Fishing & Angling Permits in Italy

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Fishing & Angling Permits in Italy

Fishing (pesca sportiva) in Italy is practiced chiefly as a competitive and recreational activity. From information on the number of licences issued, there are around 2,000,000 anglers in Italy. About 30,000 are members of the Italian Fishing Federation (FIPSAS). The number of sea fishermen is estimated at 1,500,000.

Fishing Permits

Sea fishing is unlicensed although regulations such as respecting fishing periods and minimum size of the fish must be followed.

Freshwater fishing is not permitted without a licence:

• Category A permit allows professional fishing
• Category B permit allows recreational fishing.

The city, the province, the state or any authority may decide to assign a specific area as a fishing reserve (riserva di pesca) in which case the fisherman must comply with specific rules and/or make a specific request to fish there.

It is considered illegal to fish without adhering to the protected areas, catch fish that do not meet the minimum size standards or fish during a forbidden period. A person found doing so may be liable for a fine or have their licence revoked.

A person fishing on a daily (short-term) basis should check the regulations with the local police or provincial council.

Note: a person caught lake or river fishing without a permit will be fined.

Applying for a permit

Fishing licence applications should be made at the fishing and hunting department of the provincial administration office (Amministrazione Provinciale). 

• See contact details below or: Click here

Applicants must be over 18, although permits can be issued to 14 to 18 year olds as long as a licensed adult accompanies them at all times.

The applicant will need two passport photos to accompany the completed application form and a marca da bollo (tax stamp available from tobacconists) to pay the fees.

Fishing in Lazio

Each of the provinces provides information on the licences and facilities available.

• For information and regulations on fishing in the Lazio region see the Lazio Agriculture Council website: Click here (in Italian)

Rome

Licence applications for fishing and hunting from the Ufficio Caccia, Pesca e Funghi

• Ufficio Caccia, Pesca e Funghi
  At: Via Nomentana 54, Roma
  Tel: 06 67661
  Website (in Italian)

Riete

• Provincia di Riete
  At: Via Sacchetti Sassetti 36, Rieti
  Tel: 0746 286400 or 0746 286412
  Fax: 0746 286423
  Open: 09:00-12:00 weekdays
  e-mail
  Website (in Italian)

Latina

• Provincia di Latina
  At: Via Costa 1, Latina
  Tel: 0773 4011663366
  Website (in Italian)

Frosinone

• Provincia di Frosinone (Ufficio Caccia e Pesca)
  Tel: 0775 836835
  Website (in Italian)

Viterbo

• Provincia de Viterbo (Ufficio Pesca)
  Tel: 0761 313256
  Website (in Italian)

Further Information

• FIPSAS Federazione Italiana Pesca e Attività Subacquee (Italian Fishing Federation)
  At: Viale Tiziano 70, 00196 Rome
  Tel: 06 36858260
  Fax: 06 36858109
  e-mail
  Website (in Italian)
• Servizio Caccia e Pesca
  At: Via Nomentana 54, 00161 Rome
  Tel: 06 67668502
  Fax: 06 67668738
• L'Ora della Pesca (in Italian)
• Blufishing.com (in Italian)
• Hobby Pesca (in Italian with English auto-translate)
• Pescarenet (in Italian)
• Pescare Online (in Italian)