Marine Protection Permits

Marine Protection and Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014

In line with His Majesty's Government of Gibraltar’s commitment to regulate fishing, diving and other marine activities in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW), the Government published the Marine Protection Regulations 2014 as well as the Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014 on the 30th October 2014 with the latter regulations specifically catering for the regulation of tuna fishing activities in BGTW.

The regulations form part of the wider Government strategy to protect the marine environment in Gibraltar as required under International, European and regional legislative frameworks. Both regulations are instruments of the Nature Protection Act 1991. They allow for the regulation of fishing activities that are carried out legally in BGTW such as fishing with longlines, recreational fishing with rods and lines from land and from vessels as well as spearfishing.

Other activities carried out by sports fishing operators, recreational divers, diving operators and dolphin tour operators are also regulated subject to the conditions of the relevant permit classes included in the regulations. These range from permit classes A to K. A comprehensive yet user friendly guidance booklet has been produced to help inform members of the public on the different permit classes and the specific provisions of both regulations. The Regulations will be effective as from the 1st January 2015.

Minimum Fish Sizes - July 2025

To further support sustainable fisheries management, the Department of the Environment has updated and increased the minimum legal size limits for a range of fish species and included new species on the list. These revisions are all intended to allow fish to reach reproductive age before capture. All fish below these size limits must therefore be released unharmed. The Department's Environmental Protection and Research Unit (EPRU) will be conducting regular patrols at sea and on land to assist anglers with the interpretation of the new minimum sizes.

Minimum Fish Sizes List

In addition, a marine species identification booklet has also been produced to highlight some of the common fish and mollusc species found in Gibraltar along with their corresponding minimum sizes that are now enshrined in the Marine Protection Regulations 2014. Please note that this booklet will be subject to review periodically.

Tuna Preservation Regulations 2014