Minimum catch sizes for fish in Norway

Last updated: 19 August 2026

All anglers in Norway must observe the minimum catch sizes for fish. The key minimum sizes for sea fishing are cod 44/55 cm north of 62°N (depending on distance from baseline) and 40 cm south of 62°N, haddock 40 cm north / 32 cm south, and halibut 84 cm minimum and 200 cm maximum. North of 62°N, halibut fishing is prohibited from 20 December through 20 April. Saithe has a statutory minimum of 45 cm north / 40 cm south, but catch not intended for sale is exempt under section 48. Pollack, ling, cusk and wolffish have no minimum size. Viable fish below minimum size, and halibut over 200 cm, must be released immediately.

Current Rules

Current minimum sizes for the most common species in tourist sea fishing in Norway: North of 62°N (latitude, not county boundaries): - Cod (Gadus morhua): 44 cm farther than four nautical miles from the baselines, 55 cm within four nautical miles of the baselines - Saithe (Pollachius virens): 45 cm north of 62°N under section 47; catch not intended for sale is exempt under section 48 - Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus): 40 cm - Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus): 84 cm minimum, 200 cm maximum – fish over 2 m must be released. North of 62°N, halibut fishing is prohibited from 20 December through 20 April. - Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides): 45 cm - Redfish (Sebastes spp.): 30 cm outside 12 nautical miles from the baselines, 32 cm inside. North of 62°N, redfish fishing is prohibited except with handline (juksa) from vessels under 15 m overall length from 1 June through 31 August. - Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus): no minimum size - Ling (Molva molva): no minimum listed in section 47 of the harvesting regulations - Pollack (Pollachius pollachius): no minimum size - Cusk (Brosme brosme): no minimum size South of 62°N (latitude, not county boundaries): - Cod: 40 cm - Saithe: 40 cm south of 62°N under section 47; catch not intended for sale is exempt under section 48 - Haddock: 32 cm - Halibut: all halibut fishing is prohibited year-round south of 62°N, with every type of gear; viable halibut must be released immediately - Pollack: no minimum size Other species (apply along the entire coast unless noted): - Whiting (Merlangius merlangus): 32 cm - Hake (Merluccius merluccius): 30 cm - Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa): 29 cm - Monkfish (Lophius piscatorius): 60 cm when fishing with nets (no minimum for rod/line) - Mackerel (Scomber scombrus): no minimum size for recreational fishing Minimum sizes refer to total length measured from snout to tail tip. Halibut also has a maximum of 200 cm – fish over 2 m must be released due to environmental toxin levels.

Who does this apply to?

Everyone fishing in Norwegian waters -- tourists, recreational anglers, and commercial fishers alike.

How to comply

1
Learn the minimum sizes for your zone
Norway is divided into management zones with different minimum sizes. The most important distinction is north and south of 62°N, but some species also use 4 or 12 nautical mile boundaries. Check which minimum sizes apply where you will be fishing.
- Ask the camp to show you current minimum sizes and area rules before your first fishing trip.
- The recreational-fishing app provides species and fishing-rule information. Check current minimum sizes and area restrictions with the Directorate before keeping a catch.
2
Measure fish correctly
Measure fish from the tip of the snout to the end of the outermost tail-fin rays, as specified in section 46 of the harvesting regulation. Keep a measuring board or tape aboard and measure immediately after catching.
- Ask the operator about measuring equipment before departure.
3
Release undersized fish carefully
Viable fish below minimum size must be released back into the sea immediately and as gently as possible. Use a hook remover and avoid keeping the fish out of water for too long. Barbless hooks make release easier.
- If the fish is hooked deep, cut the line rather than trying to remove the hook.
- Wet your hands before handling the fish to protect the mucous layer.

Consequences of non-compliance

Deliberately targeting fish below the minimum size may be punishable. Viable undersized fish must be released; dead or clearly non-viable incidental catch may be eaten unless a specific release rule applies. Halibut over 200 cm must always be released, even when dead or dying.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the minimum sizes different north and south of 62°N?

Section 47 sets different limits by species and area: cod is 40 cm south of 62°N and 44 or 55 cm north of 62°N depending on distance from the baselines. Latitude and baselines determine the rule; a county name is not enough. This guide does not establish one biological explanation applying to every species.

How do I measure the fish correctly?

Section 46 measures length from the tip of the snout to the end of the outermost tail-fin rays. Use a measuring board or tape. If you cannot establish that a viable fish meets the minimum, release it carefully.

What should I do if the fish is just under the minimum size?

Viable fish measuring below minimum size, no matter how little, must be released immediately. There is no tolerance margin. If the fish is borderline, it is safest to release it. During inspections, the authorities' measurement applies.

What is the minimum size for plaice?

The Directorate of Fisheries' current minimum-size table gives 29 cm for plaice along the entire coast. The former Lindesnes split should not be used as the current rule.

Do I need to worry about the monkfish minimum size?

The 60 cm monkfish minimum applies to gillnet catches, not rod or handline catches. Foreign tourists may use only handheld gear. Other closures and area restrictions still apply; absence of a minimum size does not grant general permission to fish or keep a catch.

Do minimum sizes apply to fish I plan to release (catch and release)?

Minimum sizes regulate what you may keep, and you must not deliberately target fish below the minimum. Viable undersized fish caught incidentally must be released carefully. Dead or clearly non-viable incidental catch may be kept for personal consumption, but not sold. Specific rules still apply: every halibut over 200 cm must be released, even if dead or dying.

Source

Official recreational fishing app: species and fishing-rule information. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Current amendment checked: no amendment of measurement/minimum-size/release clauses. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Consolidated sections 39, 46–48 and 51; current J-163-2026 changes only sections 29 and 50. (accessed 2026-10-04)

THE authoritative legal source: høstingsforskriften (FOR-2021-12-23-3910) kapittel X, § 46–§ 49 — minimum sizes per zone (62°N), measurement method, and exemptions (§ 48: saithe/mackerel not intended for sale). § 47 and § 48 checked against the current text on 2026-08-19. (accessed 2026-08-19)

Official minimum size guidance for recreational sea fishing in Norway. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Protected species. Halibut closed season 20 December to 20 April north of 62°N; year-round prohibition south of 62°N. (accessed 2026-08-19)

Mandatory release of halibut over 2 metres (200 cm). (accessed 2026-10-04)

Høstingsforskriften Kapittel X §47 — legal basis for all minimum catch sizes including blåkveite 45 cm, hvitting 32 cm, lysing 30 cm, breiflabb 60 cm (in nets), rødspette. Current text re-read on 2026-08-19. (accessed 2026-08-19)