Sea angling in Norway: regulations you should know
Some of the coastal fish stocks are under pressure. Regulations ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy fishing for recreation in Norway.
Information about sea angling in German
Simplified overview of the rules
This is a simplified overview of some of the main rules that apply to tourist fishing in Norway. You should always check the relevant regulations before you go fishing.
Fishing gear, catches and species
- Use handheld tackle only. It is prohibited to fish species that you can only catch legally with other gear than handheld tackle.
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You must follow the regulations on minimum fish sizes.
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It is illegal to sell your catch.
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Do not fish for protected species. See the overview below.
Fishing camps and export quota
Registered fishing camps are required to report catches to the fisheries authorities. Contact your fishing camp to make sure your catch is reported correctly.
There are regulations on how many kilograms of fish and fish products you can export from Norway. Read more about the export quota.
Special rules for certain activities
Tourists are not permitted to take part directly in catching king crab, but a quota has been allocated to the tourist fishing industry in Finnmark.
Tourists with an approved marksman licence may, under certain conditions, take part in seal hunting on the coast together with Norwegian citizens.
Boat and safety
If you were born in or after 1980, you need a boating licence to operate a recreational craft that is between 8 and 15 metres long, or that has an engine with more than 25 horsepower (HP).
Anyone using a recreational boat up to 8 metres long is required by law to wear a life jacket while the boat is under way.
When fishing, you must keep a distance of more than 100 metres from the nearest fish farm. All boat traffic must keep a distance of at least 20 metres from fish farms and fish farm moorings.
You must not operate a boat up to 15 metres long if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is more than 0.08%, or if the concentration of alcohol in your breath exceeds 0.4 milligrams per litre of air.
- Respect wildlife and do not litter.
- Respect the weather. Conditions at sea can change quickly.
Protected species
Some species are protected throughout the year, while others are protected only during specific periods of the year.
Species protected year-round
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Spiny dogfish
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Basking shark
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Porbeagle
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Blue ling
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Lobster
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Bluefin tuna
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Silk shark
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Eel
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Wrasse
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Cod (in the Oslofjord)
Seasonally protected species
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Greenland halibut
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Lumpfish
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Redfish
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Cod: Fourteen areas from Lindesnes to the Skagerak coast, in the Oslofjord and to the border of Sweden from 1 January to 30 April.
Poster for fishing camps
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Export quota
If you want to take fish out of Norway when you leave, there are rules about how much you can export and who is allowed to export fish.
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Minimum sizes for salt water species
Everyone who fishes in the sea in Norway must follow the rules on minimum size. The goal is for more small fish to live until they are big enough to reproduce.
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Reporting catches
Registered fishing camps must report catches to the fisheries authorities every day. Catches must be reported before export documentation can be issued.