Publication date: 07/21/2025
Recreational sea fishing in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park
Stéphane sails regularly from our Port Adhoc Leucate. Every week, he takes his Cap Camarat off our dry stack and heads out for fishing trips in various zones, coastal waters near Port Leucate, offshore areas, and even the Leucate lagoon.
As an experienced angler, Stéphane has followed the recent regulatory changes closely. In 2024, the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), through the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park, introduced new obligations and restrictions.
The new Decree R93-2024-02-12-00002 aims to better regulate recreational sea fishing, ensuring it can continue without damaging marine resources.
Key changes to the recreational fishing regulations in the Gulf of Lion
Stéphane knows the Marine Park well: “In the Mediterranean, it spans 4,010 km², from Leucate in the north to Cerbère on the Spanish border in the south. It’s a protected marine area with many opportunities for both coastal and offshore navigation. Offshore, the park extends up to 35 nautical miles from the coast, where depths can reach 1,200 metres.”
The experienced boater explains that with the Decree on specific regulations for recreational sea fishing within the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park, there have been three major changes:
- The introduction or modification of fishing quotas, by species, per angler, and per boat
- The revision of minimum size requirements for fish and cephalopods (also known as “mesh size”)
- The creation of a mandatory fishing permit, to be renewed annually for all anglers
Stricter catch quotas
Species-specific quotas
The regulation changes first impact the number of allowable catches per species. This applies to both fish and cephalopods. According to the OFB, these quotas aim to “limit the catch of the most vulnerable, most commonly fished, and most emblematic species.”
| Fish in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park | Quota per angler |
|---|---|
| Barracuda/Yellowmouth barracuda | 3 fish |
| Atlantic bonito | 5 fish |
| Red scorpionfish | 2 fish |
| Horse mackerel | 10 fish |
| Conger eel | 1 fish |
| Dentex | 2 fish |
| Common dolphinfish | 3 fish |
| Gilthead seabream | 5 fish |
| Ornate wrasse | 10 fish |
| Brown wrasse | 10 fish |
| Leerfish (garrick) | 3 fish |
| Greater amberjack | 5 fish |
| Little amberjack | 5 fish |
| European seabass | 2 fish |
| Mackerel (Atlantic and Spanish) | 10 fish |
| Forkbeard | 3 fish |
| Saddled seabream | 10 fish |
| Axillary seabream | 5 fish |
| Common pandora | 5 fish |
| Red pandora | 3 fish |
| Red mullet/Rock mullet | 10 fish |
| Sharp-snout seabream | 10 fish |
| Zebra seabream | 10 fish |
| White seabream | 10 fish |
| Common two-banded seabream | 10 fish |
| Salema | 10 fish |
| Comber | 2 fish |
| Painted comber | 2 fish |
Daily catch quota per angler
On top of the per-species limit, recreational anglers must respect a daily catch limit: A maximum of 10 catches per day per person, fish and cephalopods combined.
Another important rule: the quota per boat
This is a crucial point for boaters to understand: while the daily quota set by the French Biodiversity Office is 10 catches per person per day (fish and cephalopods included), there is also a daily quota per vessel. This is capped at 30 catches per boat, even if more than 3 people are onboard.
➡️ For example, if 6 people go on a one-day fishing trip in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park, the total quota for all passengers is 30 fish. Shared equally, this results in a limit of 5 fish per fisher, instead of 10.
Prohibited species and closed seasons
Recreational fishing in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park is prohibited for three specific species: grouper, corb, and green wrasse.
Fishing bans, known as “biological rest periods”, have also been introduced to protect the breeding seasons of five species:
- Dentex: fishing banned from 1st May to 30th June each year
- Sea bass: fishing banned from 1st January to 31st March each year
- Common pandora: fishing banned from 1st March to 30th April each year
- Zebra seabream: fishing banned from 1st May to 30th June each year
- Octopus: fishing banned from 1st June to 30th September each year
Increased minimum size requirements for fish
“The legal minimum sizes for fish have really changed,” says Stéphane. “There are now new minimum size limits for nearly all fish species.”
Fish size regulations in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park
| Fish in the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park | Minimum size |
|---|---|
| Barracuda/Yellowmouth barracuda | 65 cm |
| Atlantic bonito | 40 cm |
| Red scorpionfish | 35 cm |
| Horse mackerel | 20 cm |
| Conger eel | 120 cm |
| Dentex | 35 cm |
| Common dolphinfish | 60 cm |
| Gilthead seabream | 30 cm |
| Ornate wrasse | 15 cm |
| Brown wrasse | 25 cm |
| Leerfish (garrick) | 50 cm |
| Little amberjack | 25 cm |
| European seabass | 42 cm |
| Mackerel (Atlantic and Spanish) | 25 cm |
| Forkbeard | 30 cm |
| Saddled seabream | 20 cm |
| Axillary seabream | 25 cm |
| Common pandora | 25 cm |
| Red porgy | 30 cm |
| Red mullet/Rock mullet | 15 cm |
| Sharp-snout seabream | 25 cm |
| Zebra seabream | 25 cm |
| White seabream | 23 cm |
| Common two-banded seabream | 40 cm |
| Salema | 25 cm |
| Greater amberjack | 60 cm |
| Comber | 15 cm |
| Painted comber | 20 cm |
Fish must be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the extended tail fin. If the length falls below the minimum, the catch must be released. Stéphane also reminds all boaters that they must “mark the fish” by trimming the tail fin of caught species.
In the case of recreational octopus fishing in the Marine Park, the requirement is not a minimum size, but a minimum weight of 1 kg.
The new requirement for a fishing authorisation
Since 12 February 2024, every recreational fisher wishing to fish within the boundaries of the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park must have a fishing authorisation. This applies to everyone, both shore and sea fishers, from the age of 12.
This permit can be obtained via a smartphone app called CatchMachine – available on iOS and Android – or in person at the offices of the Marine Park in Argelès-sur-Mer.
The authorisation is free of charge and valid until 31st December of the current year – it must therefore be renewed annually.
⚠️ Each recreational fisher must apply for this authorisation before their first fishing trip of the year and be able to present it – printed or digital – in the event of a check by the authorities.
“Violating this Order’s provisions is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to €22,500,” states the Marine Park’s website.
Recreational fishing regulations in the Gulf of Lion: our team is here to help
Do you own a boat moored at Port Adhoc Leucate and wish to go recreational fishing in compliance with the new rules? We invite you to visit our team at the harbour office: we offer summary adhesive measuring guides listing all the new requirements – handy tools to use on all your fishing trips!
