FISHINGIN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW

Public Fisheries Regulations 2018

ATTENTION!

Consult the website of the ‘Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos’ (Nature and Forest Agency) for the full legislation and recent information.

www.natuurenbos.be/visserij When and how can you fish? Night fishing

To protect fish stocks there are two types of measures: Night fishing: fishing from two hours after sunset until two hours before sunrise. A large • Periods in which you may not fish for certain fish species. fishing permit of € 45.86 is mandatory! • Ecologically valuable waters where fishing is prohibited in certain periods. Night fishing is prohibited in the ecologically valuable waters listed on p. 4-5!

Night fishing is in principle permitted in the other waters not listed on p. 4-5. April Please note: The owner or water manager can restrict access to a stretch of water by imposing local access rules so that night fishing is not possible. In some waters you might January February March 1 > 15 16 > 30 May June July August September October November December also need an explicit permit from the owner to fish there.

Fishing for trout x x √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ x x x

Fishing for pike and Special conditions for night fishing √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ pikeperch Always put each fish you have caught immediately and carefully back into the water of origin. The use of keepnets or other storage gear is prohibited. Fishing for other √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ species You may not keep any fish in your possession, not even if you caught that fish outside the night fishing period. Night fishing √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Bobber fishing √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Wading fishing x x √ √ x x √ √ √ √ √ √ x x x x Permitted x Prohibited √ Prohibited in the waters listed on p. 4-5

Fishing is allowed in principle from two hours prior to sunrise until two hours after sunset, except when fishing is prohibited according to the table above and except when access to the water is limited by local rules. The use of artificial bait with a total The use of fish or parts thereof as length of more than 2 cm is prohi- bait is prohibited. Any fish that you happen to catch at the time when fishing is prohibited according to bited. the table above must be immediately and carefully put back in the water where it was caught.

Pike must be put back at all times during the year.

2 3 Ecologically valuable fishing waters The Scheldt Estuary This concerns the following waters or parts of waters which are classified as with restrictions on fishing navigable: Oude Durme Hamme, Zenne and Zenne-diversion in Eppegem, River upstream of the confluence with the Nete Canal in Duffel, Kleine Nete, Grote Nete,

Other (parts of) waterways • Fishing is prohibited in the spawning period from 16 April to 31 May -Komen canal, / Zuidervaartje / Antitankgracht / Binnenvest Brugge: inclusive. Brugse Reien / Binnenvest Brugge: Brugse Coupure / Gevaertsarm and Mise- • Night fishing: fishing from two hours after sunset until two hours before riebocht (old canal branches of Canal -) / Canal Brugge to Sluis sunrise is prohibited. (Damse Vaart): from the Hoeke bridge to the border with the • The use of artificial bait with a total length of more than 2 cm and the (Sluis) use of fish or parts thereof as bait is prohibited from 1 March to 31 May inclusive. 3. FISH PONDS • Please note: in some waters, local access rules apply. Always observe the access hours for a stretch of water and make sure you know the local Province of rules. De Melle at / Domein Volharding at Rijkevorsel / Domein Walenhoek at Niel / Het Broek at Blaasveld / Balderij at Tielen / Fort van Oelegem

1. ALL UNNAVIGABLE WATERCOURSES Province of Brabant Groot and Klein Wachtbekken Zuunbeek / Lindevijver and Putselvijver at 2. WATERWAYS OR NAVIGABLE WATERCOURSES Groenendaal / Meer van / Webbekoms Broek / Vossemvijver / Klei- (OR PARTS THEREOF) ne vijver van Horst / Demermeander Schoonhoven

Leie river meanders Province of Oude Leie Bourgoyen / Oude Leie Astene / Oude Leie Grammene / Oude Leie De Broeken at Elen / Dijkbeemdvijver at Zonhoven / Oud Kanaal Bocholt / / Oude Leie Gottem / Oude Leie Oeselgem / Oude Leie Sint-Baafs- Oud Kanaal Bree-Beek / Old Lanklaar Canal (southern part of canal branch Vijve / Oude Leie Schoendalebocht / Oude Leie Ooigem / Oude Leie Bavik- of Zuid-Willemsvaart; south of the Boslaan-N75) / Schulensmeer / Oude Maas hove / Oude Leie (Groot Volander en Leiebos) / Oude Leie Stokkem / Grindplas Koole Greent / Grindplas Bichterweert / Grindplas Ker- keweerd / Grindplassen Negenoord East and West / Grindplas Maasbeempder Scheldt river meanders Greend / Old Dilsen Canal (northern part of canal branch of Zuid-Willems- Oude Schelde Zonneput / Oude Schelde Doornhammeke / Oude Schelde Teir- vaart; north of the Boslaan-N75) linckput / Oude Schelde Kriephoek / Oude Schelde Meilegem / Oude Schelde Mesureput / Oude Schelde Blarewater / Oude Schelde Spettekraai / Oude Province of East Schelde Heurne-Heuvel / Oude Schelde De Sterre / Oude Schelde Nederename Hollandersgatkreek / Roeselarekreek / Nieuwe Roeselarekreek / Put Roste / Oude Schelde Melden het Veer / Oude Schelde het Anker / Oude Schelde Muis / Oudemanskreek / De Val / Molenkreek / Berlarebroek / Bosdamvijver Elsegem / Oude Schelde Berchem Meerse / Oude Schelde Scheiteput / Oude Wachtebeke / Het Leen at Eeklo / Klaverbladvijver at Wachtebeke Schelde Kerkhove / Oude Schelde Coupure Outrijve Province of Hoge Dijken at / Grote Bassin at / Kasteelvijver Buls- kampveld at / ‘t Veld-Zeetje at / Bergelen Put / Koolhofput at Nieuwpoort

4 5 All other fishing waters Burchtse Weel (Antwerp) √ √ Fishing allowed in the buffer basin. Fishing not allowed in the tidal areas of the Scheldt river.

Hazewinkel (Heindonk) √ x Fishing in the indicated angling zones indica- ted. Not accessible from sunset to sunrise.

In all other waters which are not listed on p. 4-5, fishing is permitted throughout the year, De Bocht (Heindonk) √ x Fishing in the indicated angling zone. Not even during the night. accessible from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. • In the period from 16 April to 31 May you must put back each fish caught immediately Muisbroek: small pond √ √ Fishing in the large pond is not permitted. and carefully into the water of origin. The use of keepnets or other storage gear is (Ekeren) prohibited. • During night fishing, from two hours after sunset until two hours before sunrise, you Fort van Walem √ √ Fishing from the outside banks of the fortress must put back each fish caught immediately and carefully into the water of origin and canal. the use of keepnets or other storage gear for fish is prohibited. During night fishing, Schranshoeve (Vorselaar) √ x Not accessible from sunset till 08:00. the use of artificial bait with a total length of more than 2 cm and the use of fish or parts thereof as bait is prohibited. Rivierenhof (Deurne) √ x Not accessible from 22:00 till 06:30. • Please note: The owner or water manager can restrict access to a stretch of water by LIMBURG imposing local access rules. In some waters you might also need an explicit permit from the owner to fish there. Grindplas Heerenlaak √ x Not accessible from two hours after sunset to (Aldeneik) two hours before sunrise.

The following table shows the main fishing waters per province where restrictions apply Grindplas Heerenlaak √ x Not accessible from two hours after sunset to as regards accessibility. Please note: even in waters which are not listed in this table there (Aldeneik) two hours before sunrise. may be restrictions or a permit might be required from the owner. Always observe the ac- cess hours for a stretch of fishing water and make sure you know the local rules. Grindplassen Kessenich: √ x Not accessible from two hours after sunset to Daler Oe (Spaanjerd), two hours before sunrise. Vissen Akker and Bo- terakker FISHING WATERS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS AS REGARDS ACCESSIBILITY Paalse Plas x x Fishing in the indicated angling zones. Fishing Water Fishing Night- Accessibility restrictions from boats not allowed. Fishing ban from 16 from 16 fishing April to 31 May inclusive. From 1 April to 31 Oc- April tober inclusive not accessible from 22:00 till to 31 06:00. From 1 November to 31 March inclusive May not accessible from 20:00 till 07:00. inclu- sive Blaarmeersen (Ghent) √ x Not accessible from 23:00 till 08:00. ANTWERP De Gavers (Geraards- √ x Additional special fishing permit from domain Breevem (Bornem) x √ Fishing from landing stages in the indicated bergen) itself is obligatory (free). Fishing is allowed on angling zone. Fishing ban from 16 April to 31 the Poelaert Plas and the pond of the camp May inclusive. site. Not accessible from two hours after sunset Galgenweel (Antwerp) √ √ Fishing in the indicated angling zones. to two hours before sunrise.

6 7 Boerekreek √ x Fishing in the indicated angling zones. (St-Laureins) Fishing from boats not allowed. Not accessible Public angling waters from two hours after sunset to two hours be- fore sunrise. in Flanders

Bazelse Kreek and Ru- √ x Not accessible from sunset to sunrise. pelmondse Kreek

FLEMISH BRABANT Flanders has many interesting angling waters. All the major public angling waters are indi- Visvijver van Weerde √ x Not accessible from one hour after sunset to cated on the provincial angling maps. Regional angling maps give a more detailed overview one hour before sunrise. of the angling waters in a smaller part of a province. The angling maps also mention the types of fish that anglers regularly catch in the various waters. You can obtain angling Groene Beemd √ x Not accessible from sunset to sunrise. maps free of charge from your Provincial Fishery Commission. (Ruisbroek, Sint-Pieters- Leeuw)

Domein Gaasbeek √ x Fishing allowed only on the Krommevijver. From 1 April to 30 September inclusive, not ac- cessible from 20:00 till 08:00. From 1 October to 31 March inclusive, not accessible from 17:00 till 08:00.

Domein Ter Rijst √ x Fishing allowed only on the small pond. Not accessible from sunset to sunrise. From 1 June to 31 August inclusive the latest opening time is moreover limited to 21:00. From 1 September to 31 May inclusive the latest opening time is moreover limited to 20:00.

Domein Coloma √ x Fishing allowed only in the Coloma canal pond. Not accessible from sunset to sunrise. The latest opening time is moreover limited to 20:00.

WEST-VLAANDEREN

De Gavers () √ x Fishing in the indicated angling zones. Not ac- cessible from sunset to sunrise.

Waggelwater () √ x Fishing in the indicated angling zones. Not accessible from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise.

8 9 Taking and keeping fish Baitfish Baitfish: a fish or part of a fish; you can use a baitfish as bait with which to catch other fish.

Sizes for fish species An angler may possess or transport no more than 20 living or dead baitfish smaller You must immediately and carefully put back any fish smaller than the minimum size into than 15 cm. So, you are allowed to keep no more than 20 bait fish smaller than 15 the water of origin. The length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail cm in a keepnet, bait bucket or other storage medium! fin. You should keep a measuring rod with you. You are not allowed to use protected species, varieties of colour of fish species and • Minimum size 30 cm: eel, brown trout, common nase and tench. non-indigenous species as baitfish. • Minimum size 42 cm: sea bass. • Minimum size 45 cm: pikeperch and barbel. You may only transport baitfish belonging to the cyprinid family (cyprinidae). Re- • Minimum size 30 cm and maximum size 60 cm: you must always put back carp smaller commended cyprinids are: bleak, roach, silver or white bream, common bream, rudd, than 30 cm and larger than 60 cm! gudgeon and ide or orfe. • Pike must be put back at all times during the year! Recommended brackish water species are herring, smelt and sprat. Ban on the transport of live fish You can also use seawater fish such as mackerel and whiting as bait, regardless of It is forbidden to take live fish from waters to which the legislation is applicable and trans- their length. port them away alive. This rule does not apply to eel and bait fishes (see also p.11 for bait fishing). In practice, you can also use fish longer than 15 cm and which meet the legal mi- nimum size requirements as bait. Living if they are caught on site and if you keep Catch limitation 5 fish them in the keepnet. An angler may catch and take away no more than five dead fish Each angler can take away no more than 5 fish after his time at the water, from which no longer than 15 cm. more than 3 pike perch. The fish must be bigger than 15 cm and dead. Only eel can be taken away alive. In addition, you must comply with the minimum and maximum sizes of fish species; taking away protected species and pike is prohibited. Fly Fishing Sea bass However, fly fishing from the banks is permitted from 16 April to 31 May inclusive in all • From 1 January to 30 June: all fish have to be put back. waterways and unnavigable watercourses. You must immediately and carefully put back • From 1 July to 31 December: an angler may take away no more than 1 bass (minimum every fish you catch into the water of origin. size 42 cm). Protected species Bobber fishing 19 fish species and the indigenous crayfish are very rare in our waters. In order to protect Eel fishing with a bobber is permitted at all times and in all waters. When fishing in the pe- these species, fishing for them is no longer permitted. If you happen to catch one of them, riod from 16 April to 31 May inclusive or while fishing at night, anglers may only keep or take make sure you immediately and carefully put it back into the water of origin. These species away eel, on condition that they use one bobber and do not use any other fishing rods. are:

Atlantic salmon, brook lamprey, stone loach, bitterling, allis shad, twaite shad, schneider or spirlin, gwyniad or powan, wheaterfish or wheater loach, houting, European crayfish, spin- ed loach, burbot, bullhead, river lamprey, common sturgeon, belica or motherless minnow, grayling, sea trout and sea lamprey.

10 11 The fishing right The fishing permit

Rivers, canals and streams, as well as still or flowing waters that are not completely closed Anyone who wants to fish in the public waters must be in possession of a valid fishing off from the public waterway network are all governed by the law of 1 July 1954 on river permit. You must purchase a new fishing permit every year. All fishing permits are valid up fishing and the decision of the Government of Flanders of 1 February 2013. With a Flemish to and including 31 December of the year for which they are issued. You can apply for each fishing permit, everyone has the right to fish in the navigable waterways whose mainte- type of fishing permit online via the website www.visverlof.be or purchase them in a post nance is paid for by the . office in the Flemish Region.

An additional permit is required for fishing in: Children younger than 14 can fish without a permit with one fishing rod, if they are ac- companied by their father, mother or guardian, who themselves possess a fishing permit. • The unnavigable waters where the fishing right belongs to the owner of the shore. Children younger than 14 can fish unaccompanied with one fishing rod if they are in pos- • The creeks and artificial waterways of which the maintenance is at the expense of session of a youth fishing permit. They must always put each fish they have caught Polders and Wateringen. immediately and carefully back into the water of origin. This youth fishing permit isfree • The fishing pools to which the fisheries legislation applies, but which are on private but mandatory. land. However, children younger than 14 who wish to fish unaccompanied with two fishing rods, An additional permit is required for fishing in: wish to take their catch away with them, wish to fish otherwise than from the banks or wish to fish from two hours after sunset until two hours before sunrise must buy a stan- • Boudewijnkanaal: Havenbestuur Zeebrugge, P. Vandammehuis, Isabellalaan 1, 8380 Zee- dard or large fishing permit. brugge - tel. 050 54 32 11, [email protected] • Paalse Plas: permit from the municipality of Beringen mandatory. Toerisme Beringen, The ‘standard’ fishing permit of€ 11.16 (excluding tax) is needed to fish with a maximum Koolmijnlaan 203, 3582 Beringen – tel. 011 26 97 20, www.toerismeberingen.be of two fishing rods: • Blaarmeersen in Ghent: here you can fish in the authorized angling zones and an ad- ditional urban license is obligatory, as well as the fishing permit. This permit is issued • vanaf de oever in the beach house of the domain. • van op een plateau of een steiger die verankerd of verbonden is met de oever

The Code of Good Angling Practice Het ‘groot’ visverlof van € 45,86 (exclusief taks) is nodig om met maximaal twee hengels People who treat the environment with care and respect will ensure the continued exis- te vissen: tence of countless species of fish and also safeguard the future of angling in public waters. Anglers have made agreements with the government to protect the fish and their environ- • anders dan vanaf de oever zoals bv. wadend of van op een boot ment. Those agreements constitute the ‘Code of Good Angling Practice’. • van twee uur ná zonsondergang tot twee uur vóór zonsopgang in de toegelaten wa- teren In addition, the federations of Carp Fishers (VBK), Predatory Fish Anglers (VRF) and the Confederated Committee for Competition Fishing (CCCV), with the support of the govern- Elk visverlof geeft ook het recht te vissen op de manier die volgens ment, have drawn up specific discipline codes. For more information, please contact these de minder dure visverloven is toegelaten. Met het groot visverlof federations. mag je dus ook overdag vissen.

Request your fishing permit online via www.visverlof.be

12 13 How are you not allowed to fish? Recognising sport fish

• It is forbidden to consume the fish you have caught on site. • You may only use the landing net to take the fish you caught with the fishing rod out of the water. Bleak Perch Barbel • The fishing rod and the bobber are the only fishing tools allowed. All tools other than the fishing rod or the bobber are prohibited. • It is prohibited to fish under ice. • The use of coloured maggots is prohibited. These contain colouring substances which Brown trout Roach Flounder may be toxic to the fish and the angler. • It is prohibited to use more than two fishing rods to fish with. • It is prohibited to attach more than three single or more than three multiple hooks to one and the same fishing rod. Common bream European or wels catfish Prussian or gibel carp (gibel) • It is prohibited to leave fishing rods unattended.

Where should you never fish? • In locks Mullet Herring Cod • In fish passages • From bridges over navigable waterways. • In any other locations, whether from the shore or on the water where the Nature and Forest Agency has imposed a temporary or permanent fishing ban indicated on pla- Common carp Silver or white bream Chub cards erected on site.

Crucian carp Eel Pope or ruffe

Seen a large number of dead fish? Rudd Gudgeon Asp Contact the local police or the environment department of your local council as soon as possible.

Dace Common nase Pike

Consumption advice Because of the presence of polluting substances, the Government of Flanders strongly Pikeperch or zander Sole Whiting advises against eating eel and predatory fish you have caught yourself in public wa- ters. Eating the fish could be a hazard to your health.

Ide or orfe Sea bass Tench

14 15 CONTACT AND INFORMATION

PUBLIC FISHERIES INFO OFFICE: LIMBURG PROVINCIAL FISHERIES COMMISSIONS Universiteitslaan 1, 3500 Hasselt Do you have a question about public fis- Tel. 011 23 72 90 hing? Would you like more information [email protected] about fisheries regulations, fishing wa- ters, fishing rights, fish species and fish COLOPHON stock management? If so, contact the Publisher: Fisheries Commission in your province. Marie-Laure Vanwanseele Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos, WEST FLANDERS Havenlaan 88 bus 75 - 1000 Proosdij, Burg 2B, 8000 Bruges [email protected] Tel. 050 40 58 04 www.natuurenbos.be/visserij [email protected] visserijcommissiewvl.wordpress.com Design: toastconfituur.be Printers: www.drukkerijsteylaerts.be EAST FLANDERS Woodrow Wilsonplein 2, 9000 Ghent Cover image: Tel. 09 267 78 02 © Thierry De Coninck - Arofex [email protected] Photo of baitfish p.3: © Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos ANTWERP Photo of artificial bait p.3: Italiëlei 4 bus 16, 2000 Antwerp © Pol Heymans Tel. 03 204 03 35 Photos of fish species p. 15: [email protected] © Vilda - Rollin Verlinde

FLEMISH BRABANT VAC, Diestsepoort 6 bus 75, 3000 Tel. 016 66 63 17 [email protected]

Questions about your fishing permit? www.visverlof.be

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FISHING REGULATIONS ON WWW.NATUURENBOS.BE/VISSERIJ