Country: GREECE
Region:
spearfishing licence : YES
conditions: During MAY it is not allowed to spearfish AT ALL. Not allowed to spear at night. Not allowed to spear with scuba gear, only freedive.
where is it available? (harbour/ministry/etc.):
adress: PORT OFFICE
costs: about 27 euro valid for 2 years
regulations for foreigners?: same as for locals
protected species?: A number of regulations described in the booklet you get with the licence in Greek Rolling Eyes
regulations for the large and quantity (per day) ?: A number of regulations described in the booklet you get with the licence in Greek Rolling Eyes Max 5 kilos per spearo per day or more than 5 (no limit) if you only hit one HUGE fish Smile
restricted areas?: Not allowed to spearfish near harbours, must stay away at least 300m from harbour, swimming people, fish nets, fish farms. Must always cary a buoy and dive in a circle smaller than 50 meters from your buoy.
We inform you that there are two kinds of fishing with a spear:
1) Fishing with a simple spear, non-mechanical, used just with the power of the hand. And
2) Fishing with a spear with a launch mechanism the so called harpoon gun.
Both these ways of fishing are under the provision of the Presidential Decree 373/85 and for their exertion you’ll have to obtain an individual license for amateurish fishery for which you can apply to any Port Authority in Greece.
As far as the first method is concerned with a simple spear you’ ll have to know that the par.3 of art.1 and the par. e of art. 2 of the Presidential Decree 373/85 is in force which provision that there is no other restrictions but in case you use a lamp (diffused light without illuminator) it has to have power up to 500 candles and no more.
As far as the second method is concerned with a mechanic spear you’ ll have to know that the art.1 of the Presidential Decree 373/85 is in force which provisions the following:
1. The amateurish underwater fishing is forbidden:
a) During the period of May every year.
b) Right after the sunset till the sunrise.
c) For people under 16 years old.
d) In a distance 200 metres of :
i) the point where normally people swim
ii) Port works or nautical marks or boats or other fishing means, as well as the nets with obvious marks.
iii) The anchored ships
2.It is forbidden to the amateurs underwater fishermen to:
a) To pull off catches from the fishing gears of other fishermen.
b) To continue having their “harpoon guns” armed when they are out of the water or on land.
c) To use any kind of diving gear that provides air from a boat or any kind of autonomous diving gear that provides air. Also it is forbidden to keep breathing apparatus on board.
d) To use a spear that its personal power comes from the bark of explosive or other chemical mixture.
e) To use nets
f) To catch fishes of a weight less than 150 gram.
g) To use underwater light.
3. The amateurs fishermen, when diving, they are obliged to bear a yellow drift buoy, which has a red diagonal flag where it is written Y? (the greek initials for Underwater Fishing) and which can be seen from a distance 300m. If a vessel accompanies the underwater fisherman, this flag must be on it. The underwater fisherman must be moving in a radius of 50 metres from the sign or the boat.
Finally, according to the par.2 of art.2 of Presidential Decree 373/85, the amateur fishermen can catch up to 5 kg fishes and no more, no matter the method they used to fish (except if they use nets, when the amounts goes up to 10kg). If one fish has weight over 5 kg itself, then it is permitted. Also, it is forbidden to catch more than one fish of the genre of Epinephelus.
It would be useful, when you come to our country, to visit a Port Authority for more information before you go fishing, because there are also regional restrictions as well as restrictions for the size (dimensions) of the fishes.
