Fishing in Switzerland

Share | Print | +

Delicious

Digg

Facebook

Google

Propeller

reddit

StumbleUpon

Twitter

Yahoo!

Fishing in Switzerland

• There are 32,000 Km of streams and rivers in Switzerland and 839 square Km of lakes
• The highest water level in Switzerland is 1965m above sea level and the lowest point is at Lake Maggiore on the Italian border at 195m above sea level
• The most common fish are trout, char, pike and perch

The Law & Fishing Permits

Each canton is responsible for issuing its own fishing permits or licences and the regulations vary according to the area, and to whether the licence is for lake or river fishing. 

Permits sold allow fishing for a single day, a week, a month or a full year. The permit rates vary from canton to canton, furthermore a permit must be bought specific to each fishing area, as there are different prices for each lake and river. 

Always consult the local cantonal office before fishing; there are penalties for fishing without a licence.

• For more information from each canton see: The Swiss Portal 

The Animal Protection Law of 1 January 2009 states that anyone wishing to obtain a fishing permit in Switzerland must prove that they have sufficient knowledge regarding fish and crayfish. To do so they they must follow a short training course and obtain an Attestation de compétence or Sachkundenachweis (SaNa).

• For further information on the training required and to find a course: Click here (in French and German)

Accepted Practices

Each canton publishes guidelines on the best practices to be followed by anyone fishing in Swiss waters. This is in the interests of the environment and for the protection of the natural habitat. The natural environment both above and below the water should not be disturbed by the fishing.

Polluting the lakes and rivers is strictly against the law and any evidence of pollution must be reported to the cantonal authorities immediately so that clean up operations can be put in place to minimise damage. Littering is forbidden.

Intruding on the feeding, breeding and nesting of the cormorant and heron and other water birds is forbidden, as is disturbing small riverside and lakeside animals.

Cantonal authorities must approve nets and hooks. 

• The Swiss Anglers Federation has a code of conduct, which should be followed by any person fishing (in French and German).
• Federal advice for Playing fair with nature when fishing

Fishing in Zürich

Fishing is permitted on Lake Zürich. 

Information about fishing in the canton of Zurich is available from the Fishing and Hunting Office of the Canton of Zürich (Fischerei- und Jagdverwaltung des Kantons Zürich).

• At: Eschikon 7, 8315 Lindau
  Postal Address: Postfach , 8090 Zürich 
  Tel: 052 397 70 70 
  Fax: 052 397 70 80
  e-mail
  Website (in German)
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:00

For up-to-date information on fishing conditions, licences and general information.

• The Swiss Angling Association (Schweiz Fischerei Verband / Association Suisse de Pêcheurs) 
  Sekretariat Thomas Winzeler
  At: Seilerstrasse 27, 3011 Berne
  Tel: +41 (0)31 381 32 52
  Website

Information on fishing is available from the Cantonal Fishing Federations in Basel, Berne and Lucerne (in German).

For more information:

Further Information

• Guide to Fishing and Hunting from The Swiss Portal
• The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
• The Swiss fish industry website FischNetz
• The Swiss centre for aquatic research eawag
• Information on cantonal legislation: Click here (in German)
• Swiss Sea Fishing Association

0309cr