35 UK and EU conservation organisations1 including the RSPB, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, Oceana UK, Wildlife and Countryside Link, and The Wildlife Trusts, have today issued a joint statement urging the Commission to reconsider its position and instead support this key ecosystem recovery measure in the interest of turning around the health of our beleaguered seas.

Sandeels are a key part of the UK ocean food chain, supporting vulnerable seabird species including Puffins, Kittiwakes, and Razorbills. They are also a vital food source for seals, porpoises and whales, and important fish species like Haddock and Whiting.

In January 2024, after decades of campaigning, the UK and Scottish governments announced an end to industrial sandeel fishing in English waters of the North Sea and all Scottish waters. The closure came into effect on 26th March and is regarded by conservationists as an essential step towards protecting globally important seabird populations, wider marine biodiversity and the future of sandeel-reliant UK fishing stocks.