How a little fish could benefit us all

Sandeels are a little fish with a big impact. Despite their small size, this oil-rich fish is highly nutritious. That iconic image of a brightly coloured puffin bill brimming with mouthful of glistening sandeels says it all. From breeding seabirds like Puffins, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Shags and all their chicks, to porpoises, seals, wild salmon, cod and haddock – a belly full of sandeels is a real crowd-pleaser. 

Each year, industrial trawling, undertaken almost exclusively by EU vessels, removes hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sandeels from the North Sea. These are shipped off and made into fishmeal and fish oil to feed farmed livestock and fish.   

Sandeels have seriously declined in our waters in recent years. On top of threats from climate change, industrial trawling for sandeels means these fish are becoming even more scarce. 

Today, UK sandeels, foraging seabirds and industrial fisheries can all be found in the same patches of water. Damaging trawlers fish for sandeels in the very same places that our internationally important and legally protected seabird populations go to feed: 

In places like Bempton Cliffs, the UK’s largest mainland seabird colony, and biggest surviving mainland Kittiwake colony – the population is flatlining. On average, pairs are successfully raising just 0.64 chicks to fledging. This is not enough to maintain the current diminished numbers at this important stronghold. 

It’s clear that a UK-wide ban on sandeel trawling would be incredible news for seabirds and other wildlife. But what about everyone else in the UK? 

A ban in our seas would impact some EU vessels – almost exclusively those from Denmark as they take more than three quarters of the total catch. For UK vessels, the impact would be minimal because EU countries hold 97% of the quota in our waters.  

The ban would target industrial trawling vessels, which are typically large boats over 40 metres in length.

Larger fish feed on sandeels and an upturn in available food, could give them a boost too – including commercially fished species.  

The People’s Plan for Nature has called for the balance of nature in the sea to be restored through changes to fishing practices. A sandeel ban would help secure this. 

• Many coastal businesses thrive off the bounty of the seas, from cafés to shops to tour boat operators. Recent research from the Marine Conservation Society shows annual visits to the UK coast alone have a value of around £17 billion with marine tourism worth between £4-5 billion (with the potential for growth.) 
• From rockpooling to swimming, birdwatching to boating, healthy seas boost mental health. Research shows that increasing your connection with nature can positively impact a range of conditions, including stress, anxiety and depression.
• The UK’s unique positioning means marine wildlife is part of our natural heritage – from folk songs to history books the sea is never far away. Together, we need to protect our seas for future generations – so they can benefit in the same way. 

A UK-wide industrial sandeel fishing ban would have many perks. Read our sandeel report to dive a little deeper.

We’re thrilled that the UK Government and the Scottish Government are taking vital steps towards a much-needed UK-wide ban on industrial sandeel fishing. Tens of thousands of you spoke up for seabirds via our e-actions and have demonstrated that there is overwhelming support for a sandeel fishing closure. 

If this happens, it would be the single greatest thing we can do right now to help our most threatened seabird species.

You can find out more about sandeels and the proposals to end industrial fishing for them in English and Scottish waters here.