Recreational fishing at sea
Verified 22 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Do you want to practice recreational fishing at sea and want to know the rules to follow? Whether it's the fishing on foot, the fishing on board a vessel or underwater fishing, much of the regulation is local. This page indicates the general rules to know and guides you if necessary to the competent interregional directorate of the sea.
Recreational marine fishing is recreational or sports.
To practice the sport fishing, you must be member of a national sports organization or have a national sports license.
You must not sell the product of your fishing. He is intended only for your consumption and that of your family.
Recreational fishing at sea also concerns the fishing live fish immediately after capture (practice of no-kill).
You can practice recreational fishing:
- On foot
- From boats or ships
- Swimming or diving.
Recreational fishing on foot is practiced on the maritime public domain. You must respect the natural environment, in particular the foreshore.
FYI
Fishing on foot can also be practiced on the part of rivers or canals where the waters are salty.
Minimum catch sizes and weights
It is forbidden to catch a species if its size or weight is below a certain level. The minimum sizes and weights to be respected Vary depending on whether you fish by the North Sea, Channel, Atlantic or Mediterranean. It is recommended to equip yourself of measuring tools.
Infographie - Measurement of the size of a marine animal
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Marking
Some species must bemarked (removal of the lower caudal fin). Marking must take place from capture.
Quantity, periods and fishing zones, authorized gears
Check with local maritime authorities to find out what rules apply in your area:
- Quantity maximum allowed per fisherman per day for each species (shellfish, crustaceans...)
- Areas and periods authorized fishing activities
- Gear authorized (knife, rake, net, etc.).
Sanctions
If you do not respect the rules of recreational fishing, you risk a fine up to €22,500. The material used to commit the offense may be confiscated.
Boating Rules
You must respect the rules of boating and have the necessary supporting documents : driving license, traffic card concerning the registration of the boat, possibly insurance.
Minimum catch sizes and weights
It is forbidden to catch a species if its size or weight is below a certain level. The minimum sizes and weights to be respected Vary depending on whether you fish by the North Sea, Channel, Atlantic or Mediterranean. It is recommended to equip yourself of measuring tools.
Infographie - Measurement of the size of a marine animal
Ouvrir l’image dans une nouvelle fenêtre
Marking
Some species must be marked (removal of the lower caudal fin).
Specimens of the species caught must be marked as soon as they are put on board. However, this does not apply to specimens kept alive on board in a holding tank for release, nor to specimens released immediately after being caught in the catch and release (practice of no-kill).
Authorized gear
The following equipment is authorized:
- Managed lines for up to 12 hooks
- 2 longlines each with a maximum of 30 hooks
- 2 lockers
- 1 foëne
- 1 net or salabra
- 1 toothed grapple, only in the Mediterranean Sea
- 1 trammel net under certain size limits, only in the North Sea, Channel and Atlantic
- 1 tile per ship and 3 scales per person on board, only in Brittany, Pays de Loire and Aquitaine.
Species prohibited or subject to authorization
Some species may be prohibited or subject to annual authorization or framed.
Example :
- Species prohibited : brown skate, species for which professional fishing is subject to TAC: titleContent zero
Species temporarily banned : swordfish and albacore tuna in the Mediterranean until 18 July 2028. - Species subject to authorization : bluefin tuna, yellow eel
- Species framed : landing of fish after capture of blue marlin and white marlin, saithe in French waters of ICES zones 7 and 8
Telesisaap: online application for recreational fishing authorization for bluefin tuna
Application for a recreational fishing authorization for bluefin tuna
Declaration of landing of bluefin tuna in a recreational fishery
Declaration of landing of blue marlin and white marlin in a recreational fishery
Check with local maritime authorities to find out the rules in your area:
Quantity, periods and fishing areas
Check with local maritime authorities to find out the rules in your area:
- Quantity maximum allowable per fisherman per day for each species (shellfish, crustaceans, etc.)
- Areas and periods authorized fishing activities.
Sanctions
If you don't respect the rules of recreational fishing, you risk fine up to €22,500. The material used to commit the offense may be confiscated.
Insurance
You must have subscribed to insurance covering your civil liability.
In the event of an inspection, you must be able to prove your identity and present your certificate of insurance.
Age
You must have 16 years of age or older to fish with a spear gun.
Minimum catch sizes and weights
It is forbidden to catch a species if its size or weight is below a certain level. The minimum sizes and weights to be respected vary depending on whether you are fishing by the North Sea, the Handle, the Atlantic or Mediterranean. It is recommended to equip yourself of measuring tools.
Infographie - Measurement of the size of a marine animal
Ouvrir l’image dans une nouvelle fenêtre
Marking
Some species must be marked (removal of the lower caudal fin).
If you are fishing from a vessel, the specimens must be marked as soon as you get on board. However, this does not apply to specimens kept alive on board in a holding tank for release, nor to specimens released immediately after being caught in the catch and release (practice of no-kill)
If you are fishing from the shore, the marking must take place as soon as you reach the shore.
Prohibited Practices
The following fishing practices are prohibited :
- Use a apparatus for breathing in a dive. The simultaneous possession of breathing apparatus and underwater fishing gear is prohibited.
- Use a fishing gear whose propulsive force of the projectiles uses a detonating element or the expansion of a compressed gas other than by the user himself
- Fishing between sunset and sunrise
- Fishing within 150 m of ship or marked fishing nets
- Catch fish caught in other fishermen's fishing gear
- Use a bright focus to attract or search for fish
- Use, for the capture of crustaceans, a foëne or a special device for underwater fishing
- Keep charged out of water one special apparatus for underwater fishing.
Check with local maritime authorities to find out what rules apply in your area:
- Quantity maximum allowable per fisherman per day for each species (shellfish, crustaceans, etc.)
- Areas and periods authorized fishing activities
- Gear authorized (knife, rake, net, etc.).
Sanctions
If you don't respect the rules of recreational fishing, you risk fine up to €22,500. The material used to commit the offense may be confiscated.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Species prohibited from fishing (Annex I), measurement of the size of a marine organism (Annex IV)
Species prohibited from fishing (Annex I)
Recreational fisheries control (Article 55)
Penalties for infringements of maritime fisheries
Recreational Sea Fishing
Insurance obligation
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Ministry for the Sea and Fisheries
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