
EU, Britain Face Off In Post-Brexit Fishing Battle
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 28, 2025 | 05:30 PM

The Hague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2025) The European Union and Britain crossed swords Tuesday at the world's oldest arbitration body over rights to fish a tiny North Sea species, with Brussels accusing London of "inconsistencies" over a key post-Brexit trade deal.
The case over sandeel fishing is seen as a bellwether for other potential litigation between London and Brussels in a perennial hot-bed industry, experts said.
Tuesday's clash at the Permanent Court for Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague also marked the first courtroom trade battle between the 27-member trading bloc and Britain since it left the EU in 2020.
"The EU's position is that the prohibition of all sandeel fishing in UK waters of the North Sea nullifies the EU's right of full access" to those waters, said Brussels' representative Anthony Dawes as the hearings opened.
"That nullification is inconsistent with the UK's obligation" under post-Brexit trade deals, said Dawes.
Brussels has dragged London before the PCA following a decision last year to ban all commercial sandeel fishing in British waters because of environmental concerns.
London in March ordered all fishing to stop, arguing that "sandeels are integral to the marine ecosystem of the North Sea."
Because of climate change and commercial fishing, the tiny fish "risked further decline... as well as species that are dependent on sandeels for food including fish, marine mammals, and seabirds".
This included vulnerable species like the Atlantic puffin, seals, porpoises and other fish like cod and haddock, Britain's lawyers said.
- 'Full access' -
But Brussels is accusing London of failing to keep to commitments made under the landmark Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which gave the EU access to British waters for several years during a transition period after London's exit.
The TCA grants "the rights to full access of vessels of one party to the waters of the other party to fish each and every stock to which the parties have agreed on a quota," said Dawes.
Under the deal, the EU's fishing fleet retained access to British waters for a five-and-half-year transition period, ending mid-2026. After that, access to respective waters will be decided in annual negotiations.
London failed to apply "evidence-based, proportionate and non-discriminatory measures when restricting the right to EU vessels to full access to UK waters to fish sandeel", the EU lawyers added.
Brussels is backing Denmark in the dispute. Danish vessels take some 96 percent of the EU's quota for the species, with sandeel catches averaging some £41.2 million (49 million Euros) annually.
"The loss of access to fisheries in English waters could affect relations with the EU, including Denmark, as they are likely to lead to employment losses and business losses overseas," the EU's lawyers warned.
Britain's representatives will give their counter-argument at the arbitration panel on Wednesday.
Related Topics
Recent Stories

Humanitarian aid entering Gaza insufficient to meet basic needs: Oxfam

Muslim Council of Elders condemns Israeli statements against Saudi Arabia

G42, Microsoft launch Responsible AI Foundation

Presidents of UAE, Guinea-Bissau discuss bilateral relations, exchange honours

Arab League condemns irresponsible Israeli statements about Saudi Arabia

Iraq condemns Israeli provocative statements against Saudi Arabia

Dubai welcomes 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, up 9% YoY

American University of Ras Al Khaimah hosts TEDx event

Nahyan bin Mubarak attends Birzeit University’s centennial celebration

Department of Finance in Ajman organises 'Financial Innovation Hackathon'

UAE strengthens its global leadership in Artificial Intelligence

SPEA honours winners of 2nd Education Pioneers competition
More Stories From World
-
Violence-hit Ecuador chooses next president
27 seconds ago -
Football: English Championship table
34 seconds ago -
Downhill world champion Von Allmen eyes Olympics - and sausage
40 seconds ago -
Downhill world champion Von Allmen eyes Olympics - and sausage
11 minutes ago -
Football: English Championship results
31 minutes ago -
Iranian schools and offices shut as cold snap bites
1 hour ago
-
Von Allmen upstages rivals to win world downhill gold
2 hours ago -
Von Allmen upstages rivals to win world downhill gold
2 hours ago -
Baltic states 'successfully' link with European power grid
2 hours ago -
Violence-hit Ecuador chooses next president
2 hours ago -
AI app offers a lifeline for S.Africa's abused women
3 hours ago -
Australia win second Test and series against Sri Lanka
3 hours ago