UK may ban sandeel fishing in move to save threatened seabirds

Exclusive: government hopes ban in UK waters will protect birds, including puffins, that feed on small fish

Sandeel fishing in UK waters could be banned next year under gamechanging" government plans to protect puffin and kittiwake numbers, the Guardian can reveal.

The sandeel is a small fish that is critical to marine food webs in the UK, and is an important part of many seabird diets. For example, the kittiwake - which is particularly sandeel-dependent - has seen its UK numbers fall by half since the 1960s, with diminishing availability of prey during the breeding season thought to be mainly responsible.