Sandeels are a vital part of the marine food chain - feeding larger fish and seabirds such as kittiwakes and puffins. Unfortunately, demand for fishmeal for aquaculture is leading to the decimation of sandeel populations around the UK.

So, it’s great news that the UK government has launched a new consultation on restricting commercial fishing for sandeels - acknowledging that, without effective management, sandeel fishing in the North Sea poses a risk to the breeding success of UK seabirds.

According to experts at Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, a ban could see seabird populations begin to recover within the next ten years.

The consultation also shows the power of the media in driving the government’s agenda. The announcement was made just one week before the release of ‘Wild Isles’ – a new series narrated by Sir David Attenborough that highlights some of the UK’s most endangered species.

Photo by Glen Hooper on Unsplash