Whitby fishermen call for Defra to continue shellfish death investigation

Fishermen in Whitby are unsure whether the industry will ever recover after widespread shellfish deaths last October, the BBC has reported.

We reported covered the outcome of the investigation into the deaths of crabs and lobster in the North East of England. It was then reported that the government was investigating after new accounts of dead crabs and lobsters along the coast, with Defra “undertaking additional sampling” after fishermen reported further deaths.

Defra has now closed its investigation for a second time as this year’s fishing season begins.

Adrian Noble has been fishing out of Whitby for 40 years and this week landed his first fleets of 2022. Despite Defra observing healthy catches this month, he says “the ocean is on its knees” and more investigation is needed.

More can be read and seen on this story and a video featuring Adrian here.