The UK has won a court battle against the EU following Britain's post-Brexit ban on fishing sandeels in the North Sea. EU bullies attempted to overturn a ban on sandeel fishing in UK waters through an arbitration hearing.

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted the panel has found the ecological case for the closure of industrial sandeel fishing is sound. Also, that UK governments are within their rights to restrict sandeel fishing in UK waters to protect this valuable food source for declining seabirds. This has been a great example of collaboration between the UK and Scottish governments, and all those in civil society across the UK and the EU that have campaigned long and hard for our threatened seabirds.

"We now expect the UK government and the EU to move forward and make this closure permanent. Safeguarding sandeel stocks is a key part of the jigsaw that will help set our Puffins, Kittiwakes and the wider marine environment on the path to recovery.”

The UK has banned European vessels from catching the silvery fish species in its North Sea waters to protect marine wildlife that depend on it for food.

But the EU challenged the move, arguing it discriminated against Danish vessels that fish sandeel commercially, breaching the post-Brexit trade deal.

While the UK succeeded in the majority of its arguments, the Tribunal identified a procedural error in the decision to close English waters.

But the decision to close Scottish waters was fully upheld.

John Flesher, deputy director of the Conservative Environment Network, said: “This is a great Brexit win for the UK, and vindicates the last Conservative government’s efforts to protect our seas and the marine life they hold. Banning sandeel fishing was never about penalising the EU; it was about supporting our threatened native species like puffins. It is excellent news that the tribunal has recognised this.

"This win for nature would not have been possible if the UK were a member of the European Union, and Brexit has the potential to do so much more good for our environment.

"But the fight for the UK’s sovereignty over setting our own environmental protections and controlling our waters is far from over. As the Prime Minister negotiates a new relationship with the EU, he must not sacrifice this and other Brexit freedoms which could unleash our gene-editing industry, protect British nature, and incentivise tree planting through the Emissions Trading Scheme.

"The government should also take the opportunity to go further in supporting marine life in British waters. We should end the destructive practice of bottom trawling in more of our seas; we should expand the Blue Belt of protected areas around the British Overseas Territories; and we should cancel the terrible Chagos deal, which puts the future of a biodiversity hotspot in jeopardy.”

A government spokesman said: "We welcome the clarity provided by this decision, and we will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the Tribunal.

"The ruling does not mean the UK is legally obliged to reverse the closure of English waters, and the decision to close Scottish waters was fully upheld.

"We remain committed to protecting our seabirds and the wider marine environment, in accordance with our commitments to the TCA and other international agreements.

"Disputes and the use of resolution mechanisms are a normal part of a mature relationship with international partners. We will continue to act in the national interest as we work towards a strong and lasting partnership with our European neighbours."