The Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources, and Maritime Fisheries has published a new regulatory framework governing recreational maritime fishing, including the practice of spearfishing, in a ministerial decision dated April 21, 2025, and published in the Official Journal No. 48 of the current year.
The regulation prohibits recreational spearfishing for individuals under the age of 18 and defines the areas where this practice is allowed, while prohibiting any form of commercialization of the products obtained from it.
The ministerial decision outlines the technical conditions that must be adhered to. It permits only the use of spearfishing guns without compressed air, equipped with simple or multiple penetrating harpoons. However, it prohibits the use of chemical propulsion or compressed gas devices, as well as automatic firing devices.
Furthermore, the use of diving equipment that allows breathing without resurfacing—such as compressed air or assisted breathing systems—is strictly prohibited during fishing activities, except under special scientific authorization. There are also geographical and temporal restrictions.
Recreational spearfishing may only be practiced from the shore, without a boat, unless in officially organized competitions or championships by specialized Tunisian associations.
Additionally, the following prohibitions are enforced:
- No closer than 500 meters from fixed fishing facilities, beaches, swimming areas, or oil fields,
- No closer than 200 meters from docks, ports, and fishing nets,
- In protected areas and nature reserves.
Quotas and Protected Species
The fishing of grouper (known as « mannani ») is completely prohibited for recreational purposes, except for authorized exceptions. The total weight of the catch must not exceed 5 kg per day per fisherman, unless a single fish exceeding this weight is caught.
Any violator will face the immediate withdrawal of their recreational fishing license. In case of infringement, the prohibition of any new license application will extend for a period of five consecutive years from the date of withdrawal.
The new regulation also stipulates that any recreational fishing activity, with the exception of shore fishing with a rod, requires obtaining a license issued by the relevant authorities.
The boat fishing license is granted to the owner of the vessel. The owner may embark passengers within the authorized limit of passengers. The practice is carried out with hooks, trolling lines, and fishing rods, under specific conditions: a single set of 50 small hooks (size 9 maximum), a maximum of three rods on board, but only one can be used at a time.
Source: La presse
