{
  "destination": "italy",
  "name": "Italy",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in Italy?",
  "answer": "Yes: every sea angler in Italy, foreign charter guests included, must file the annual sport fishing registration (comunicazione di pesca sportiva) on the SIAN portal, which foreign users can do with a username and password; it is reported to be free, but we could not confirm that. You may keep 5 kg of catch per person a day (unless a single fish weighs more) and 1 grouper, and Zone A of every marine protected area is closed to recreational fishing.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/italy/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/italy.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/italy/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/italy/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/italy.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=italy&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "yes",
    "summary": "Yes, annual SIAN registration per angler",
    "cost_summary": "Not verified (reported as free)",
    "issuer": "MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture) – annual 'comunicazione di pesca sportiva' via SIAN",
    "price": {
      "text": "not verified (reported as free, unconfirmed)",
      "status": "not_verified"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "1 year",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Foreign users can register with a username and password (no SPID needed).",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Bluefin needs a specific authorisation (not verified).",
        "status": "not_verified"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_italy_2",
      "name": "SIAN (MASAF online services)",
      "title": "SIAN – pesca sportiva foreign users",
      "url": "https://www.sian.it/portale/servizi/pesca-sportiva/comunicazione-pesca-sportiva-foreign-users",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "5 kg per person a day; 1 grouper",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "DPR 1639/1968 Art. 142: max 5 kg per day of fish, molluscs and crustaceans, unless a single fish weighs more; max 1 grouper per day",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Art. 140: max 5 rods per angler; longlines max 200 hooks per boat; max 2 pots per boat; no lights (except a spearfishing torch)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Art. 139: no sport fishing within 500 m of working professional fishing boats",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Closed seasons (Art. 132): spiny lobster and European lobster 1 Jan–30 Apr",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Minimum sizes: DPR Art. 87 lists e.g. grouper 45 cm, sea bass 20 cm, gilthead 20 cm, bonito 25 cm; these are largely superseded by EU Reg. 1967/2006 Annex III, which was not verified",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "From May 2026, the MASAF decree of 24 Apr 2026 requires spearfishers and boat anglers over 16 to register in the EU RecFishing app and declare bluefin tuna, swordfish, dolphinfish and albacore (search summary; decree PDF not opened).",
      "status": "unconfirmed"
    },
    {
      "text": "Art. 140: max 5 rods per angler; longlines max 200 hooks per boat; max 2 pots per boat; no lights (except a spearfishing torch)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing (Art. 128bis–131): freediving only, no breathing apparatus; no collecting coral, molluscs or crustaceans; banned within 500 m of beaches with bathers, within 100 m of fixed gear and nets, within 100 m of anchored ships, in harbour transit lanes, and from sunset to sunrise; red/white diver flag buoy, stay within 50 m; gun not loaded out of water; a scuba tank (≤10 L) may be carried aboard for safety only",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "Marine Protected Areas (AMP): Zone A is a full reserve with no recreational fishing; Zones B and C allow it only under each AMP's rules or authorisation",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Isole Egadi AMP (online authorisations for sport fishing)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo AMP (banned in A and B; C with authorisation)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park (park authorisation required)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bluefin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus thynnus",
      "method": "trolling, popping, live bait — authorisation/reporting",
      "best_months": "May–Oct (Sicily; peak Jun–Sep)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_italy_9",
        "name": "Baitful (fishing guide)",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://baitful.com/fishing/sicily-it",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "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": null,
      "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"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Greater amberjack (ricciola)",
      "scientific_name": "Seriola dumerili",
      "method": "jigging, live bait",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "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 (dentice)",
      "scientific_name": "Dentex dentex",
      "method": "jigging, live bait",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "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": "Albacore (alalunga)",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus alalunga",
      "method": "trolling — RecFishing reporting",
      "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": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_alalunga",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus alalunga species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-alalunga.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": "Dolphinfish (lampuga)",
      "scientific_name": "Coryphaena hippurus",
      "method": "trolling — RecFishing reporting",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "17 September 2010",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.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": "Swordfish (pesce spada)",
      "scientific_name": "Xiphias gladius",
      "method": "drifting — RecFishing reporting",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "01 May 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "DPR Art. 134: juvenile swordfish catch and sale banned Sep–Dec",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_xiphias_gladius",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Xiphias gladius species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Xiphias-gladius.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": "Mediterranean spearfish",
      "scientific_name": "Tetrapturus belone",
      "method": "trolling (bycatch)",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 November 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": true,
      "local_rule": "FishBase: Mediterranean endemic, 'considerably abundant around Italy'",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_tetrapturus_belone",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Tetrapturus belone species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Tetrapturus-belone.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": "Egadi Islands (outside zone A, with AMP authorisation)",
      "why": "bluefin grounds, southern Sicily",
      "source": "secondary: fishyourdream.it",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aeolian Islands (from Milazzo/Portorosa)",
      "why": "charter base; pelagics",
      "source": "secondary: mirasicily.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sardinia (outside AMP zones A/B)",
      "why": "amberjack, dentex jigging",
      "source": "secondary: gt-fishing.com",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "Every angler, foreign guests included, registers the annual SIAN comunicazione. Report regulated species in RecFishing. Check AMP zoning (A, B and C) before anchoring to fish.",
  "not_verified": [
    "not verified (reported as free, unconfirmed)",
    "Bluefin needs a specific authorisation (not verified).",
    "Minimum sizes: DPR Art. 87 lists e.g. grouper 45 cm, sea bass 20 cm, gilthead 20 cm, bonito 25 cm; these are largely superseded by EU Reg. 1967/2006 Annex III, which was not verified",
    "Best months for Greater amberjack (ricciola), Common dentex (dentice), Albacore (alalunga), Dolphinfish (lampuga), Swordfish (pesce spada), Mediterranean spearfish"
  ],
  "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_italy_1",
      "name": "MASAF (Italian Ministry of Agriculture)",
      "title": "DPR 1639/1968 (MASAF PDF)",
      "url": "https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/files/e/8/7/D.9e136784cbab367a8bf0/D.P.R._2_ottobre_1968_n.1369.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_2",
      "name": "SIAN (MASAF online services)",
      "title": "SIAN – pesca sportiva foreign users",
      "url": "https://www.sian.it/portale/servizi/pesca-sportiva/comunicazione-pesca-sportiva-foreign-users",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_3",
      "name": "Guardia Costiera (Italian Coast Guard)",
      "title": "Guardia Costiera – comunicazione pesca sportiva",
      "url": "https://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it/portale/comunicazione-di-pesca-sportiva-e-ricreativa",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_4",
      "name": "Al Bar dei Pescatori (hosts the decree PDF)",
      "title": "MASAF decree 24/04/2026",
      "url": "https://www.albardeipescatori.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MASAF_2026_0194803_Decretopescasportiva24_04_26final_signed_1_.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party. We could not read this page (not opened); facts from it are marked as not verified.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_5",
      "name": "MASE (Italian Ministry of the Environment)",
      "title": "MASE – Aree marine protette",
      "url": "https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/aree-marine-protette-2",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_6",
      "name": "Isole Egadi Marine Protected Area",
      "title": "AMP Isole Egadi – Zonazione",
      "url": "https://www.ampisoleegadi.it/index.php/zonazione/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_7",
      "name": "Tavolara Marine Protected Area",
      "title": "Capitaneria Olbia – Tavolara ordinance",
      "url": "https://www.amptavolara.com/fileadmin/amptavolara/documenti/decreti_e_regolamenti/ORDINANZA_21-2014_-Sostituzione_ORD._34-2005_.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "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"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_italy_9",
      "name": "Baitful (fishing guide)",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://baitful.com/fishing/sicily-it",
      "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": "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_thunnus_alalunga",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus alalunga species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-alalunga.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_coryphaena_hippurus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.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_xiphias_gladius",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Xiphias gladius species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Xiphias-gladius.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_tetrapturus_belone",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Tetrapturus belone species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Tetrapturus-belone.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."
}