The government will not carry out further investigations into what killed thousands of shellfish off England’s North East and North Yorkshire coast. Since late-2021, thousands of marine life, including crabs, have washed up between Hartlepool and Whitby.

We reported last week that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee wrote to Environment Secretary Therese Coffey asking for another urgent study into the mass die-off following the publication of an independent report.

(Photo: Mark Kiraly)

No further analysis will be undertaken by the government

However, the Minister said in a reply that “Given the extent of the analytical work already undertaken, and further advice, I have decided that it is highly unlikely that we will find the cause and so no further analysis will be undertaken by the government.”

She said the Environment Agency was the “first responder” and said she had asked the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) to be “engaged promptly” if a similar event occurred again.

Ms Coffey said there was “no question of the government providing any compensation or specific support”, as an existing range of help for the seafood industry was already available. She also rejected concerns about the economic impact of the die-offs, saying stock monitoring suggested the catch in late 2021 was “broadly” normal and no “significant reduction in landings” had been observed.

Reaction to the Minister’s letter

Joe Redfern, a marine biologist who works at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, said on Twitter:

‘Disappointment doesn’t quite cover it. I am livid at the response from @theresecoffey to MP Goodwill. We have been let down by the government. No further tests, no further sampling, no support based on an inaccurate stock assessment’

The North East Fishing Collective said: ‘Ignorant and annoying, yes. Surprising? No.’

Meanwhile, the Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon has written to Therese Coffey, to criticise her department’s theory that algal bloom caused the deaths. In his letter, Mr McMahon states: “This algal bloom theory was pursued despite warnings from the local fishing industry and by university marine experts. That Defra, in its initial report, could come to such a conclusion regarding algal bloom, that is clearly not shared by this independent panel, is extremely concerning.…… the championing of this theory was a dreadful distraction and waste of valuable time”

Media coverage of the story has been extensive and can be found in the BBC, Independent and the i, amongst others. The BBC’s Countryfile programme aired a report on 12^th February which provided further insights and can be viewed here.

The full letter to Sir Robert Goodwill MP, Chair of the EFRA Committee, from Minister Coffey can be read here.