The European Union has won a landmark arbitration case against the United Kingdom over post-Brexit fishing rights, specifically involving sandeel fishing in the North Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that the UK breached the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) by restricting EU access to its waters for sandeel fishing. The tribunal ordered Britain to take necessary steps to comply with the deal, which permits EU vessels to fish in UK waters during a five-and-a-half-year transition period following Brexit.
In March, the UK unilaterally halted sandeel fishing, citing ecological concerns. British officials argued the move protected vulnerable marine species, including puffins and cod. However, the EU challenged the decision, saying it lacked scientific justification and discriminated against EU fleets—especially Denmark, which accounts for 96% of the EU’s sandeel quota, valued at over £41 million annually.
This case marks the first major post-Brexit trade dispute resolved in court and may set a precedent for future fisheries-related conflicts.
The European Commission welcomed the verdict and called for a “mutually beneficial fisheries relationship” going forward. The UK must now outline how it plans to comply with the ruling.
The PCA, established in 1899, handles disputes under international agreements such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
