North Yorkshire Council
Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Friday 11 July 2025
Report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group
Report of the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services)
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To provide a summary of the comprehensive investigation undertaken by the Crustacean Deaths Working Group (CDWG) into the mass mortality event along the Northeast coast of England in late 2021.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 At Full Council on 17 May 2023, North Yorkshire Council agreed a motion expressing concern at the crustacean die-off events along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast in late 2021. The motion asked the Council to work with and support other local authorities in dealing with the unprecedented incident, support the Leader's request to attend and engage with the Dead Crustaceans Collaborative Working Group managed by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and to continue to use existing regional tourism bodies to promote the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast.
2.2 In view of similar motions being agreed at the time by neighbouring authorities, a Collaborative Working Group was formed to further explore the reasons for, and response to, the mortality event.
3.0 CRUSTACEAN DEATHS WORKING GROUP
3.1 The Crustacean Deaths Working Group was chaired by Redcar and Cleveland Councillor Philip Thomson and comprised of elected Member representation from Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton Borough Councils. The delegates on the Working Group from North Yorkshire Council were Councillors Derek Bastiman, David Chance and Carl Les OBE.
3.2 The Working Group has met on a regular basis and has taken evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the fishing community, some government agencies, academics and environmental groups. The final report outlines evidence gathered from stakeholders, government agencies and academic researchers and proposes improvements based on this information. Some of the recommendations include suggested improvements to environmental monitoring, support for the fishing industry, and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
3.3 The final report provides an overview of the evidence collected and sets out the resulting findings and recommendations. The report emphasises the need for a more robust and transparent governance structure for managing the marine environment. The final conclusions also stress the importance of continued vigilance and proactive measures, to protect the marine environment and support local communities. The nine report recommendations from the Working Group for future action are set out at Appendix 17 – pages 137 to 141 of the final report.
3.4 A Public Inquiry was formally requested by the Working Group in July 2024, but Defra advised that this process was unlikely to provide substantial new insights given the length of time since the initial incident.
3.5 Following consideration by this committee and subject to formal endorsement by the Executive, the final report will be forwarded to all relevant stakeholders and government agencies, with a request to consider how the report recommendations might be implemented.
4.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The final report outlines some of the financial impacts of the mass die-off event, particularly in relation to the fishing community, and the report recommendations suggest measures to support the recovery of the local fishing industry.
5.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 Regulatory bodies and government agencies were engaged with as part of the review process and the final report includes recommendations to enhance collaboration between all stakeholders and increase monitoring beyond the current minimum legal requirements. Neither the working group nor the constituent councils have the power to implement all recommendations themselves, however elected members have worked collaboratively across local authority boundaries in community leadership roles with a view to influencing both local and national stakeholders and policy makers.
6.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
6.1 An equality impact assessment was undertaken as part of the Working Group and no negative impacts have been identified on individual human rights, groups or individuals with protected characteristics or other factors.
7.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
7.1 The working group was established in response to the mass crustacean die-off that took place in late 2021 and concerns about the impact on the local environment and economy. The final report makes suggestions for improving environmental monitoring and supporting the recovery of marine ecosystem.
8.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 It is felt important to seek formal endorsement of the final report at each of the five local authorities represented as part of the Working Group, so that it can be forwarded to relevant stakeholders and government agencies, with a request to consider how the proposed report recommendations might be implemented.
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9.0
9.1 |
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the final report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group and agree that it be considered at Executive for formal endorsement. |
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APPENDICES: Crustacean Deaths Working Group – Report following the investigation into the mass crustacean die-off
BACKGROUND PAPERS:
Minutes of the meeting of NYCC Full Council on 17 May 2023 – Item 29. Notices of Motion
Barry Khan
Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Services
County Hall
Northallerton
Report Author – Will Baines, Senior Scrutiny Officer
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.