Rules for tourist fishing in Norway

Last updated: 3 August 2026

Foreign tourists may sea-fish in Norway with hand-held gear without a fishing licence, but minimum sizes, protected species and local restrictions still apply. A business must register when it meets the Directorate's tests: VAT registration, at least NOK 50,000 in annual sea-fishing tourism revenue, and at least one vessel for rental or organised fishing trips.

Current Rules

Current rules for tourist fishing in Norway: 1. Fishing licence: Sea fishing for tourists does not require a licence. Freshwater fishing normally requires a fishing card. From age 18 the national fee applies to salmon, sea trout and sea char in watercourses. Inland-fish angling is generally exempt, but from age 18 you must pay the fee in salmon-bearing waters while salmon, sea-trout or sea-char fishing is open. 2. Registration of tourist fishing businesses: Registration is mandatory for a business that is VAT-registered, earns at least NOK 50,000 per calendar year from sea-fishing tourism, and has at least one vessel for rental to fishing tourists or for taking tourists fishing. Smaller businesses with a vessel and tourism-fishing revenue may register voluntarily. 3. Permitted gear: Foreign tourists may use only hand-held gear such as rod and handline; they may not use nets, longlines, pots, or traps. Norwegian residents are subject to separate recreational-fishing gear limits. 4. Catch reporting: Registered tourist fishing businesses are obligated to report catch data to the Directorate of Fisheries. 5. Minimum sizes and closed seasons: Deliberately targeting undersized fish is prohibited. Viable undersized fish must be released; 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. 6. Export quota (2026): Max 15 kg of fish or fish products per person aged 12+, up to twice per calendar year. The traveller must both fish and stay through a registered tourist fishing business and carry individual documentation. The export regulation does not apply to salmon, trout, char or freshwater fish; separate catching rules apply.

Who does this apply to?

Foreign tourists engaged in recreational sea fishing in Norway, plus tourist fishing businesses that must or choose to register. Norwegian residents have different gear rules.

How to comply

1
Choose a registered fishing camp
To use the sea-fish export quota in 2026 (15 kg per person aged 12+), you must both fish and stay through a tourist fishing business registered with the Directorate of Fisheries. Registered businesses must inform guests about the current rules.
- Look up the camp in the Directorate of Fisheries' public register of tourist fishing businesses.
2
Learn the local regulations
Rules for minimum sizes, closed seasons, and special restrictions vary between different zones along the Norwegian coast. Ask the fishing camp about current regulations for the area where you will be fishing.
- The Directorate of Fisheries' website has detailed maps of zones and minimum sizes.
- Download the Directorate of Fisheries app for updated information while at sea.
3
Use legal fishing gear
Foreign tourists may fish with hand-held gear such as rod and handline. They may not use nets, longlines, pots, or traps. Some species have stricter gear restrictions.
4
Release undersized fish
Do not deliberately target undersized fish. Release viable fish carefully; dead or clearly non-viable incidental catch may be kept for personal consumption.
- Keep a measuring board on board for quick minimum size checks.

Consequences of non-compliance

Intentional or negligent breaches of the harvesting regulation may be punishable under the laws it cites; authorities determine the specific sanction.

Deliberately targeting fish below the minimum size may be punishable.

For unlawful export, all catch covered by the tourist quota may be seized, not just the excess kilograms. Legally exempt goods are excluded from this confiscation.

The prosecutor’s rate letter linked by the Directorate of Fisheries sets a minimum fine of NOK 8,000 plus NOK 200 per kilogram of fish or fish products. Planned or organised smuggling can attract a higher fine; the authorities determine the penalty.

Upcoming changes

From 2027-01-01

From 1 January 2027, the export quota is reduced to 10 kg per person.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a fishing licence to fish in the sea in Norway?

Ordinary sea angling with handheld gear requires no fishing card or national fishing fee, but species protection and local bans apply. Freshwater fishing normally requires a card from the fishing-rights holder. From age 18 a national fee is also required for salmon, sea trout and sea char in watercourses. Inland-fish angling is generally exempt, but from age 18 you must pay the fee in salmon-bearing waters while salmon, sea-trout or sea-char fishing is open. Under-18s are exempt from the fee. Check local rules and zones.

What fish species can I catch as a tourist in Norway?

You may fish for most saltwater species with rod, handline, and jig, including cod, saithe, haddock, halibut, wolffish, redfish, pollack, and many more. Some species have minimum sizes and closed seasons that must be observed. Certain species, like lobster, have their own specific rules.

What does it mean that a fishing camp is "registered"?

A registered tourist fishing business appears in the Directorate of Fisheries register. Registration is mandatory when it is VAT-registered, earns at least NOK 50,000 a year from sea-fishing tourism, and has at least one vessel for rental or fishing trips. Smaller qualifying businesses may register voluntarily. Registered businesses report catches and inform guests.

Can I fish from shore without being affiliated with a fishing camp?

Yes, you may freely fish from shore with rod and handline without any form of registration or fishing licence. The same minimum size and closed season rules apply. Sea catch covered by the export regulation and caught outside a registered tourist fishing business cannot be exported. The export regulation does not apply to salmon, trout, char or freshwater fish; separate catching rules apply.

Source

Current export regulation: section 1 excludes salmon, trout, char and freshwater fish from its scope; section 2 covers 15 kg twice in 2026 and 10 kg twice from 2027, minimum age 12 and documentation. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Current fee guidance: 18+ anadromous fishing; inland-fish exception requires payment in salmon-bearing waters while the anadromous season is open; rod/handline at sea exempt. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Every halibut over 200 cm must be released even if dead or dying; specific rule overrides the general non-viable undersized incidental-catch exception. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Riksadvokaten letter 25 April 2019, page 2: minimum NOK 8,000 plus NOK 200/kg; planned/organised cases may be higher. Historical quotas on page 1 are superseded. (accessed 2026-10-04)

National fee for anadromous salmonids in watercourses or fixed sea gear; under-18 exemption. (accessed 2026-10-04)

Main tourist fishing regulation page from the Directorate of Fisheries. (accessed 2026-08-03)

Forskrift om turistfiskevirksomheter (FOR-2017-07-05-1141), made under the Marine Resources Act (LOV-2008-06-06-37) §§ 22 and 59 — the registration criteria, catch-reporting duty and guest-information duty. (accessed 2026-09-04)

Registration requirements for tourist fishing businesses. (accessed 2026-10-04)