Sandeel fishing ban to remain in place

A challenge to Britain's ban on commercial fishing for sandeels in the North Sea has been dismissed by a European court.

Sandeels are a vital source of food for seabirds that live along the UK coastline.

A closure order was put in place in March 2024 to prohibit trawlers netting the tiny fish from English waters, following concerns that sandeel stocks were becoming too low.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled there is no legal obligation to reverse the closure order after the EU claimed the move was "discriminatory and disproportionate", and could threaten the future of commercial sand eel fishing in Denmark.