By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Lawyers for the European Union on Tuesday told an arbitration tribunal that Britain's ban of fishing for sandeels in its North Sea waters breached an agreement on fishing rights both sides struck after Brexit.

A legal dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights between Britain and the European Union begins at The Hague. The case, which concerns a British ban on fishing sandeels, could impact UK's relations with the EU.

The row was triggered when Britain barred EU fishermen from catching sand eels in English and Scottish waters last March

A tiny silver fish which is an important food source in the North Sea will take centre stage Tuesday as the European Union and Britain square off over post-Brexit fishing

The tiny sand eel is used widely as bait and in animal feed — but it's also an important food source for puffins and other seabirds.