{
  "destination": "greece",
  "name": "Greece",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in Greece?",
  "answer": "You need no licence for recreational sea fishing in Greece, but only Greek-flagged vessels may fish in Greek waters, so guests on a foreign-flagged charter yacht may not fish at all. On a Greek-flagged yacht you may fish free of charge, but you may not keep bluefin tuna or swordfish, and you may not sell your catch.",
  "warning": "Foreign-flagged charter yachts may not fish in Greek waters. The Hellenic Coast Guard says only Greek-flagged vessels may fish there. Before you book, ask the charter company which flag the yacht flies.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/greece/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/greece.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/greece/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/greece/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/greece.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=greece&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "no",
    "summary": "No licence, but only Greek-flagged boats may fish",
    "cost_summary": "Free",
    "issuer": "No licence. Rules are enforced by the Hellenic Coast Guard (Λιμενικό Σώμα).",
    "price": {
      "text": "Free. No licence needed for recreational sea fishing; individual and boat licences were abolished in 2014 (Law 4256/2014).",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "n/a",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Only Greek-flagged vessels may fish in Greek territorial waters, so guests on a foreign-flagged yacht may not fish.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Bluefin tuna and swordfish may only be taken by professional vessels holding a special permit.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "A bluefin caught by accident must be released; if it dies, tell the Port Authority.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "From Jan 2026, catches of EU-regulated species must be reported through Greece's national e-reporting system.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "The name of the app is not verified.",
        "status": "not_verified"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_greece_1",
      "name": "Hellenic Coast Guard",
      "title": "Hellenic Coast Guard fishing FAQ",
      "url": "https://alieia.hcg.gr/faq/faq_eng.php",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "Not verified; no bluefin tuna or swordfish",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "Selling the catch is prohibited",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Remote-controlled bait droppers and shore longlines are banned; electric reels are allowed for vertical lines",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Daily catch limits and minimum sizes: not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing (PD 373/1985, from a search summary; PDF not opened): banned in May and at night, banned for under-16s, and banned within 200 m of swimmers, ports or marked nets. Freediving only (no scuba). Marker buoy required and you must stay within 50 m of it",
      "status": "unconfirmed"
    },
    {
      "text": "National Marine Park of Alonissos & Northern Sporades: spearfishing banned in Zone A; recreational line fishing and trolling allowed only in sub-zone A9, excluding 1.5 nm around Psathoura (partially verified; park site returned 500)",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "National Marine Park of Alonissos & Northern Sporades: spearfishing banned in Zone A; recreational line fishing and trolling allowed only in sub-zone A9, excluding 1.5 nm around Psathoura (partially verified; park site returned 500)",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Greater amberjack",
      "scientific_name": "Seriola dumerili",
      "method": "jigging, live bait",
      "best_months": "Apr–Aug (Aegean)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_greece_10",
        "name": "Fishfindr (fishing guide)",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://fishfindr.eu/findr/species/seriola-dumerili/aegean",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "07 November 2013",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Common dentex",
      "scientific_name": "Dentex dentex",
      "method": "jigging, bottom fishing",
      "best_months": "Mar–Jun",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_greece_8",
        "name": "Fishradar (fishing guide)",
        "title": "Fishradar Cyclades",
        "url": "https://fishradar.ai/fishing/gr/cyclades-islands/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "17 August 2009",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bonito",
      "scientific_name": "Sarda sarda",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Jun–Sep (Ionian/Corfu)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_greece_12",
        "name": "Fishing World Guide",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://www.fishingworldguide.com/en/blog/fishing-in-greece",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 November 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sarda_sarda",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sarda sarda species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Dusky grouper",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus marginatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing, spearfishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": null,
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Gilthead seabream",
      "scientific_name": "Sparus aurata",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "19 August 2009",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sparus_aurata",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sparus aurata species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sparus-aurata.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Silver-cheeked toadfish (invasive, toxic)",
      "scientific_name": "Lagocephalus sceleratus",
      "method": "bycatch — do not eat",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "08 June 2011",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Lessepsian invasive in the E. Mediterranean (FishBase)",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_lagocephalus_sceleratus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Lagocephalus sceleratus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lagocephalus-sceleratus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bluefin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus thynnus",
      "method": "not allowed for recreational fishers (release)",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Greece: professional permit only",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "Cyclades (Naxos, Small Cyclades)",
      "why": "amberjack, dentex, grouper, bonito",
      "source": "secondary: fishradar.ai, local trip operators",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ionian / Corfu",
      "why": "amberjack, bonito, dentex in summer",
      "source": "secondary: fishingworldguide.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Northern Sporades (Alonissos) zone A9",
      "why": "line fishing and trolling only",
      "source": "fishlab.bio.auth.gr flyer; search summary",
      "status": "as named"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "No licence. Check that the charter yacht is Greek-flagged; a foreign-flagged boat may not fish. Do not keep bluefin tuna or swordfish, and do not sell the catch.",
  "not_verified": [
    "The name of the app is not verified.",
    "Daily catch limits and minimum sizes: not verified",
    "National Marine Park of Alonissos & Northern Sporades: spearfishing banned in Zone A; recreational line fishing and trolling allowed only in sub-zone A9, excluding 1.5 nm around Psathoura (partially verified; park site returned 500)",
    "Best months for Dusky grouper, Gilthead seabream, Silver-cheeked toadfish (invasive, toxic), Atlantic bluefin tuna"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_1",
      "name": "Hellenic Coast Guard",
      "title": "Hellenic Coast Guard fishing FAQ",
      "url": "https://alieia.hcg.gr/faq/faq_eng.php",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_2",
      "name": "Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace",
      "title": "PAMTH – abolition of amateur licence (2014)",
      "url": "https://www.pamth.gov.gr/katargisi-tis-erasitechnikis-adeias-alieias-atomiki-kai-skafoys-sti-thalassa/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_3",
      "name": "Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food",
      "title": "Ministry: Ερασιτεχνική Αλιεία",
      "url": "http://www.alieia.minagric.gr/node/19",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_4",
      "name": "Hellenic Coast Guard",
      "title": "PD 373/1985",
      "url": "https://alieia.hcg.gr/NOMOTHESIA/PD373-85_enop.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source. We could not read this page (not opened); facts from it are marked as not verified.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_5",
      "name": "Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (FishLab)",
      "title": "NMPANS flyer (AUTh)",
      "url": "https://fishlab.bio.auth.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NMPANS_flyer_English.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_6",
      "name": "National Marine Park of Alonissos",
      "title": "Alonissos park zones",
      "url": "https://alonissos-park.gr/en_US/%ce%b6%cf%8e%ce%bd%ce%b7-%ce%b1-%ce%b6%cf%8e%ce%bd%ce%b7-%ce%b2/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source. We could not read this page (500 error); facts from it are marked as not verified.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_10",
      "name": "European Commission",
      "title": "EU RecFishing Q&A",
      "url": "https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/questions-and-answers-recfishing-2026-01-12_en",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_8",
      "name": "Fishradar (fishing guide)",
      "title": "Fishradar Cyclades",
      "url": "https://fishradar.ai/fishing/gr/cyclades-islands/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_10",
      "name": "Fishfindr (fishing guide)",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://fishfindr.eu/findr/species/seriola-dumerili/aegean",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sarda_sarda",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sarda sarda species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_greece_12",
      "name": "Fishing World Guide",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://www.fishingworldguide.com/en/blog/fishing-in-greece",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sparus_aurata",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sparus aurata species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sparus-aurata.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_lagocephalus_sceleratus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Lagocephalus sceleratus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lagocephalus-sceleratus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}