New hunting and fishing law in Madrid 2026: what changes for hunting estate holders and license holders

Key data

If you own a hunting estate in Madrid, manage a sports federation or operate an aquaculture facility, this law directly affects you. The Law 4/2026, of July 2, on Hunting and Fishing of the Community of Madrid replaces the previous regulatory framework with a unified text that introduces planning obligations, new administrative requirements and a strengthened sanctioning regime. Published in the BOE on August 29, 2026, its entry into force has not been explicitly specified in the regulation.

The most relevant change for hunting land managers is mandatory technical planning: hunting estates and reserves must have technical plans that include population monitoring and catch records. This represents an additional management and documentation cost that should be anticipated.

What does this regulation establish?

Law 4/2026 structures the regulation of hunting and continental fishing in Madrid into several differentiated blocks:

Hunting lands and planning

The law classifies and regulates different types of hunting lands in the Community of Madrid:

• Hunting estates: enclosed lands of private or public ownership subject to hunting management.
• Reserves: areas of special protection or hunting interest managed by the administration.
• Controlled zones: areas with specific access and use regulations.

For hunting estates and reserves, the preparation of mandatory technical plans is required that include population monitoring of species and detailed catch records. These plans must be approved by the competent administration.

Licenses, permits and seasons

The regulation comprehensively regulates the system of authorization for hunting and fishing in Madrid:

• Requirements for obtaining and renewing hunting and fishing licenses.
• Definition of open seasons by species and method.
• Means and methods of hunting and fishing that are permitted and prohibited.
• Specific permits for certain areas or species.

Continental fishing

In fishing matters, the law introduces a classification of water bodies in the Community of Madrid and regulates:

• Fishing gear and equipment authorized according to the type of water body.
• Promotion of sport fishing and catch-and-release.
• Specific conditions for fishing in classified waters.

Invasive species, health and sanctioning regime

• Mechanisms for controlling invasive species that affect hunting and fish ecosystems.
• Health measures applicable to catches and aquaculture facilities.
• A specific sanctioning regime with classification of violations and penalties.

Economic and operational impact

The law does not publish specific amounts for fees, licenses or penalties in the available regulatory summary. However, the operational changes with the greatest economic impact are as follows:

The most immediate cost for hunting estate holders is the preparation or updating of the mandatory technical plan, which requires the intervention of a qualified technician and administrative approval. Sports federations will need to review their internal regulations to adapt them to the new permitted seasons and methods.

Who does it affect?

• Hunting estate holders: obligation to prepare technical plan, population monitoring and catch records.
• Hunting reserve managers: same planning obligations as hunting estates.
• Licensed hunters in Madrid: new conditions for seasons, methods and techniques.
• Continental fishermen in Madrid: adaptation to water body classification and permitted gear.
• Hunting and fishing sports federations: review of regulations and coordination with administration.
• Aquaculture facilities in Madrid: compliance with health measures and invasive species control.

Practical example

A holder of a large game hunting estate in the Madrid mountains who until now managed their land without a formalized technical plan will need to, upon the law's entry into force, commission the drafting of such plan from a qualified hunting technician. The plan must include a census or monitoring of the populations of species present (wild boar, deer, roe deer, etc.) and a system for recording all captures made each season.

This plan must be submitted to the Community of Madrid for approval before hunting activities can be carried out. If the hunting estate does not have an approved plan and hunting takes place, the holder is exposed to the law's sanctioning regime. Additionally, if invasive species are detected on the land, the holder must activate the control protocols provided for in the regulation and report it to the administration.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your land is classified as a hunting estate, reserve or controlled zone according to the new law, as obligations vary depending on the assigned category.
2. Check if you have a current technical plan and, if not, hire a qualified hunting technician to draft and submit it to the Community of Madrid.
3. Implement a catch recording system that complies with the documentary requirements established by the regulation.
4. Update licenses and permits for all hunters and fishermen linked to your hunting estate or federation, verifying that they meet the new requirements.
5. Review the fishing gear and equipment used in your water bodies in light of the new classification established by the law.
6. Establish protocols for detecting and reporting invasive species, especially if you manage water bodies or lands with known presence of problematic species.
7. If you manage an aquaculture facility, review current health protocols and adapt them to the measures required by the new regulation.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18282