Britain's ban on sand eel fishing angers Danish fishermen, prompts EU challenge

SKAGEN, Denmark: In Denmark’s northernmost town of Skagen, fishing has dominated the way of life for more than a thousand years.

Located on the tip of the Jutland peninsula, its port is the biggest in the nation, accounting for more than half of the country's total annual catch.

Many fishermen rely on catching sand eels from the United Kingdom’s waters for their livelihoods.

But for weeks, many boats have been tied up and have not ventured out to sea. 

Fishermen were left without work after the British government announced a ban on sand eel fishing in its territorial waters.

The ban was put in place in April on environmental grounds amid fears over their dwindling numbers and the impact on other marine life.

The decision has angered many in the Danish fishing industry.

“For generations, these men and women have been fishing in UK waters, and now there's a ban,” said Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, CEO of the Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation, one of the nation’s largest fishing cooperatives.

“These companies and family businesses rely on sand eels as the main resource for their income and livelihoods. So, it's a very difficult situation right now.”

Denmark pulls in approximately 100,000 tonnes of sand eels from UK waters every year – a catch valued at US$43 million.

Fishing groups have warned of the wider impact of the ban, which puts hundreds of jobs at risk – and not just at sea.

Those in the supply chain will be affected as well, including dozens of fish processing factories which turn sand eels into a range of products such as fish oil for human consumption and food for commercially farmed salmon.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Sand eels is the common name used for several species of fish which make up a crucial part of the food chain in the North Sea.

Many conservationists describe sand eels as the cornerstone of the marine ecosystem there, adding that climate change and overfishing have caused their numbers to rapidly dwindle. 

That decline ripples up the food chain, where the eels are an important source of food for a wide range of animals from puffins to porpoises.

Conservationists said the scale of modern commercial fishing is unsustainable and they back the ban that many have, for years, campaigned for.

“Every year, 8 to 11 billion sand eels are removed from the North Sea. I'd like to see them do (a similar ban) in European Union waters,” said Jonny Hughes, a senior policy manager at marine conservation organisation Blue Marine Foundation.

“But first, (Denmark and the EU) should stop trying to tell countries outside of the European Union that they can or can't take conservation measures within their own waters. To me, that’s pretty fundamental,” he added.

UK-EU TENSIONS

Denmark has since raised a complaint to the EU, saying its fishermen have lost significant fishing ground due to the new restrictions.

The European Commission is challenging Britain’s ban, saying it breaches post-Brexit international trade agreements. 

If the UK does not reach a compromise with the bloc, escalation could eventually lead to sanctions against Britain.

Many marine conservation groups have pledged their support for Britain, and launched a campaign demanding the EU bans destructive bottom trawling in protected waters.

Birgit S Hansen, mayor of Frederikshavn Municipality that includes Skagen, said she is well aware of the need to balance the ecosystem with a vitally important business.

“Of course, we have to take care of the environment, the sea... (think about) a green transition and sustainability. But the laws and the regulations (are made by) the parliament, the state and also the EU,” she said.

As the UK's July general election looms, the government will need to make a decision on the longevity of the ban and whether to turn the disagreement into a much bigger issue with the EU.