Spearfishing is it legal in the Sea in Ireland

[BASS POINT]

Any one know is Spearfishing legal in the Sea in Ireland.
Bags of fish are taken by speargun fishing and landed on Garrarus / Kilfarrasay Co. Waterford.
even very large starfish are being taken. any info please. ????

[Tanglerat]

Don't think there's any legislation re taking fish by speargun as such. Though I won't be surprised if another poster comes along and tells me I'm wrong.

There may be issues about the speargun itself - the band type may be outside firearms law, but iirc the compressed gas type may not.

As for "bags of fish", presumably the Bass bag limit would apply ie only 2 fish to be taken in any 24 hour period.

Why on earth would anyone want to target a starfish with a speargun?

But as I said, I'm open to correction on any/all of the above.

[The Austrian]

Spearfishing is unregulated, basically there are not enough people doing it to make a law for it.
The only issue is related to the type of speargun. Pneumatic spearguns are classed as Firearms.
If you have a rubber powered gun you are fine. Scuba divers cannot collect shellfish according to Byelaw 533/1967 but its legal on freediving and snorkelling.

[peacockealot]

I think its illegal for divers to do more to do with the safety issue of having guys at different levels in the water, i think its ok if you are snorkling though, Il check with my neighbour later who is a diver.

[MikeQ]

I think its illegal for divers to do more to do with the safety issue of having guys at different levels in the water, i think its ok if you are snorkling though, Il check with my neighbour later who is a diver.

Im a PADI scuba instructor. Its not illegal but its HIGHLY frowned on. Fish dont have a sporting chance when you can sit down there for hours, depending on your depth and experience, and pick them off as they swim past. Snorkelling is the way to spearfish. No ifs buts or maybe's. Anybody spearfishing with scuba gear is nothing short of scum.