OA – EU V UK

2. European Union v. United Kingdom (The “Sandeel” Dispute)

European Union v. United Kingdom (The “Sandeel” Dispute)

The Dispute: UK banned sandeel fishing to protect birds (puffins); EU (Danish) fishermen are suing for lost revenue.

The “Shadow Class” (Tort Victims):

  • Class A: The Bankrupted Fleet: Danish trawler owners who built ships specifically for this catch and are now insolvent.

  • Class B: The Conservationists: RSPB and bird-watchers whose tourism revenue depends on puffin colonies (which eat sandeels).

Your Targets & Contact Data:

Group Name Role / Interest Contact / Email Social Intelligence
Danish Pelagic Producers (DPPO) The Victim Fleet. Represents the fishermen suing the UK. es@pelagisk.dk (Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, CEO)

LinkedIn: DPPO

 

Web: dppo.dk
Danish Fishermen PO (DFPO) Broader Industry. Represents the wider Danish fishing lobby. dfpo@dfpo.dk

X: @DanskFiskeri

 

Web: fiskeriforening.dk
RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) The Beneficiaries. The NGO that lobbied for the ban. publicaffairs@rspb.org.uk

X: @RSPBEngland

 

Campaign: Save Our Seabirds
Scottish Pelagic Fishermen The Rivals. UK fishermen who benefit from the ban (more fish for them). ian.gatt@spfa.co.uk X: @ScotPelagic

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3.

  • The Problem: The UK banned sandeel fishing to save puffins. The EU (Danish fleet) is suing for lost revenue. This is a State-to-State dispute; the “fine” is actually a threat of Retaliatory Tariffs.

  • 1. Commitment (Defendant/UK):

    • “Science-Led Management Protocol”: The UK commits to a joint annual scientific review of the North Sea biomass, removing the “arbitrary” nature of the ban.

  • 2. Deterrence/Settlement Amount:

    • Estimated Economic Impact: ~€20M per year in lost catch value.

    • The “Deal” Amount: Zero Cash. Instead, the UK sets up a €15M “Transition Fund” to help Danish vessels refit for other species.

  • 3. The “Spillover” Project (Your Charity’s Proposal):

    • Project Name: “The North Sea Biodiversity & Fishery Fund”

    • Concept: A cross-border conservation fund managed by your charity.

    • Mechanism: The UK puts the €15M into this Fund. The Fund pays grants to Danish fishermen only if they agree to retire their sandeel nets. It also funds RSPB puffin habitat restoration.

    • Why it works: It satisfies the EU (fishermen get paid) and the UK (puffins get saved) without the UK paying “damages” directly to the EU Commission.

European Union v. United Kingdom (“The Sandeel Dispute”)

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