The RSPB celebrated a landmark UK government ban on sandeel fishing, crucial for preserving seabirds like puffins after 25 years of campaigning. However, the ban is now contested by the EU, supporting Denmark’s fishing interests. With 96% of the EU's sandeel quota held by Danish vessels, the EU claims the ban violates the UK-EU trade deal. The case is emblematic of post-Brexit tensions over environmental protections and fishing rights, as the UK prepares for legal proceedings in The Hague to uphold its ban.
The EU is arguing that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement drags the UK back into the same sorts of processes for environmental laws that the UK walked away from when we left the EU.
The ban on sandeel fishing came after growing concerns about its impact on puffins, kittiwakes, and the wider marine environment, highlighting the link between fisheries and environmental health.
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