Recreational fishing
For the good management of the resource, recreational sea fishing is subject to certain mandatory regulatory provisions.
Thus, the fisherman must respect minimum sizes of catches, not use certain gear, respect areas and periods open to fishing... He must first inquire with his federation or the competent state services (DDTM) to know the regulations applicable at the chosen fishing site.
Some elements of the regulation
Limit to personal and family needs. It is recalled that it is prohibited to sell recreational fishery products
Only keep fish of the regulatory size (above the minimum size set by regulation; see minimum catch sizes)
Mark catches of certain listed species by the removal of the lower tail fin (see list of species subject to the removal of their tail fin)
Respect the zones and periods of closure and opening or prohibition
Respect protected marine species, prohibited to harvest (see protected marine species)
Respect professional facilities (nets, longlines, traps, etc.)
And also, for underwater fishing: be over 16 years old. Take out insurance for this practice
Do not use respiratory equipment
Do not use a bright focus
Flag themselves on the surface with a buoy and flag
Do not engage in underwater fishing at night
In the two marine protected areas of Carry-le-Rouet and the Crown, it is prohibited:
Mooring of the boats
Scuba diving in autonomous
Fishing in all its forms (professional fishing, angling, underwater hunting and gathering of seafood). Sworn guards provide annual supervision on both reserves (see the reserve regulation leaflet).
Regulation and methods of fishing for sea urchins
On the Mediterranean coast, sea urchin fishing is subject to strict regulations.
For individuals, fishing is allowed but you have to respect certain rules (be careful, they vary from one department to another).
In the department of Bouches-du-Rhône
Sea urchin fishing is permitted from December 15 to February 29
The minimum size of capture is 5 cm without the pricks
In foot fishing or underwater fishing, the harvest is 2 dozen sea urchins per fisherman and per day maximum
Fishing by pleasure craft: 2 dozen sea urchins per fisherman per day with a maximum of 5 dozen sea urchins per vessel per day, in excess of two persons on board (see order dated September 29, 2023).”
History of fishing methods
Formerly, the professional fisherman would spot sea urchins on the bottom of the water from his boat or his point. He used a net to catch sea urchins from the rocky seabed or the posidonia (the raftafish) and dragged it behind the boat. This fishery was banned because it is devastating.
Another fishing technique used by the oldest ones was to pick up the sea urchins from the boat and in calm weather, using a cramp or sea urchin cluster (a double hook at the end of a long wooden pole). One used a mirror tile or a glass bucket to see the bottom. You could also pour some oil on the surface, which would make it possible to level the sea and see the bottom.
Currently, recreational anglers use the mask, fins and snorkel. In snorkeling, arm armed with a grapevine, they detach the sea urchins at the bottom and collect them in a net.
The PMCB has been monitoring sea urchin populations since 1994, carried out twice a year (before and after the fishing season) at 10 sites in front of the entire Blue Coast.
