Denmark must carry sandeel fight to the end, states fishing leader, warning UK closure breaches Brexit and threatens industry
Danish fishermen have delivered one of their strongest sand eel seasons in years, landing 96 percent of the quota despite being excluded from British waters.
According to Svend-Erik Andersen, chairman of the Danish Fishermen’s Association, the figures prove the resilience and skill of the fleet – but also highlight the scale of the political battle that remains.
Compared with 2024, the 2025 season has been a rare bright spot. Landings rose from 70,000 tonnes to 78,000 tonnes, with a surge in value from 147 million kroner to 226 million kroner. “Demand for our raw material is sky-high,” Andersen said, adding that the results show there are “plenty of sand eels out there.”
Yet the chairman warned that such success may be short-lived. Normally, around 80 percent of Danish sand eel catches come from UK waters – an area that remains closed following Britain’s unilateral post-Brexit restrictions. “I dare not think how quickly we could have fished the quota if we’d had access to British waters,” Andersen said.
Britain Accused Of Breaching Brexit Deal
Andersen was sharply critical of the UK’s continued closure of sand eel fisheries, despite a ruling earlier this year that found the move violated the Brexit agreement.
“It is scandalous that the UK continues to block sand eel fishing,” he said. “The arbitration court was clear, yet Britain has not changed course. It is absurd that we can spend so many resources to reach a legal decision, only to see it ignored.”
He warned that Britain’s stance risks undermining the EU’s credibility in enforcing its agreements. “It is a problem if the UK can drag the EU around in circles in this way,” he added.
Danish Government Backing The Fight
The Danish government has raised the issue at the highest EU levels. Fisheries minister Jacob Jensen and foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen have both pressed the case in Brussels. Andersen praised their efforts, but insisted the battle is not yet over.
“This fight must continue,” he said, urging Germany and France to also stay engaged. “They recognise this is a principled matter that affects all EU countries, not just those involved in sand eel fishing.”
The dispute, Andersen stressed, is not only about the future of the sand eel fishery, but about defending EU agreements and the communities that rely on them. “If countries strike deals with the EU, they must keep them. And if they do not, then at the very least they must listen when a court rules against them.”
