Britain and the European Union are set to go head-to-head over contested fishing rights in the first legal spat over trade since leaving the bloc. The United Kingdom has banned European vessels from catching the sandeel, a food of choice for British seabirds, in order to protect wildlife.
Glimmers of hope but challenges remain in ending overfishing
Annual multi-lateral fisheries negotiations have made some progress this year. The government is starting to listen to scientific advice on catch limits, but whether this will result in recovery of depleted stocks remains unclear.
16 December 2025
