - season, daylight, species and catch limits summary
Sekundærgospodarstworybackie.slawa.plÅpnet Jun 15 - [07]
Rybolowstwo rekreacyjne - Glowny Inspektorat Rybolowstwa Morskiego (recreational sea fishing on the Baltic)
Offisiellgov.plÅpnet Jun 15
Forskernotater
Spearfishing in Poland is legal but restricted, regulated as a form of amateur fishing under the Inland Fisheries Act of 18 April 1985 and the implementing Regulation of 12 November 2001 (Dz.U. 2001 nr 138 poz. 1559; consolidated Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2003). Core rules verified verbatim: muscle-powered crossbow firing a tethered harpoon with max 3 blades within a 30 mm circle; breath-hold only (no SCUBA); crossbow fully submerged when loaded/released; daytime only (1 h after sunrise to 1 h before sunset); within 50 m of a yellow float of >=5 L buoyancy; underwater hunting card from age 18 after a state exam plus a water permit. On State-owned inland waters a closed season runs 15 October - 15 May and salmonids and eel may not be taken. The closed-season and salmonid/eel prohibition are documented by the Spearfishing Poland association and fishery operators as conditions on State Treasury inland waters rather than from a single fetched government article; the equipment, float, submersion and daytime rules are confirmed from the consolidated 2001 Regulation. Marine/Baltic spearfishing: recreational sea fishing is overseen by GIRM and requires only a paid recreational fishing fee for shore/non-vessel fishing, but spearfishing with a crossbow is governed by the inland fisheries (kusza) regime and is in practice an inland-waters activity; dedicated Baltic-sea spearfishing rules were not found in fetched sources, so sea-specific zone/season detail is left unstated. Cost of the card and permits was not retrieved and is marked unknown. data_confidence=high for the inland legal framework and equipment/method rules (verbatim statutory text obtained); medium for catch-limit specifics and marine applicability.
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