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.

Popular fishing destinations in Liguria include Lakes Brugneto, Malanotte, Bruno, Savio and Busalletta, the Vara River and the "No-kill" fishing area in Aveto

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.

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.

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.

Fishing License and the "Tesserino Segnacatture"

Fresh water fishers must apply for a Tesserino Segnacattura as well as a fishing license. The Tessere Segnacatture is a record of where fishing activity has been carried out as well as the number of fish caught. Both documents are issued by the Province of Genoa to residents and non-residents. 

• Application forms can be downloaded from the Province of Genoa website (in Italian)
• Or contact the Genoa Fishing office:
  At: Ufficio Pesca di Genova, L.go Francesco Cattanei 3 Genoa (GE).
  Tel: 010 549 9801

Fishing in Liguria

The Agriculture department for the Ligurian region provides information on fishing in the area for both professionals and private fishermen.

• For more information: Click here (in Italian) 
• Genoa
  At: L.go Francesco Cattanei 3, Genoa
  Tel: 0105 499770
  e-mail 
  Website 
• La Spezia
  At: Ufficio Pesca, Via Vittorio Veneto 2, 19124 La Spezia
  Tel: 0187 742262
  Fax: 0187 742262
  e-mail 
  Website 
• Savona
  At: Via Sormano 12, 17100 Savona
  Tel: 0198 313294
  Fax: 0198 313269
  e-mail 
  Website 
• Imperia Ufficio Caccia e Pesca (hunting and fishing)
  At: Viale Matteotti 147, 18100 Imperia
  Tel: 0183 704469
  e-mail 
  Website 

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)