Agenda item

The report was presented by Hugh Clear Hill, Principal Environmental Policy Officer, to review the final report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group (CDWG), established in response to the mass die-off of lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish along the North East coast in 2021. The incident, which caused significant concern among local communities and the fishing industry, prompted multiple investigations at both national and local levels.

It was explained that the CDWG, comprised elected member and officer representatives 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. The group met regularly over the course of 18 months, gathering evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the fishing community, some government agencies, academics and environmental groups. The final report provides an overview of the evidence collected, emphasising 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. 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.

In discussing the final report, committee members acknowledged the severe economic impact of the mass die-off on the fishing industry, particularly in the North East, where many small-scale fishermen suffered financial losses and have received no government support. It was noted in contributions from one of the NYC representatives on the working group, Councillor Derek Bastiman, that whilst lobster populations are reportedly recovering, crab stocks remain low. The report recommends support for hatcheries and further research into restocking methods to help to support the ongoing recovery.

Committee members expressed frustration at the lack of accountability in the final report, as well as the lack of transparency from the relevant regulatory bodies, and the failure to provide timely, peer-reviewed scientific evidence. They also criticised the absence of financial compensation for affected communities, drawing comparisons to government support provided during other crises such as Covid-19 and the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Following the discussion, the Committee resolved to make the following recommendations to the Executive for when they consider the final CDWG report on 16 September 2025:

1. To reiterate the call for financial support for impacted fishermen.

2. To fully support the CDWG recommendation for enhanced and more frequent environmental testing.

3. To fully support the CDWG recommendation for simplification and clarification of the regulatory oversight.

4. That the TEEE O&S committee be able to reconsider the issue upon publication of the pending peer-reviewed university research.

In closing the discussion on this item, the Committee recognised the contributions of the presenting officer Hugh Clear Hill, who is due to retire in September, and expressed appreciation for his leadership and support throughout the working group inquiry and on water quality matters across the council.