Sandeel Fishing for 2024 concludes with Lower Landings Amid British Waters Closure

The sandeel fishing season closed at the start of August, marking a challenging year for the fishmeal industry. In denmark, which holds the highest quota for this species, factories received 89,000 tonnes of raw material, a reduction of 50,000 tonnes compared to last year’s landings. This decline underlines the difficulties faced by the sector this year, characterized by the closure of British waters to Sandeel fishing. 

The quota for this year’s sandeel season was set at 164,298 tonnes for the fishery. In Denmark, the fishermen were only able to utilise 63% of the Danish quota with  68,000 tonnes landed. A significant factor in the reduced landings this season was the closure of British waters. These waters have traditionally been important for fishermen, providing access to important fishing grounds. The restriction has necessitated the exploration of alternative fishing areas, which could have resulted in the lower catch rates observed. In the future, the focus will likely shift towards evaluating the impact of the lower landings on the supply chain, including fishmeal production and the availability of feed for aquaculture. A formal discussion is anticipated to take place in the fall between the EU and the UK regarding the latter’s recent actions concerning the terms of the Brexit agreement. We anticipate further developments from these discussions and how it will affect the future fishery.