EU Court Upholds UK Ban on Sandeel Fishing | Oceana

Victory | May 31, 2025

EU Court Upholds UK Ban on Sandeel Fishing

The United Kingdom’s March 2024 ban on commercial fishing for sandeels has been upheld following a legal challenge from the European Union. Sandeels are small fish that are an essential part of the UK’s marine ecosystem. Overfishing has depleted this fish population, threatening many species like puffins, pollack, and cod, which rely on sandeels for food. The commercial fishing industry primarily caught sandeels to create feed for livestock. Oceana, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and other allies, campaigned to protect this ban, which will help sandeels and ocean ecosystems recover.