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UK-EU Arbitration Panel Issues Split Ruling on North Sea Sandeel Fishing Ban

The tribunal upheld Scotland’s ban but deemed the English waters closure disproportionate, prompting UK compliance measures.

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British and EU flags hang on the day of the meeting of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, Belgium October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Denmark wants to fish for sand eels in UK waters which endangered puffins feed on

Overview

  • The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the UK’s sandeel fishing ban is lawful in Scottish waters but disproportionate in English waters.
  • The UK government has pledged to comply with the tribunal’s decision while maintaining that the Scottish ban is fully validated.
  • The European Commission is still analyzing the ruling, which comes ahead of a May 19 UK-EU summit where fishing rights will be a key topic.
  • Sandeels are ecologically significant as a food source for seabirds and marine life, but their fishing is economically vital for EU fleets, particularly Denmark.
  • This marks the first formal trade dispute under the post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, setting a precedent for future resource and trade negotiations.