The European Union has welcomed the final ruling of the Arbitration Tribunal in the ongoing sandeel fishing dispute with the United Kingdom. The decision, issued under the framework of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), supports the EU’s interpretation of key provisions regarding fisheries access and conservation measures.
The tribunal concluded that the UK’s ban on sandeel fishing in English waters of the North Sea breached its obligations under the TCA. Specifically, the ruling found that the UK had failed to apply the principle of proportionality in conservation efforts and had not respected the agreed-upon access rights of EU vessels.
“The ruling confirms that both sides must base fisheries decisions on the best available science, and that those decisions must be proportionate and non-discriminatory,” the European Commission said in a statement. While the tribunal acknowledged the regulatory autonomy of both the EU and the UK, it clarified that such autonomy is not without limits.
Under the terms of the ruling, the UK is now required to comply immediately and must inform the EU within 30 days of the actions it will take to bring its measures in line with the agreement.
The dispute dates back to March 2024, when the UK imposed a unilateral ban on sandeel fishing by EU vessels in parts of the North Sea. After consultations between the two sides failed to resolve the issue, an arbitration panel was convened in November 2024, with hearings held at the Peace Palace in The Hague in January 2025. The Permanent Court of Arbitration served as the registry for the case.
The European Commission reaffirmed its commitment to working with the UK to ensure the sustainable management of shared fish stocks and to uphold the principles of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
For further details and documentation, the full case file is available on the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s website.
