Features
TAX AND LEGAL MATTERS
FISHING & CHARTER
Not every seaman knows, that for fishing in Spanish waters it is obligatory to have a leisure fishing license (“Licencia de Pesca Recreativa”) granted by the local Fishing Authorties, in the Balearics, (the Dirección General de Pesca del Govern de les Illes Balears.) Fishing without this license can incur legal problems and sanctions.
There are five different types of leisure fishing licenses:
- individual (from seashore or onshore for older than 14 years, for one person; valid for 2 years)
- collective (from a vessel recorded under List 6ª, that is if the boat is recorded for charter, for maximum 12 people; valid for 1 year)
- diving (older than 16 years members of a submarine diving federation; valid for 1 year)
- sportive fishing ( necessary for participating in fishing competition and contests; valid for 1 year)
- private vessels ( for yachts recorded in 7ª List – private use – and for a maximum of 5 people; valid for 3 years)
In the case of yachts chartered for leisure - neither sports nor professional purposes the following documents must be filed:
- Copy of the passport or Id- card of the yacht’s owner and skipper and the technical fishing expert
- Payment of the license fees
- In case of sport or diving fishing license, also a copy of the membership in any official federation
- For private vessels, copy of the log book or navigation license blue book.
- Charter license
- One of the members of the crew needs to have the official title of (“Técnico Deportivo Especializado en Pesca) or Sport Fisherman Technician, or evidence of having been more than three years as crew on a professional fishing boat (List 3ª)
There are also some limitations regarding fishing areas, different types fish, their sizes and the season in which they can be fished.
In general, it is permitted to fish up to 5 kg per license and day. However if there are more than 5 persons onboard, up to 25 kg is allowed.
The areas in which it can be fished are in the whole seashore and open waters except:
- Inside Port
- Less than 100m from bathing areas
- Less than 250m from any professional fishing lines
- In special protected areas and fishing reservation areas (yellow marked)
- In Natural Parc of Cabrera Archipelego, Dragonera (Majorca), and Es Vedrá, Es Vedranell and Islotes de Ponent (Ibiza).
It is also important to know that every specific type of fishing has its own requirements. These are very strict for example in dive fishing.
For further information ask your local adviser or at the Direcció de Pesca del Govern de les Illes Balears.
By Carlos Espinosa - Abogado
In Puerto Portals:
Benito Feijoo, 2 Local 4
Tel: + 34 971 67 94 47
Fax: + 34 971 67 74 47 Mobile: + 34 627 41 32 01