Fresh calls have been made to give fishermen 'the answers they deserve' in the wake of mass crustacean deaths along the North East coast.

In a fiery House of Commons clash on Thursday morning, Labour's shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon accused the Government of 'ignoring the working people and grafters of this country' after the mass marine life die off, which took place in October 2021, and described Conservative politicians on Teesside as 'Poundshop goons'.

But in response, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey slammed the Labour shadow minister for "challenging the integrity of expert scientists", adding continuing to push what she described as 'incorrect theories' was 'not in anyone's best interests'.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

It comes as the Environment Agency confirmed a wash up of shellfish on the Saltburn coast earlier this week was 'normal for this time of year'.

Visitors to the beach on Wednesday morning were met with the sight of dead mussels on the shoreline, starfish – some of which were barely moving – crabs and razor clams.

But the Environment Agency said it had not received any direct reports of the washed up marine life, but a spokesperson said it is “normal at this time of year” and high tides and recent stormy weather would “most likely be the cause”.

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Speaking in the Commons, Mr McMahon said: “Let me tell the Secretary what they [the fishermen] said. 'We’re finished, no one listens. We’re just fishermen.'

“We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for a roadmap to get back on track.

"'Levelling Up', they levelled Teesside down.

“Working people, grafters of this country, the foundation of our food security, ignored.

“It’s wrong that public figures, instead of stepping up like true public servants, are acting like [Tees Valley Mayor] Ben Houchen’s henchmen.

“Poundshop goons closing down debate on legitimate challenge. Well it won’t work, it’s not going away.”

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Ms Coffey said the Government had already carried out a further independent review. She added that their role now is to support the fishermen, and said they planned to do so through the Seafood Fund.

She said: “A significant review has been undertaken already.

"I really do not think it is in the best interests of continuing to challenge expert scientists who have undertaken that review and ruled out the theory that he has been pushing for some time now.”

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In response, Mr Houchen said: “It appears the Labour party’s new policy is to follow the science, unless the science and experts don't say what they want them to say.

"I’m horrified that the Labour Party would call into question Patrick Vallance’s independence by suggesting he is involved in some sort of cover up, along with dozens of government agencies, half a dozen universities and many world leading marine biologists. 

“Typical labour, no solution, no alterative they’d rather see the area fail and people suffer if it meant it would give them a chance to be elected. A sad indictment of how far the Labour Party has fallen.”

The previous mass die-off on the North East coast in late 2021 sparked a series of investigations with a conclusive cause yet to be established. 

In January, a panel of independent experts convened by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs chief scientific officer Gideon Henderson concluded: “A novel pathogen is considered the most likely cause of mortality.”

However, the panel was “unable to identify a clear and convincing single cause for the unusual crustacean mortality”.

Four main factors were considered by the panel, a possible disease, a harmful algal bloom, toxic chemicals including pyridine, and dredging – but all were ruled out as a clear single cause.

Addressing this week's wash up, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We are aware of wash ups of sea life on the beach at Saltburn. Given the recent high tides and weather conditions our experts have concluded it is a natural event, which is normal for this time of year.

"We can confirm the black substance washed up on the beach is coal deposit, which is not unusual for this stretch of coastline. This is likely to be in the intertidal system for a while given recent weather conditions so may continue to happen in the coming weeks and months.

"Creatures like starfish, razor clams and mussels occupy similar rocky habitat and are easily dislodged during storm events. And the physiology of juvenile flounder makes them vulnerable to being stranded on shallow gradient beaches such as Saltburn.

"While we know people are concerned, the combination of recent heavy swell, spring tides and onshore winds means natural wash ups will occur more often. If people do have concerns about pollution they should report it directly to our Incident hotline on 0800 807060."