Recreational fishing in coastal waters, sea area, and the Dutch Visserijzone

From 2026, new European rules apply to recreational fishing in coastal waters, the sea area and the Visserijzone. By registering your catches of certain fish species in the app, we can better assess how these vulnerable species are faring. How many of these fish are there in the area? And how large are they? The information you provide, helps us to monitor how the species are doing over time.

We all want fish populations in the sea to remain healthy. Now, but also in the future. To achieve this, we need a clear and reliable picture of all fishing activities across the European Union. Not only of the fishing activities of commercial fishing, but also of recreational fishing.

When you use the app for the first time, you create an EU Login account. Enter your name and e-mail address and choose a password. You need an internet connection to create an account.

You can find more information about creating an account on the website of the European Union.

When you start fishing, open the app and tap on 'Start fishing session'. The app then determines your location. Does it show an incorrect location? You can alter the location yourself. The app determines your location in an area of 55 by 55 kilometres. The app does not share your exact location.

Have you caught a sea bass, bluefin tuna or European eel? Then you need to register the following information:

• the species of fish that you have caught
• the number of fish of this species you have caught
• the fishing gear that you used (for example: rod)
• from where you were fishing (coast, vessel, ice, underwater)
• the length and/or weight of the fish (in centimetres and/or kilograms)
• whether you kept the fish or released it
• where you have caught the fish
• the date and time of your catch

Are you going to fish recreationally in salt waters in another EU country? From 2026, you must also use an app there to register the fish species that you catch. These species may differ from those in the Netherlands. Many other EU countries also use the RecFishing app, but not all.

EU countries with the RecFishing app

You also use the RecFishing app if you fish in salt waters in the following countries:

• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Malta
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Sweden

You can find more information about recreational fishing in these countries in the app. In the menu, click on More and then on the page Read more about fisheries legislation.

EU countries without the RecFishing app

Are you going to fish in an EU country that does not use the RecFishing app? Then check locally how you need to register your catches and which species you must register.

• In the coastal waters and the sea area you may use 2 rods per person maximum.
• Each rod may have up to 3 hooks.
• Fishing for European eel is prohibited. Have you caught a European eel by accident? You must release it back into the water. You must still register your catch (and release) in the app.

• You may only use a beam trawl in the Visserijzone, the sea area, and the Westerschelde.
• The vessel that you use has a maximum length of 8 metres.
• The vessel that you use has one single beam trawl, with a maximum length of 150 centimetres.
• Did you catch one of the fish species listed in annex 1 of the Fishing opportunities regulation with a beam trawl? Then, you must always release it. This only applies to the fish species listed in annex 1.
• Are you fishing for shrimp? Then you must follow certain rules for small-scale shrimp fishing. You can find these rules on Vissen zonder garnalenvergunning (Dutch).

• You may only use an otter trawl in the Visserijzone, sea area, and the Westerschelde.
• The vessel that you use has a maximum length of 10 metres.
• The vessel that you use has one single net. The plates are no higher than 70 centimetres. This is measured from the backside from the one plate to the backside from the other plate.
• Did you catch one of the fish species listed in annex 1 of the Fishing opportunities regulation with an otter trawl? Then, you must always release it. This only applies to the fish species listed in annex 1.
• Are you fishing for shrimp? Then you must follow certain rules for small-scale shrimp fishing. You can find these rules on Fishing without a shrimp permit (Dutch).

Fishing with fixed gear in the sea area, the Visserijzone, or the coastal waters is generally not allowed. However, there are some exceptions to fishing with set gillnets.

Exception for set gillnets in coastal waters

In some parts of the coastal waters, you may use set gillnets if you register with the local municipality each year. You must also follow these rules:

• Not all areas are allowed, see Annex 17 of the Uitvoeringsregeling Visserij (Fisheries Regulation).
• You may use only one net per person.
• The net has a maximum length of 30 metres. In some areas around the Wadden Sea you may use a net with a length up to 100 metres. You can see which areas these are in Annex 18 of the Uitvoeringsregeling Visserij.
• The net must have floats.
• At low tides, the net must lie on the seabed.
• The municipality will assign a number to you. You will attach this sign on the fishing gear. The number must be clearly visible above all water levels.
• Fishing for seabass with set gillnets is prohibited. Have you caught a seabass by accident? Then you will release it back into the water. From 10 January 2026, you must then still record in the app that you have caught (and released) a seabass.

Exceptions for set gillnets in some municipalities in the Visserijzone

The following municipalities allow set gillnet fishing in the Visserijzone:

• Ameland
• Katwijk
• Schagen
• Schiermonnikoog
• Terschelling
• Texel
• Vlieland
• Westland
• Zandvoort

Applying for exemption and rules

Do you wish to fish with set gillnets in these municipalities? Then you must request permission from the municipality in which you want to fish. You can find more information about this on the website of the respective municipality.

Furthermore, you will follow these rules:

• You may use one gillnet per person. You must reapply for permission every year.
• The municipality will assign a number to you. You will attach this sign on the fishing gear. The number must be clearly visible above all water levels.
• Check your gear at least once every 24 hours.
• Report the bycatch of harbour porpoises to the municipality.
• Fishing for seabass with set gillnets is prohibited. Have you caught a seabass by accident? Then you will release it back into the water. From 10 January 2026, you must then still record in the app that you have caught (and released) a seabass.

Terms for net

These municipalities also set requirements to the net that you are using:

• The minimum mesh size is 105 millimetres (stretched).
• The net is single-layered.
• The maximum net length is 50 metres.
• The maximum net height is 110 centimetres (stretched).
• The net is anchored to the seabed. You will attach the upper line to the anchoring. You will do this no more than 65 centimetres above the bottom.
• The net will be placed between high and low tide lines.

Sometimes the municipality in which you want to fish may have additional conditions. You can inquire if there are any additional conditions with the municipality.

The European Commission is working on a version of the app for the computer. Until this version is finished, you can download the free app to the smartphone of a family member, friend or acquaintance. You can create your own account and register your catches on that smartphone.

Are you going fishing? Then you need proof of registration to show to enforcers. That way, they will know that you are abiding by the rules. You can create a proof of registration by opening the app and clicking on Profile. Then, make a screenshot. You then email this screenshot to yourself and print it. Bring this printed proof of registration when you go fishing.

You cannot change this yourself. Send an email to recreatievevisserij@rvo.nl. Send us the following information in your email:

• The email address with which you are registered in the app.
• The date of your catch.
• Which species of fish you have caught.
• What we need to change in your registration.

You only need to register your catch if you have caught European seabass, bluefin tuna, or European eel. These are vulnerable species. Therefore, we want to protect them as well as possible. We are better able to do this when we know how often fish of these species are caught. Including when they are released back into the sea.

Example

During a fishing session, you have caught 7 seabasses. You have kept 3. You have released the other 4 back into the sea.

If you only register the seabass that you have kept, it will appear to us that you encountered only 3 seabasses during your fishing session. Making it look like there is less seabass than there actually is. If you register all 7 seabasses, we know that there are more seabasses in the area. This way, we can monitor how vulnerable species are doing.

You can do this up to 24 hours after the catch. Follow these steps:

1. Open the RecFishing app.
2. Start a new fishing session.
3. Tap the down arrow next to Started on, then enter the correct time.
4. Register your catch and the time of the catch.
5. End the fishing session.

It does not matter if the fishing session you entered lasted shorter than your actual fishing session.

No, this is not mandatory. You can also end a fishing session after each registered catch. And start a new fishing session when you make another catch.

RecFishing never shares your exact location with us. The app registers your location. However, RecFishing only shares the statistical grid of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) in which you are fishing. These grids are approximately 55 by 55 kilometres.

We forward these approximate locations to the European Commission (EC). Thanks to these data, the EC can estimate how many and which fish species are in that ICES grid. And in which ICES grids these fish like to reside.

You use EU-login to register in the RecFishing app. You can create an account at EU-login. To do this, enter the following data:

• first and last name
• email address