Monday, 16 January 2023 15:25

By Matthew Pells

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that 11 organisations will be on the panel.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has today published a letter on sea life mortality off the north east coast of England from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP.

The letter was sent to Scarborough and Whitby MP, Sir Robert Goodwill and confirms that an independent panel has been set up to

"determine the most likely cause of the crustacean mortality event in the Northeast of England"

The letter says that the panel has been set up by Secretary of States Chief Scientific Advisor and will include members from eleven different organisations "including many leading UK marine science universities"

The letter says:

"To ensure independence, institutes and individuals with past involvement in assessment of the crustacean mortality have not been included, nor is any member from a Defra agency. The identities of the panel members have not been made public yet to enable them to assess the scientific evidence without pressure or influence from interested parties. Names and affiliations of members will be released when the report of the panel is published."

The aims of the expert committee will be:

To scientifically review all the available evidence of the unusual crustacean mortality event.
To identify the most likely causes and implications for recurrence.
The scientific review will include, but will not be limited to, consideration of the theories put forward as a cause of this mass-mortality:
- the consequences of the breakdown of an algal bloom
- the impact of chemicals (including pyridine toxicity)
- the impact of maintenance dredging of shipping channels

The panel will focus on scientific issues and will not consider government processes during the investigation of the mortality event(s), food safety, nor the economic implications of the deaths.

The full letter reads: