The exercise of recreational fishing is generally subject to licensing, with the exception of:
- The recreational harvest, without the use of any capture utensils
- Children under 16 years of age, provided that they are accompanied by license holders; and
- Non-residents in Portugal, who participate in international sport fishing championships, upon presentation of proof of registration.
Licenses may be daily, monthly or yearly, of one of the following types:
- Catch fishing: exclusively for exercise from dry land or island rock formations
- Boat fishing: for line fishing on board of a vessel, includes the license provided for in the previous paragraph
- Underwater fishing: exclusively for underwater fishing
- General recreational fishing: for fishing by line or from the vessel as well as for underwater fishing.
Recreational fishing licenses may be obtained:
- At the DGRM`s services or in the Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Fisheries of the North, Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo and Algarve, during the public opening hours, on all working days.
- Via Bmar Portal (currently only available to non-resident national citizens or foreign citizens, being possible to issue group licenses).