Eastern Romania Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Law No. 176/2024 on fisheries and the protection of living aquatic resources (Legea 176/2024, Monitorul Oficial nr. 517 / 03.06.2024 (in force 03.06.2024)). New framework law for living aquatic resources and fisheries. Art. 61 repealed the provisions of OUG 23/2008 on living aquatic resources. Recreational fishing: with line/rod, under a personal permit issued by the resource manager. Commercial and recreational fishing prohibited within 500 m downstream of a dam on watercourses. Permit: A personal permit (permis nominal) is required for recreational angling: issued by ANPA (online) or by the resource manager/association. ARBDD permit for the Danube Delta (RBDD). In border waters, approval of the Border Police (Poliția de Frontieră) is also required. Competent authority: MADR (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), ANPA (National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture), MMAP (Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests), ARBDD (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Emergency Government Ordinance No. 23/2008 on fisheries and aquaculture (approved by Law No. 317/2009) (OUG 23/2008; Legea 317/2009). Main framework until 2024. Provisions on living aquatic resources were repealed by Legea 176/2024 Art. 61; the aquaculture section may have remained in force. Former annual prohibition orders (e.g. 10/235/2023) were based on Art. 12 (4)–(5). Competent authority: MADR / ANPA.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Joint MADR/MMAP Order 23/297/2025 (amended by 260/2513/2025) on fishing ban periods and zones and on protection and biological regeneration areas for living aquatic resources (23/297/2025 (in force from 01.02.2025); amendment 260/2.513/2025 (02.10.2025)). 60-day general spawning ban (09.04–07.06), 45 days for border waters, species-specific bans (pike, pikeperch, perch, trout, wels catfish, sturgeon, crayfish, tench), protection zones (around bridges) and biological regeneration zones (listed by name), special RBDD rules. 2026 news reports present the same order 'with its amendments' as the text also applied for 2026. Competent authority: MADR + MMAP; enforcement ANPA, ARBDD, Jandarmerie, Poliție.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

MADR Order 342/2008 on the minimum individual sizes of living aquatic resources by species (342/2008). Minimum catch sizes by species (the annual prohibition order Art. 11 (2) refers to this order). Individuals below the minimum size must be released immediately, regardless of their condition. Competent authority: MADR / ANPA.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Protected areas / Danube Delta: Order 159/1266/2011 on the conditions for recreational/sport fishing in protected natural areas; Law 82/1993 establishing the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve; RBDD management plan (159/1.266/2011; Legea 82/1993; HG 763/2015). In the RBDD, recreational fishing is only permitted in the lakes and channels listed in Annex 3 of 159/1266/2011. Fishing is completely prohibited in strict protection zones. Catch-and-release applies to pike, zander, wels catfish and carp; there is a transport limit of 10 kg per angler and 15 kg per family. Permit: recreational fishing permit issued by ARBDD in the RBDD. Competent authority: ARBDD (Tulcea).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Prut / Stânca-Costești (RO–MD border): Regulation on fishing in the Prut river and the Stânca-Costești reservoir (Romania–Moldova agreement) (HG 1.207/2003, MO nr. 756/29.10.2003). Recreational fishing only by day (sunrise–sunset), only from the shore, at most 2 rods/2 hooks; 5 kg per day or a single fish exceeding 5 kg; prohibited all year within 500 m downstream of the dam; sturgeon fishing prohibited. Permit: Recreational permit + border police approval. Competent authority: ANPA / RO-MD Joint Working Group.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

In all natural fish habitats, commercial, recreational/sport and family fishing of all fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic organisms is prohibited. Aquaculture facilities (private ponds/farms) are excluded. Recreational fishing is also prohibited, except for exceptions set in the RBDD and certain special waters. Period: 09.04–07.06 (60 days; 2025 and 2026).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Border waters: in waters forming the state border (e.g. the Serbian section of the Danube, Tisa, etc.). Period: 24.04–07.06 (45 days).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Danube – Bulgarian border; Ukrainian border and Musura Bay: the Danube section forming the border with Bulgaria and the Ukrainian border waters (including Musura). For Musura it may be extended depending on hydrological conditions. Period: 16.04–30.05 (45 days).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Prut river, floodplains and Stânca-Costești lake: amendment 260/2.513/2025 (July 2025): In the Prut section between the Stânca-Costești dam and the Elan confluence, recreational fishing is carried out outside the closed periods. Here the general habitat ban applies instead of the shore (littoral) rule: 09.04–07.06 (60 days), as a border water 24.04–07.06 (45 days). The dependence on the Danube water level (<50 cm at Tulcea) relates only to the use of setcă (nets) in the RBDD (Art. 10 (5)). Period: 09.04–07.06 (2026; conditional under the 2025 amendment).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Hydroelectric reservoirs: Controlled lowering of the water level is prohibited to protect spawning grounds (except for natural disaster prevention). Period: Throughout the closed seasons.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Recreational anglers may not use nets, gill nets (setcă) or fyke nets; using more rods than the legal limit is prohibited (in mountain waters 1 undiță × 2 hooks or 1 lansetă; in hill and lowland waters, the Danube and RBDD 3 undiță or 4 lansetă × 2 hooks or 1 țaparină × 10 hooks). Electric fishing and explosives prohibited. Fishing for salmonids with natural bait in mountain waters and fishing within 500 m downstream of a dam carry a fine of 2,000–4,000 lei. Sale of recreational catch prohibited. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Danube Delta (RBDD): Catch-and-release in recreational fishing for pike, zander, wels catfish and carp (the 2023 order allowed 1 fish ≤3 kg per day of a single species; according to 2025 news these species may not be kept). Transport limit of 10 kg per angler, 15 kg per family. Recreational fishing only in the listed lakes/canals. Period: Outside closed periods.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Danube Delta (RBDD): All fishing gear is prohibited within 500 m on either side of the mouths into the Danube of gârlă, canals and privals that carry water to the lakes, and within them. Period: 01.03–09.04.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Prut / Stânca-Costești: Recreational fishing only by day (sunrise to sunset), only from the shore, at most 2 rods or 2 lancets, each with at most 2 hooks. At most 5 kg of fish per day or a single fish exceeding 5 kg may be kept. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Daily retention limit: in hill and lowland waters, the Danube and its tributaries, the RBDD and marine waters, maximum 5 kg/day per angler or a single fish exceeding 5 kg. In salmonid mountain waters maximum 10 fish/day in total. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Gura Râului reservoir: recreational fishing for zander and lake trout only with artificial bait and with immediate release of all catch. Period: Outside closed seasons.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sturgeons (Huso huso, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. stellatus, A. ruthenus): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Danube salmon (lostrița) (Hucho hucho): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Protected species (aspretele, pietrar, fusar etc.) (Romanichthys valsanicola, Zingel zingel, Z. streber, Gymnocephalus baloni, Sander volgensis, Lota lota, Carassius carassius, Cottus poecilopus): fishing prohibited.

The table in our records

Closed season

All year

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →