Dredging at freeport sites across the UK should be paused while a mass die-off of marine life is investigated, ministers have been told. MPs used a Commons questions session to express further concerns over the deaths of thousands of crabs and lobsters washed up on North Sea beaches, the Evening Standard reported.
The Government said it expects to receive a report from an independent panel of experts in January, adding it will “respond to the facts as they are presented”.
Back story
In October 2021, thousands of dead crabs and lobsters were found washed up on the Tees estuary and neighbouring north-east beaches. Back in February 2022, Defra and partner agencies completed an investigation and following testing and modelling to rule out possible causes, they concluded that the deaths potentially resulted from a naturally occurring algal bloom. (Photo: Dean Xavier).
Then, in late September 2022, a report commissioned by the North East Fishing Collective following a crowdfunding appeal and carried out by academics at Newcastle, Durham, York and Hull universities, concluded that a toxic chemical is more likely to have caused thousands of crab deaths than natural algae.
In November 2022, an independent panel of external experts was set up to assess the evidence surrounding the deaths. Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer confirmed Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor Gideon Henderson would liaise with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance to establish the independent group, which has subsequently received calls for transparency.
Freeports
Teesside is home to one of the Government-backed freeports – special economic zones offering tax breaks and lower tariffs.
Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) said: “Following the environmental catastrophe and mass die-off of marine life in the North Sea off Teesside, and while we await the hopefully independent panel’s findings about the causes of this disaster that has devastated the ecosystem and ruined livelihoods, will the minister confirm whether capital dredging for the Teesside freeport project, and at other freeports including Liverpool, will be paused while the Government awaits the panel’s findings?”
Environment minister Mark Spencer responded: “He and I share the ambition, we want to know the facts of what is causing that die-off in the North East. We want them to look at that independently without pressure and then as soon as we have those facts we can then respond appropriately.”
Media and political coverage
Coverage of the issue in the media has increased in recent weeks as the release of the report moves closer and claims of a “cover up” have been raised. Both Huck magazine and The Times have covered the story recently and have placed focus on the Freeport and its potential role in the saga.
The Observer has quoted Dr Gary Caldwell of Newcastle University who was part of the earlier university study, who said “My expectation was that I would speak to the panel or they would call me to clarify points. But there has been no line of communication whatsoever.” In relation to the composition of the independent panel, the Defra Secretary of State has written a letter explaining that ‘to ensure independence, institutes and individuals with past involvement in assessment of the crustacean mortality have not been included, nor is any member from a Defra agency.’
The BBC reports that at Prime Ministers’ Questions Rishi Sunak had to defend the government’s approach as local Labour MP Alex Cunningham, told it to “get serious” about what caused the deaths. The BBC went on to say that ‘it is hardly surprising that politics should play a part. Teesside will be a crucial battleground at the next election. The Conservatives have largely been beating Labour there since 2017, something Sir Keir Starmer needs to reverse.’
Judicial Review
Meanwhile, Fishermen have started legal proceedings over the mass die-offs, Fishing News reports. Lawyers Leigh Day, acting for Hartlepool fisherman Stan Rennie, on behalf of the North East Fishing Collective (NEFC), have written to the MMO informing them of possible judicial review proceedings in relation to the MMO’s licensing of dredging activities in the Teesside area.
The lawyers tell the MMO they should suspend or revoke all dredging licences at least until the Defra-commissioned independent review that is currently underway concludes and publishes its final report.
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