Image description: A fishing boat at sea during sunrise.
EU push to link fisheries with broader political deal
The transitional agreement on fisheries is due to expire in mid-2026, triggering concern that the EU may attempt to leverage access to shared waters in exchange for concessions elsewhere.
The UK government has so far rejected any suggestion that access to British fishing waters could be bartered for in wider negotiations with the European Union over defence and security cooperation. Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner assured the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee that there would be “no linkage” between fisheries talks and any other diplomatic priorities.
UK Government urged to resist EU
MP Alistair Carmichael MP, who chairs the committee and represents Orkney and Shetland, reportedly welcomed the minister’s remarks. However, he warned that the industry remains wary of government assurances, as the fishing sector remains one of the most disillusioned groups following the UK’s departure from the EU. While nine in ten fishermen intended to vote for Brexit, many coastal communities feel they were misled by the “sea of opportunity” promised during the referendum campaign and subsequent negotiations.
As the 2026 review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) approaches, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has similarly issued a robust warning against what it describes as “bullying tactics” from the European Union over future access to UK fishing waters. The NFO claims “the TCA was an astonishingly good deal for the EU”, granting permission for European vessels to fish in UK waters up to 6 miles from shore. They argue that while “the pretence that the UK would become an independent coastal state was fatally undermined by the permission,” the TCA’s one silver lining was that this access was not granted permanently. Instead, from 2026 onwards the UK and EU must annually negotiate access to each other’s waters, unless a new arrangement is agreed. The NFFO boldly stated the idea “that EU governments would sabotage their own defence pacts to help a handful of french fishermen… strains credulity”. On this basis, the NFFO is urging the UK government to hold firm, reject threats, and negotiate fisheries access on fair, reciprocal terms – sector by sector. The industry, they say, must not be sold out again.
Danish sandeel fishing begins without access to UK waters
A pending arbitration ruling in the high profile battle between the UK and Denmark over sandeel fishing rights is also expected to have major implications for broader access rights and fisheries management arrangements post-Brexit.
The Danish sandeel fishing season has officially begun without access to UK waters, marking the second consecutive year that the fishery operates under territorial restrictions. The loss of British fishing grounds came as a consequence of the UK and Scottish governments’ 2023 ban on industrial sandeel fishing, citing the critical role of sandeels in the marine food web. However, this was swiftly disputed by Denmark, and both nations are now awaiting the outcome of an arbitration case.
Danish officials argue the ban breaches the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement by unilaterally restricting access to a traditional fishing ground without sufficient scientific justification or stakeholder consultation. The UK maintains that the decision is both legal and necessary to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.