EU seeks tribunal over sandeel ban
The European Union has formally requested the establishment of an arbitration tribunal under the dispute settlement mechanism of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
This move follows the UK’s recent decision to prohibit sandeel fishing in its English waters of the North Sea and all Scottish waters, which the EU claims undermines the TCA’s principles.
With effect from 26 March 2024, the ban restricts EU vessels from engaging in what is considered a sustainable fishery. The EU believes this contravenes the TCA, prompting an April request for consultations to find a mutually agreeable resolution.
Those discussions ended without a satisfactory outcome, leading the EU to pursue the establishment of an arbitration tribunal as the next step.
Under the TCA, both parties are required to make decisions that are non-discriminatory and based on scientific evidence.
The EU points out that fishing opportunities for sandeel have historically been set based on independent advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, aimed at ensuring healthy fish populations.
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