MPs have called for dredging at freeport sites across the UK to be paused while a mass die-off of marine life is investigated.
They used a Commons question session to express further concerns over the deaths of thousands of crabs and lobsters washed up on North Sea beaches, including as far north as Seaham. The Government expects to receive a report from an independent panel of experts this month and has said it will "respond to the facts as they are presented".
A mass die-off of marine life on the North East was apparent between October and December 2021 and saw dying creatures "twitching" and displaying lethargic behaviour. Last year, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said it had concluded that a "naturally occurring algal bloom" was the most likely cause of the deaths, after a "thorough investigation".
However, subsequent research carried out by Newcastle University and backed by the fishing industry, suggested the die-off could have been caused by pyridine, and industrial pollutant, and possibly from dredging in the mouth of the River Tees to maintain channels for its port traffic. Teesside is home to one of the Government-backed freeports, which are special economic zones that offer tax breaks and lower tariffs.
Ian Byrne, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, told the Commons: "Following the environmental catastrophe and mass die-off of marine life in the North Sea off Teesside, and while we await the hopefully independent panel’s findings about the causes of this disaster that has devastated the ecosystem and ruined livelihoods, will the minister confirm whether capital dredging for the Teesside freeport project, and at other freeports including Liverpool, will be paused while the Government awaits the panel’s findings?"
Mark Spencer, Environment Minister, responded: "I think it is very important we get the facts as soon as possible but I want to give that independent panel time to assess the actual facts that we are faced with.
"He and I share the ambition, we want to know the facts of what is causing that die-off in the North East. We want them to look at that independently without pressure and then as soon as we have those facts we can then respond appropriately."
Alex Sobel, shadow environment minister, said: "I just want the minister – and I thank him for his initial answer – to confirm the independent panel has now been set up and, just because he was very quick in his answer, that they would be reporting this month. Because the fishing industry in the Tees is dying off, they need that report and they need that certainty to continue."
Mr Spencer replied: "The report will be given to the Secretary of State. I expect that report to come this month, as in January. We want to get those facts as soon as possible. We want to respond to the facts as they are presented."
Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Swansea West used a question on food security to say: "Newcastle University believes the mass killing of crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans off the North East is due to dredging ahead of the freeport.
"But Defra has dismissed this as a natural event due to algae blooms, set up an inquiry which was the set-up of a secret panel meeting in private, despite the fact that the Efra (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Committee has asked for an open, transparent inquiry that’s done independently. Will she now commit to an independent evaluation of the evidence to protect all our coasts from the massive destruction from toxic emissions ahead of freeports from dredging?"
Therese Coffey, Environment Secretary, said: "I have already replied to the Defra select committee about this. In terms of the impact on crabs, it is under investigation, as he’s aware.
"It makes no difference to the adequacy of the UK’s food security, which indeed is the topic of this question."
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