The 2025 sandeel season was challenging for the Danish fishmeal industry as UK closures reduced raw material access, despite high quota use
The 2025 sandeel season, which concluded in early August, proved to be a challenging one for the Danish fishmeal industry, largely due to continued closures of British waters to fishing. The lack of access to these areas led to a reduced supply of raw materials.
According to figures from Marine Ingredients Denmark (MID), its factories received a total of 85,101 tonnes of sandeel in 2025, marking a 5,000-tonne decrease compared to the previous year. This deficit underscores the ongoing difficulties for fishermen operating without access to British fishing grounds.
Despite the hurdles, there were signs of resilience within the fishery. The total European sandeel quota for 2025 was set at 110,078 tonnes. While overall landings were slightly lower than in 2024, the quota utilisation rate was significantly higher.
Danish vessels landed 85,101 tonnes, and Norwegian vessels landed 20,187 tonnes, bringing the total to 105,288 tonnes, or 96% of the quota. This is a considerable increase from 2024, when only about 60% of the quota was landed.
It is clear that the closure of British waters is no longer a short-term issue but a structural change that will continue to affect the sandeel fishery in the coming years. To ensure responsible management of fish stocks and a stable supply for the industry, ongoing dialogue between policymakers, fishermen, and processors will be essential.
