Few issues have been as divisive as Brexit in this country and it is undeniably proving difficult for Britain to extricate itself from EU legislation and forge new relationships in place of it.

While some of the damage has been self-inflicted thanks to the tin-eared approach of the UK Government, there are times when the EU has proven itself unnecessarily obdurate.

Case in point is the European Commission’s challenge against the UK Government’s decision to ban sandeel fishing in the North Sea.

There is a very good reason why the UK Government has taken this step. Many seabirds, including the glorious puffins that adorn Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire, rely on sandeels to feed their chicks.

Puffins pictured on the water on the Bridlington coastline. PIC: Simon Hulme

Climate change and overfishing have depleted sandeel populations in recent years, as such seabirds are also coming under threat.

Fishing boats from Denmark catch around 250,000 tonnes of sandeels in UK waters every year to turn into fish oil and fish meal.

It’s absurd for Danish fishers to say that the ban is a “humiliation” of the EU. What is really humiliating is trashing wildlife, wherever in the world it may be.

The EU says the ban is a breach of the Brexit agreement's wording that reciprocal access to fishing in the waters of the parties must be granted. It is one thing arguing technicalities, it’s a whole other ball game when it comes to the moral argument.

Given that the ban is supported by groups such as the RSPB, ClientEarth, Oceana UK, Birdlife International, and the Marine Conservation Society, the UK Government should stand firm against the EU on this issue.

The Government is right to stand up to the EU over the ban on sandeel fishing

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