Can I go spearfishing in Cyprus?
It depends: allowed with a licence and strict rules. You need the 'Spear Gun' licence from the Department of Fisheries (online), ~€35 per calendar year (valid until 31 December), minimum age 12 (under-18s with a guardian). Crucial: scuba (SCUBA) with a speargun is banned — free-diving (breath-hold) only; no artificial lights. A marker buoy with a diver-down flag is required (visible ~300 m). Banned sunset to sunrise, in bathing areas, within 100 m of fishing shelters and in protected zones. Shore catch limit: 5 kg/day + one fish. Protected species (tuna, swordfish, sharks, turtles) must be released. In short: yes, with a licence, no scuba.
📋 The rules
- 'Spear Gun' licence (~€35/year, from age 12)
- Free-diving only — scuba is banned
- Mandatory marker buoy with diver-down flag
- No night, no bathing areas
- Limit 5 kg/day + minimum sizes
🔓 Exceptions
- Grouper: closed season; when open, 1/day, 45 cm minimum
- Real-time catch logging (Cy-FIS app)
- Exact fee/age/closed-season dates: unverified
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Spearfishing without a licence, with scuba, in a banned zone or beyond the catch/size limits, and taking protected species, are fisheries offences with fines and seizure of gear/catch under the Fisheries Law (Cap. 135). Beware a myth: "I'll use a tank and fish more easily" is banned — spearfishing with scuba is illegal; only free-diving is allowed. Note: the exact €35 fee, the age-12 minimum and the grouper closed-season dates couldn't be confirmed for 2026. Tip: get the licence, use a marker buoy and log your catch in the app.
📎 Official sources
- Fisheries Dept · recreational fishing terms (PDF) →
- DFMR · licence application →
- gov.cy · issue of fishing licence →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a licence for spearfishing?
Yes. You need the recreational Spear Gun fishing licence from the Department of Fisheries, issued online. It costs about €35 per calendar year and is valid until 31 December of the year of issue. The minimum age is 12, with a guardian for under-18s.
Can I use scuba gear?
No. Spearfishing with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, that is scuba, is banned. Only breath-hold free-diving is allowed. Artificial lights are also prohibited. You must carry a surface marker buoy with a diver-down flag, visible from a distance.
Where and when is it banned?
It's banned from sunset to sunrise, within designated bathing areas during the bathing season, within 100 metres of fishing shelters, near fish farms, and in marine protected areas, for which the Department of Fisheries publishes a file of the restricted zones.
What are the catch limits?
From the shore, the limit is 5 kg per day per spearfisher, plus one extra fish of any weight. Minimum sizes per species also apply, for example 45 cm for grouper, and there's mandatory real-time logging of the catch through a dedicated app.
Which species are protected?
Species such as bluefin tuna, swordfish, sharks, rays, marine mammals and sea turtles are protected and must be released. Grouper has a closed season, and when open there's a limit of one per day and a minimum size of 45 centimetres for it.
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