IFCA Rules for Recreational Fishing, Spearfishing & Foraging 2026 + Useful documents and diagrams.

Spearfishing in the UK is governed by your local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA).

This governing body has different rules depending on the region, so it’s worth double checking online for the specifics of your area – for example, Devon requires a shellfish permit for Scallops whereas Cornwall does not. Recreational : Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (CIFCA) (cornwall-ifca.gov.uk)

***See links at the bottom of this article for the different districts.***

Most fish have a min size and some have catch limits, such as the most popular fish, European Sea Bass.

Bass has been increased and we can now catch 3 bass a day at a min size of 42cm, and only from the 1st of April until the end of January as Bass season is closed for Feb and March for catch and release by line only.

For example in Cornwall, there is limits on estuary fishing due to nursery zones and some are no take zones all year – check out the specific limits for Bass in Cornwall here

Cornwall IFCA have a few handy documents that breaks down all the sizes and how to measure your fish and shellfish – check them out here

We also have a handy Lobster and Crab gauge here for only £9.99

A few useful sizes based off Cornwall IFCA limits

Bass – 42cm, 3 a day
Grey Mullet – 20cm
Red Mullet – 15cm
Black Bream – 23cm
Red Seabream – 25cm
Flounder – 25cm
Turbot – 30cm
Lobster – 90mm carapace – all V notched lobsters must be thrown back – you also cannot shoot lobsters and must catch them by hand. All lobsters that are berried/carrying eggs must be returned.
Crawfish – 110mm Carapace
Scallop – 100mm width
Edible crab – 160mm for Male & 150mm for Female
Pollock is now closed for commercial fishing and is only open for recreational fishing, there is no min size listed for Cornwall but the commercial size is 30cm, however we think 42cm just like Bass is a great guide to use in general. There is also talk of bringing a catch limit to 3 per day recreationally so we advice following this to fish the population more sustainably before this rule is even formalized.
Conger Eel 58 cm
Hake 30 cm
Witch Flounder 28 cm
Dab 15 centimetres
Lemon Sole 25 centimetres
Megrim 25 centimetres
Brill 30 centimetres

Fishing for crabs and lobsters

You can fish recreationally for crabs and lobsters in the Cornwall IFCA district as follows.

Fishing from a boat: If you are fishing from a boat you are not allowed to remove more than a maximum of five shellfish per day from the species lobster, crawfish, edible crab and spider crab, with no more than two of these five being from the lobster and crawfish species combined. This is because recreational vessels are not eligible for a Cornwall IFCA Shellfish Permit.

Fishing from the shore: If you are fishing for a crab or lobster from the shore, whether by laying pots or by hand gathering, you are not limited on the number you can take. However, you must still abide by the minimum sizes listed above and other conditions such as v-notched tails and berried (egg bearing) lobsters.

Click here for more information on recreational fishing for crabs and lobsters.

Protected Species
There are some fish species which are under threat and have been given special legal protection. This may be in the form of restriction on targeting and/or retention. Below is a list of the most common protected species encountered by anglers (in the Cornwall IFCA district).

Click here for a full list of marine species protected by European and national legislation.

Tope: Tope can be targeted by recreational sea anglers only as a sport fish but cannot be landed and must be returned to the sea.

Angel Sharks and White Skate: These rare species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside act. It is an offence to kill or injure them. Any which are accidently caught, must be returned to the sea as quickly as possible.

Shad: Allis shad and twaite shad are both protected and must be returned if caught.

Goby: It is an offence to kill, injure, take possess or disturb giant goby and Couch’s goby.

Blue Fin Tuna – Cannot be taken by spearfishermen and only by anglers under specific rules and licenses for catch and release

A few quick dos and don’ts

You cannot sell any fish caught by spearfishing.
Spearfishing is only legal in the UK from dusk to dawn – all you can do at night is forage (foraging isn’t included in the spearfishing rules).
You cannot spearfish whilst scuba diving or whilst using surface supplied air, you must be snorkeling or freediving.