Applying for a fishing licence

If you want to fish in Bremen (as an angler:in or professional fisherman:in), you must have and carry a valid fishing license.

The fishing license entitles you to fish:

• in the Weser within the Bremen state border
• in the Kleine Weser
• in the Lesum upstream to the Burger road bridge
• in the tidal part of the Geeste (except nature reserves and fish sanctuaries)
• in all other waters in Bremen/Bremerhaven and in other federal states in connection with a fishing permit issued by the owner or leaseholder of the water (does not apply to fishing permits acquired via the transitional regulation of § 42 para. 3 BremFiG)

Prerequisite for the issuance of the fishing license is:

• a successfully passed fishing license examination
• or if you are trained as a professional fisherman:in.

There are exceptions where a fishing license is issued without a fishing examination. A fishing license can be issued without a fishing examination to:

• Persons who have worked as coastal fishermen for at least 5 years.
• Fish farmers and persons who are being trained for this purpose.
• Persons who are scientifically trained in the field of fisheries.
• Members of diplomatic and professional consular missions of a country and their dependents, as far as they are identified by an identity card of the Foreign Office, a State or Senate Chancellery of a country.

If you have a valid fishing license from another federal state, it will be recognized in Bremen.

Valid fishing licenses from other federal states do not have to be rewritten after a move to Bremen (change of main residence). However, they can be rewritten upon request.

Children who have not yet reached the age of 14 cannot yet obtain their own fishing license. However, they may fish if they are supervised by a person with a fishing license.

Requirements

• Sole or main residence in Bremen.
• Minimum age 14 years.
• Valid identity card or passport.
• No previous convictions for gross or repeated violations of the regulations of animal protection or fishing law.
• Fishing examination or fulfillment of the facts of the transitional regulation of § 42 paragraph 3 BremFiG.
• You must apply to the office at your main place of residence.

What documents do I need?

• Identity card or passport
• Passport photo
  

  It may or may not be a biometric passport photo.

• Important information about the photo booths in all offices of the Citizen's Office:
  
  • The machines are operated by outside companies and often do not work. It cannot be guaranteed that passport photos can be taken on site. We advise you to bring passport photos to the appointment.
• Fisheries inspection certificate
  

  or proof within the meaning of § 42 para. 3 BremFiG (fishing licence issued before 01.10.1991 with a validity of at least three consecutive years)

• Fishing license of the other federal state
  

  Only necessary for the transfer when moving to Bremen.

• If applicable, certificate as a fish economist or fishing license.