The row was triggered when Britain barred EU fishermen from catching sand eels in English and Scottish waters last March

Representatives of the United Kingdom and the European Union look on as Britain and the European Union face a hearing at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the first post-Brexit trade dispute that has gone to arbitration over a ban on catching sandeels in British waters, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

The EU and UK face their first post-Brexit legal showdown as the bloc challenges Britain's North Sea sandeel fishing ban – a minor environmental case with major political implications.

The UK has banned European vessels from catching the silvery fish species in its North Sea waters to protect marine wildlife that depend on it for food. But the EU is challenging the move, arguing it discriminates against Danish vessels that fish sandeel commercially, breaching the post- Brexit trade deal.

A tiny silver fish which is an important food source in the North Sea will take centre stage Tuesday as the European Union and Britain square off over post-Brexit fishing

The tiny sand eel is used widely as bait and in animal feed — but it's also an important food source for puffins and other seabirds.