The Government has announced that an independent panel is being set up to look into the cause of a mass die-off of crustaceans on North Sea beaches in 2021.
Thousands of dead and dying crabs and lobsters washed ashore along parts of the North East coast between October and December 2021, with dying creatures "twitching" and displaying "lethargic behaviour". Residents reported that piles of dead crustaceans were "waist deep" on beaches including Seaton Carew and Saltburn by the Sea, while smaller numbers were reported in Seaham and Seaburn.
Following the distressing scenes, fishing crews warned that sparse catches offshore following the event were "catastrophic" for their livelihoods.
