Catch and release: what the law says

Undersized fish and crayfish or those caught in the closed season must be carefully freed from the gear and released without delay if they are still viable (Section 1 (4)). Non-native species without a minimum size or closed season must be landed and may not be released (Section 2, landing obligation). No keepnet rule and no explicit catch-and-release ban were found in the LFischVO. Lake Constance has its own regulations, not checked here.

§ 1 Abs. 4, § 2 LFischVO BW, version LFischVO vom 3. April 1998 (GBl. 1998, 252), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 32 des Gesetzes vom 10. Februar 2026 (GBl. 2026 Nr. 20); aktuelle Gesamtausgabe, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Viable undersized fish or fish caught in the closed season must be returned carefully and without delay to the same stretch of water (Section 11 (6)). Fish of legal size and fish without catch limits may only be released, in line with animal welfare law, if this serves the stock management goal, especially for threatened species; fish of species not listed in the annex may not be released (Section 11 (8)). Keepnets must be roomy and made of knotless textile, keep fish as briefly as possible, kept fish may not be released (Section 20).

§ 11 Abs. 6 und 8, § 20 AVBayFiG, version AVBayFiG in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung vom 10. Mai 2004 (GVBl. S. 177, 270), BayRS 793-3-L, zuletzt geändert durch Verordnung vom 10. April 2025 (GVBl. S. 126); Text von § 11 und § 20 gilt ab 01.06.2025, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Undersized fish or fish caught in the closed season must be released gently without delay; fish that cannot survive must be killed at once and also returned to the water, taking them home or using them is not allowed (Section 9 (1) and (2)). Catching and releasing a fish solely to record its size or appearance is prohibited (Section 9 (3)); non-native and alien species may not be released (Section 9 (4)). Rod-caught fish may only be kept in a keepnet and at most until the end of the fishing day, kept fish may not be released (Section 14 (2) and (4)).

§ 9 Abs. 1 bis 4, § 14 Abs. 2 und 4 LFischO Berlin, version Berliner Landesfischereiordnung vom 12. Dezember 2001 (GVBl. 2001, 700), zuletzt geändert durch Verordnung vom 27.10.2025 (GVBl. S. 551); § 9 und § 14 gültig ab 21.11.2025, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Undersized fish or fish caught by rod in the closed season must be released gently without delay; if the hook is swallowed deeply, the line must first be cut level with the tip of the head (Section 3 (1)). Fish may be kept at most until the end of the fishing day, except trout, charr, grayling, whitefish and salmon (Section 11 (2)); kept fish may not be released (Section 11 (4)). No explicit catch-and-release ban was found.

§ 3 Abs. 1, § 11 Abs. 2 und 4 BbgFischO, version Fischereiordnung des Landes Brandenburg vom 14. November 1997 (GVBl. II/97, [Nr. 34], S. 867), zuletzt geändert durch Verordnung vom 24. August 2026 (GVBl. II/26, [Nr. 39]), checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish caught alive that may not be taken must be released carefully without delay; fish that are no longer viable must first be killed humanely and disposed of safely (Section 5 (1)). Dead fish may not be put into the water or left at the waterside (Section 5 (2)). No keepnet rule or catch-and-release ban was found in the regulation.

§ 5 Abs. 1 und 2 Bremische Binnenfischereiverordnung, version Bremische Binnenfischereiverordnung vom 30. September 2011 (Brem.GBl. S. 410); im Transparenzportal keine spätere Änderung ausgewiesen, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish intended to be killed must be killed at once, keeping fish alive is prohibited except in stow-net fishing and for stock management (Section 15 (2) HmbFAnG). Protected species and fish outside the harvest slot or caught in the closed season must be returned carefully without delay, unless they are so injured that survival would likely mean considerable pain, suffering or harm (Sections 6 to 8 HmbFAnGDVO). Species in Annex 1 have a harvest slot with a lower and an upper size (Section 7). Fishing guides must declare in their concept that they renounce targeted catch and release (Section 5).

§ 15 Abs. 2 HmbFAnG; §§ 5 bis 8 HmbFAnGDVO, version HmbFAnG vom 28. Mai 2019 (HmbGVBl. 2019, 142), § 15 gültig ab 01.06.2019; HmbFAnGDVO vom 4. Juni 2019 (HmbGVBl. 2019, 169), letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Verordnung vom 1. Februar 2022 (HmbGVBl. S. 88), checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Catch and release is explicitly banned: fishing solely for sport or hobby that intends to release all fish caught (Section 14 (6)). A fish may not be released after capture without a reasonable cause, invasive alien species never (Section 14 (3)); Section 14 (2) names food purposes in particular as a reasonable cause for taking fish. Protected or undersized fish must be released without delay, or killed and buried if they are likely to die (Section 2 (3)). Keepnets at most until the end of the day of capture, kept fish may not be released (Section 10 (1)).

§ 2 Abs. 3, § 10 Abs. 1, § 14 Abs. 2, 3 und 6 HFischV, version Hessische Fischereiverordnung vom 14. April 2023 (GVBl. 2023 S. 318), gültig bis 31.12.2030, letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Artikel 37 des Gesetzes vom 16. Dezember 2025 (GVBl. 2025 Nr. 110), checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Protected or undersized fish and fish caught in the closed season must be returned carefully and without delay to the water they came from (Section 6 (1) BiFVO M-V). No keepnet rule or catch-and-release ban was found in the inland fisheries regulation; the coastal fisheries regulation was not checked for this.

§ 6 Abs. 1 BiFVO M-V, version Binnenfischereiverordnung vom 15. August 2005 (GVOBl. M-V 2005, 423), zuletzt geändert durch Verordnung vom 27. Januar 2011 (GVOBl. M-V S. 59); § 6 gültig ab 01.09.2005, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Still viable fish of protected species, undersized fish or fish caught in the closed season must be returned without delay, dead or non-viable fish must be disposed of safely without delay (Section 5 (1) BiFischO, as described in the fines provision, Section 13 nos. 2 and 3; the wording of Section 5 could not be loaded completely in the portal). No keepnet rule or catch-and-release ban was found in the BiFischO.

§ 5 Abs. 1 i. V. m. § 13 Nr. 2 und 3 BiFischO, version Binnenfischereiordnung vom 6. Juli 1989 (Nds. GVBl. S. 289), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 5 der Verordnung vom 22. Dezember 2005 (Nds. GVBl. S. 475), checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish caught alive in the closed season or below the minimum size must be released carefully without delay; if they are likely to die they must be killed and buried, unless another disposal is prescribed; using them is prohibited even if they are landed dead (Section 4 (1)). No keepnet rule or catch-and-release ban was found in the LFischVO. For case law from North Rhine-Westphalia see the Germany section.

§ 4 Abs. 1 LFischVO NRW, version Landesfischereiverordnung vom 9. März 2010 (GV. NRW. 2010 S. 172), zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 2 der Verordnung vom 1. Juli 2026 (GV. NRW. S. 414), Fassung gültig ab 03.07.2026; § 4 zuletzt geändert mit Wirkung vom 31.12.2017, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish subject to a catch ban must be released without delay with the care needed for their survival, if they are still viable (Section 23 (1)). Fish not belonging to the species listed in Section 17, Section 20 (2) and Section 33 (1) must be landed (Section 21). Keepnets at least 3.5 m long with 50 cm rings, made of textile, wire keepnets banned (Section 26). No explicit catch-and-release ban was found.

§ 21, § 23 Abs. 1, § 26 Landesfischereiordnung RP, version Landesfischereiordnung vom 14. Oktober 1985 (GVBl. 1985, 241), letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Artikel 2 der Verordnung vom 11.02.2026 (GVBl. S. 44, 50); § 23 in der Fassung ab 01.10.2001, § 26 ab 13.05.2021, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Catch and release is explicitly banned: rod fishing that is aimed from the outset at releasing the fish caught (Section 10 (1) no. 6). Undersized fish or fish under another catch ban must be released carefully without delay; invasive species without a minimum size or closed season must be landed (Section 7). Keepnets only for fish intended for eating or restocking, releasing them is not allowed, knotless and at least 3.50 m long (Section 8).

§ 7, § 8, § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 LFO Saarland, version Landesfischereiordnung vom 5. Februar 2020 (Amtsbl. I 2020, 132), gültig ab 28.02.2020, letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Artikel 167 des Gesetzes vom 8. Dezember 2021 (Amtsbl. I S. 2629), checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish caught unintentionally in the closed season or below the minimum size must be returned to the water without delay (Section 24 (1) no. 1 SächsFischG). Holders of a fishing permit may only release fish into the water where they were caught; species on the EU list of invasive species may not be released (Section 12 (2) and (3) SächsFischVO). Fish may only be kept in devices that avoid preventable harm, with enough oxygen and no longer than necessary (Section 16 SächsFischVO). No explicit catch-and-release ban was found.

§ 24 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 SächsFischG; § 12 Abs. 2 und 3, § 16 SächsFischVO, version SächsFischG vom 9. Juli 2007 (SächsGVBl. S. 310), Fassung gültig ab 26.05.2012, zuletzt geändert durch Gesetz vom 29. April 2012 (SächsGVBl. S. 254); SächsFischVO vom 22. April 2022 (SächsGVBl. 2022 S. 318), gültig ab 01.06.2022, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Fish caught despite a catch ban, in the closed season or below the minimum size must be released gently without delay; other fish not caught on purpose may be released if there is a reasonable cause; seriously injured fish must be killed and may not be used (Section 5 (1)). Non-native species without a minimum size or closed season must be landed (Section 7). Keeping fish alive needs a reasonable cause, only roomy knotless keepnets; trout, grayling, whitefish, zander, pike and perch may not be kept in angling (Section 10 (1)).

§ 5 Abs. 1, § 7, § 10 FischO LSA, version Fischereiordnung des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt vom 11. Januar 1994 (GVBl. LSA 1994, 16), zuletzt geändert durch § 2 der Verordnung vom 6. März 2013 (GVBl. LSA S. 110); §§ 5 und 7 gültig ab 16.03.2013, § 10 ab 18.01.1994, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Undersized fish or fish caught in the closed season may not be kept, landed or used; they must be freed from the gear following good practice and released without delay, whether unharmed, injured or dead; fish that clearly cannot survive should first be stunned and killed humanely (Section 2 (2) and (3) BiFVO). No keepnet rule or catch-and-release ban was found in the BiFVO; the coastal fisheries regulation was not checked for this.

§ 2 Abs. 2 und 3 BiFVO SH, version Binnenfischereiverordnung vom 29. Juni 2016 (GVOBl. 2016, 557), letzte berücksichtigte Änderung LVO vom 26.05.2021 (GVOBl. S. 733); § 2 gültig ab 09.07.2021, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Undersized fish or fish caught unintentionally in the closed season must be released gently without delay; non-native or alien species without a closed season or minimum size must be landed (Section 6). Under Section 22 (2), legally caught fish must be stunned and killed humanely right after capture or after being kept in a keepnet. Salmonids may not be kept in a keepnet, kept fish may not be released (Section 24 (2) and (4)).

§ 6, § 22, § 24 ThürFischAVO, version ThürFischAVO vom 11. August 2020 (GVBl. 2020 S. 457), gültig ab 25.09.2020, letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Artikel 55 des Gesetzes vom 2. Juli 2024 (GVBl. S. 277, 292); §§ 6, 22 und 24 gültig ab 25.09.2020, checked 2026-10-23 · legal text

Federal law: no one may cause an animal pain, suffering or harm without a reasonable cause (Section 1 sentence 2 of the German Animal Welfare Act, TierSchG). It is a criminal offence, among other things, to kill a vertebrate without a reasonable cause or to cause it prolonged or repeated considerable pain or suffering (Section 17 TierSchG). The Act contains no explicit ban on catch and release, whether deliberately catching and releasing a fish has a reasonable cause is judged case by case. In 2015 the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (order of 3 July 2015, file no. 20 B 209/15) upheld an official order against the operator of a fishing pond: if fish are caught after a long fight, presented alive as a trophy and then released, they suffer without a reasonable cause. The court stressed that the order was not directed against angling as such and did not concern protected or undersized fish. State law: Hesse (Section 14 (6) HFischV) and Saarland (Section 10 (1) no. 6 LFO) explicitly ban catch and release, Berlin bans catching and releasing solely to record a fish's size or appearance (Section 9 (3) LFischO). In all 16 states, undersized fish and fish caught in the closed season must still be released (details per state below). Bavaria allows releasing fish of legal size if this serves the stock management goal (Section 11 (8) AVBayFiG). The national anglers' federation DAFV states in its guidelines that fish with a closed season or minimum size are released alive and that fish kept for eating are dispatched properly and used sensibly. Sources as of 23 October 2026, not legal advice, if in doubt ask the fisheries authority.

Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG), § 1 (Neugefasst durch Bek. v. 18.5.2006 I 1206, 1313; zuletzt geändert durch Art. 2 Abs. 20 G v. 20.12.2022 I 2752 (laut gesetze-im-internet.de, Abruf 23.10.2026)) · Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG), § 17 (wie oben) · OVG Nordrhein-Westfalen, Beschluss vom 03.07.2015, 20 B 209/15 (Vorinstanz VG Münster, 1 L 615/14) (ECLI:DE:OVGNRW:2015:0703.20B209.15.00, Eilverfahren) · Hessische Fischereiverordnung (HFischV), § 14 Abs. 6 (vom 14. April 2023, zuletzt geändert durch Artikel 37 des Gesetzes vom 16. Dezember 2025) · Landesfischereiordnung Saarland (LFO), § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 (vom 5. Februar 2020, letzte berücksichtigte Änderung Artikel 167 des Gesetzes vom 8. Dezember 2021) · Berliner Landesfischereiordnung (LFischO), § 9 Abs. 3 (vom 12. Dezember 2001, zuletzt geändert durch Verordnung vom 27.10.2025, § 9 gültig ab 21.11.2025) · AVBayFiG, § 11 (Bek. vom 10. Mai 2004, Text gilt ab 01.06.2025) · DAFV, Die Leitsätze des DAFV (PDF) (undatiert, Abruf 23.10.2026)

The Austrian Animal Welfare Act explicitly does not apply to fishing (Section 3 (4) TSchG). Whether and when fish must or may be released therefore depends on the fisheries law of each federal state and the conditions of the fishing licence, not checked individually here.

checked 2026-10-23 · ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzes

Angling with the intention of releasing the fish is prohibited, as are live bait fish and barbed hooks (Art. 23 (1) (a) to (c) Animal Welfare Ordinance, as of 1 February 2026). Exceptions for bait fish and barbed hooks are set out in the ordinance to the Federal Fisheries Act.

checked 2026-10-23 · fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/416/de#art_23

In salt water, recreational anglers must always release eel and bluefin tuna and report released fish in the RecFishing app; sea bass has a daily limit, minimum size and closed period (RVO, page checked on 3 August 2026). For inland waters, the official page mentions the VISpas and a maximum of two rods, but no general duty to release.

checked 2026-10-23 · rvo.nl/onderwerpen/recreatieve-visserij-zoutwater

Recreational fishing for European eel is banned in all life stages, and recreational anglers may not sell their catch; minimum sizes and closed seasons are listed per species by the fisheries authority (part of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency since July 2026). No general rule on catch and release was found on the official pages checked.

checked 2026-10-23 · lfst.dk/lyst-og-fritidsfiskeri/fisketegn/regler-for-lyst-og-

In England, any eels caught (except conger eels) must be released alive, and fish you cannot keep must be returned to the water unharmed. On rivers there are daily limits, for example one pike up to 65 cm, two grayling between 30 and 38 cm and 15 small fish up to 20 cm; local byelaws set the limits for salmon and trout. Wales has its own rules (Natural Resources Wales).

checked 2026-10-23 · gov.uk/freshwater-rod-fishing-rules/fish-size-and-catch-limi

Catch and release is widespread in the USA and the federal agency NOAA Fisheries recommends best practices for it (page updated on 4 August 2026). Minimum sizes, slot limits and release duties are set by the states and, for federal waters, by NOAA, and differ by state and species.

checked 2026-10-23 · fisheries.noaa.gov/national/recreational-fishing/catch-and-r