Britain and the EU are heading towards a court showdown after earlier negotiations on catching sand eel failed.
The UK has blocked EU boats from catching the tiny silver fish in order to preserve the British marine wildlife that depends on them for food, yet the economic bloc has sought to challenge the ban.
The courtroom showdown over a trade dispute will be the first between the two since the last Brexit negotiations took place in 2021 conducted by Boris Johnson.
To make their case, the EU has claimed that the ban breaches the Brexit trade agreement, as the block accused Britain of discriminating against Danish fishermen, who want to catch sand eel to sell off to animal feed and fish oil producers.
The UK has blocked EU boats from catching the tiny silver fish in order to preserve the British marine wildlife that depends on them for food, yet the economic bloc has sought to challenge the ban
REUTERS
Sand eel are small, silvery fish – not dissimilar to eels in appearance – which are often the plate of choice for other fish that reside in British waters such as cod and haddock.
They are also fan favourites of puffins and kittiwakes.
The UK has reduced the amount that British fishermen catch the small fish on the basis of overfishing in an attempt to protect the ecosystem across the North Sea.
The case will be heard from Tuesday next week – and is expected to last three days – at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which is a dispute resolution body in the Hague.
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A panel of three judges must mutually agree on a decision after hearing cases made from both sides.
The court must deliver a verdict by the end of April. The case offers no right to appeal.
The judges will either decide to support the UK’s stance or demand that the UK amend or fully cancel its ban altogether.
If ministers refused to comply with dropping the ban, the EU could impose tariffs on British exports.
The case has come at a time when the UK is gearing up to conduct EU negotiations on new catch limits next summer once the current trade deal expires
REUTERS
The case has come at a time when the UK is gearing up to conduct EU negotiations on new catch limits next summer once the current trade deal expires.
So far, the ban on catching the fish has been supported by a rare coalition of the three political parties and conservation groups.
Previously, it has been estimated that the sand eels caught in British waters are worth a mere £45million – a small drop in the ocean with regards to the Brexit trade relations.
The attempt to uphold the ban has come as Keir Starmer is trying to organise discussions in an attempt to “reset” the relationship between Britain and Europe, addressing industries such as security and trade.