• General information
• Fishing fees and licenses
• Fishing for anadromous salmonids
• Inland Fishing
• Angling in the sea
• Fish diseases
• Avoid spreading of fish species
• Rights of passage on uncultivated earth
• Special rights for children
• Important rules to remember

Fishing fees and licenses

Fishing fees
Any person above the age of 16 wishing to fish for salmon, sea trout or sea char, or participate in inland fishing, must pay a fishing fee to the state. This regulation also applies to landowners or others with jurisdiction over fishing rights, and pertains to all types of fishing tackle. Sea fishing for salmon, sea trout and sea char is not exempted from the regulation.

Fishing fees may be paid at any post office in Norway. Upon payment you will receive a pamphlet containing useful information. Although payment of the fishing fee is a condition for fishing in Norway, it does not involve rights to a particular area. Before fishing, landowner permission is required. Proceeds from fishing fees are used to finance local projects, management schemes and research.

Fishing licenses
Fishing rights in Norwegian watercourses usually belong to the landowner, a rule which applies regardless of whether the watercourse is privately owned, commonly owned or owned by the government. In order to fish, a fishing license or landowner permission is required. Fishing licenses may be purchased in the vicinity of the fishing locality, from the landowner, or at sporting goods dealers, tourist information offices and campsites. Lists of fishing areas covered by different licenses are available for many counties and municipalities. Information on where, how and when to fish is often provided on the back of the fishing license. There are several types of fishing licenses, with a validity varying from one day, two days or one week, to licenses for the entire season. Sea fishing is free for everyone and does not require a fishing license.

Private property
About 2/3 of all land in Norway is privately owned. Sales of fishing licenses are carried out by landowners, or hunting and fishing associations which lease fishing rights from landowners.

Common Crown property
The largest areas of common crown property are situated in mountainous regions of the counties of Nord Trøndelag and Sør Trøndelag, as well as other mountainous areas in southern Norway. Fishing rights in these areas are administered by local authorities. Anyone who has lived in Norway for more than one year and who has paid for a fishing license may fish with rod and handline in these areas. Foreign nationals may also purchase a fishing license in most common crown property areas.

State Property
Fishing rights on state property in the counties of Nordland and Troms are administered by the local office of Statskog. All fishing on state property in Finnmark county - nearly all of the land in the county - is administered by Statskog Finnmark in Vadsø. Norwegian citizens may fish using a rod or hand line in all watercourses . Foreign nationals may fish using rod and hand line in leased watercourses or in inland fishing zones within 5 km of either side of the main roads in the county. A separate pamphlet on fishing in Finnmark is available upon request from the Statskog Finnmark. A fishing license for Northern Norway (Nord-Norgekortet) applies for all state property in North Norway and includes more than 50,000 lakes. The license may be purchased at any post office.

Fishing rights for children
All children under 16 years of age may participate in inland fishing with a rod and handline free of charge from January 1st to August 20th. In watercourses where licenses are required, children are required to carry a license which is free of charge. In areas where fishing licenses are not required, landowner permission is not necessary. These regulations do not apply in watercourses carrying salmonids, sea-trout, sea char or crayfish. The regulation on free fishing for children does not apply in artificial fishing ponds, and the county governor, environmental department reserves the right to restrict fishing in particular lakes. Adults accompanying children must secure an ordinary fishing license. Children under 16 years of age must follow all government restrictions, and are not required to adhere to local regulations.