Plight of Scarborough and Whitby's Fishing Industry Highlighted in Parliament

Monday, 3 July 2023 06:00

By Matthew Pells

There have been fresh calls for financial support for the Yorkshire Coasts Fishing fleet after the mass shellfish die off event.

Catches in Scarborough and Whitby are down around 90 percent since the mass mortality event started nearly two years ago.

In a house of commons debate about the fishing industry last week, Stockton North MP - Alex Cunningham - called on the government to take action to help the fishermen.

In a debate about the industry last week, Alex Cunningham MP spoke about the mass shellfish die off which started nearly two years ago.

The MP said Government figures relating catch volumes are not reflecting the difficulties faced by the local fishing fleet.

Highlighting conversations he's had with local fishermen Mr Cunningham said local fishers have seen big drops in their income.

the Stockton North MP has also bee speaking to representatives of Teeside's fishing fleet and says they are finding it hard to catch anything of substance.

Rebecca Pow MP is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Responding to issues raised in the debate she said:

"Let me touch quickly on the issues that the hon. Gentleman raised about the area around Whitby and Scarborough. He will know that our chief scientific adviser invited a group of independent scientists to join a crustacean mortality panel to review all the evidence, and that panel was unable to identify a clear, convincing single cause for the mortality. We continue to monitor it—he is right: that is critical—and to look at any reports of dead sea life on the north-east coast. Everything we do must be based on scientific evidence, and monitoring is key to that.

The health of our fish stocks in our waters is improving. For 2023, 40% of total allowable catches were set consistent with International Council for the Exploration of the Sea advice, compared with 34% in 2022. That is the biggest improvement we have had since the metric was introduced in 2020. "

The Under-Secretary of State recognised the importance of the fishing industry and the importance of maintaining the maritime environment.