Scarborough councillor says Government should provide greater support to those affected by Yorkshire coast shellfish deaths

Scarborough Council’s cabinet member for corporate resources, Janet Jefferson, and the borough’s harbour executive have called for a dedicated fund to support affected fishermen and the regeneration of crab and lobster stocks.

It follows the deaths of thousands of shellfish that washed up on the region’s beaches last year.

According to Cllr Jefferson, the crustacean deaths “led to fishers being unable to support their families” and “career fishermen forced to leave the industry”.

In a letter to Mark Spencer, the minister of state for farming, fisheries and food, they said that “given the scale of the devastation to our fishing communities” proposals should be brought forward to support those “who have been so severely impacted by these events”.

A new independent inquiry is set to examine the deaths of thousands of shellfish that washed up on the Yorkshire and North East coast, including at Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay.

However, the Government has been urged to offer financial support to those whose businesses have been particularly affected by the considerably reduced catches of shellfish.

In October, parliament’s environment, food and rural affairs committee held a hearing “about the mass deaths of crustaceans on the North East Coast, including its potential causes, and the profound and long-lasting impact that it is having on fishing communities”.

Scarborough and Whitby MP and chair of the committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, also wrote to Thérèse Coffey, the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, stating that “the Government should reconsider its position on providing financial support to affected communities”.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Goodwill said: “Unfortunately, there is no off-the-peg scheme, as for example, if you were in a flooding situation and the Government’s Bellwin scheme would help.

“Obviously, things do happen to affect fisheries over time.

"But we have asked that they look at that and it may be that as part of the money that the Government is investing in fishing, things such as shellfish, lobster hatcheries, or equipment on boats and that sort of thing could be there.

"It really is a problem.”

Regarding the new inquiry, which will involve the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, he said: “Hopefully, before too long, we’ll get their view as to what is the most likely cause.”

The MP added: “I don’t think we’ll ever get a definitive, absolute answer, but hopefully the most likely cause.

"And meanwhile, we’ve asked that they do more testing in the estuary of the Tees.”

Responding to the calls for further funding to help affected fishermen earlier this month, Mark Spencer said: “Defra analysts are continuing to assess the economic impacts of this incident including a comparison with landing data from previous years and with other parts of the country for the affected species.”

Borough harbour officials also wrote to the Government to ask that an investigation into mass crab and lobster deaths be reopened.