Danish fishing and processing industry welcomes the Court of Arbitration ruling affirming proportional access for sandeel fishing rights in British zone
The Danish fishing and processing industry has hailed the final ruling of the Arbitration Tribunal under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which sided with the EU in the dispute over sandeel fishing rights.
Marine Ingredients Denmark, the Danish Pelagic Producer Organisation, and the Danish Fishers PO celebrated the tribunal’s affirmation of “the importance of having regard to the principle of applying proportionate measures for the conservation and management of fisheries resources.”
Crucially, the tribunal found that the UK’s blanket prohibition on sandeel fishing in English North Sea waters failed the proportionality test under the TCA. This, the tribunal ruled, breached the UK’s obligation “to grant EU vessels full access to those waters for sandeel fishing.”
The Danish groups expressed hope that the ruling will pave the way for restored access: “It is our profound hope that the final ruling will pave the way for Danish fishers to regain access to British waters in the near future — and once again allowing them to fully and sustainably utilise the quota of sandeel, which is an important source for the fishmeal and fish oil industry.”
Highlighting the scientific basis for the fishery, the groups noted that “the sandeel fishery is managed based on ICES advice, which is widely regarded as the most robust and well-tested form of scientific guidance in European fisheries management.”
They added, “Each year, scientific institutions conduct acoustic and biological surveys to produce robust stock assessments, forming the basis for evidence-based decision-making on the following year’s fishing opportunities.”
Economic figures underline the fishery’s value: since 2014, Danish sandeel landings have averaged over €31 million annually, while sandeel-based marine ingredients production has generated around €59 million per year since 2015.
The organisations extended special thanks: “Marine Ingredients Denmark, Danish Pelagic Producer Organisation and Danish Fishers PO thank the European Commission for the immense effort it has put in the work to get this result.” They also acknowledged “the Danish government in its tireless effort to convince other parties that the prohibition of fishing sandeel did not comply with the provisions in the TCA, and that EU should use the dispute settlement procedure under the TCA.”
Finally, they expressed appreciation for political backing: “We wish to thank the Danish members of the European Parliament who supported us during this.”
Source: Press Release
