Issue - meetings

Recommendation

That the Executive endorse the final report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Environment presenting the report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group (CDWG) following its investigation into the mass mortality event along the Northeast coast of England in 2021.  The CDWG was chaired by Redcar and Cleveland Council and comprised member representation from Hartlepool, Middlesborough, North Yorkshire and Stockton Councils.  The delegates on the working group were Councillors Derek Bastiman, David Chance, Carl Les OBE, with Hugh Clear Hill acting as the link officer for NYC, and the Leader thanked them for their work on this. 

The Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee (TEEE OSC) had reviewed the final report of the CDWG on 11 July 2025 and supported the recommendations as set out at paragraph 3.3.1.  

The Executive Member for Managing our Environment, Councillor Richard Foster, presented the report, acknowledging the severe economic impact of the mass die-off on the fishing industry.  No definitive reason had yet been found for the die-off and it was important that environmental testing work continued.

Councillor David Chance referred to the complexity of the investigation and the lack of conclusions following work by the government on this.  He supported the recommendation of TEEE OSC that it reconsider the peer-reviewed research once it was available. 

Resolved (unanimously)

That the Executive endorse the final report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group.

Reasons for recommendations

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.