Luke Myer, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, has been formally acknowledged in the final report of the Crustacean Deaths Working Group, a cross-party body formed by local councils across Teesside, Hartlepool, and North Yorkshire.

The report follows a detailed investigation into the mass crustacean die-off first seen along the North East coast in late 2021. The incident had a devastating impact on local fishing communities and sparked widespread concern about the health of the marine environment.

The Working Group thanked Luke for his constructive engagement with the inquiry and noted that Luke’s predecessor did not respond to invitations to participate.

The inquiry was chaired by Independent Cllr Philip Thomson of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, who said in his foreword:

“The mass mortality event involving sea life along the Northeast coast of England in late 2021 was a significant and distressing incident that has had a profound impact on local communities, the fishing industry, and the marine ecosystem.

Our aim has been to provide clarity on the potential causes, assess the impact on the local environment and economy, and recommend actions to improve management of any future occurrences and support recovery efforts.”

Luke has consistently stood up for fishers across Teesside. He welcomed the report and said the government must now act to implement its recommendations, rebuild trust with local fishers, and ensure coastal communities get the support they need.

The final report of the Working Group sets out a series of recommendations, including stronger environmental monitoring, more robust support for fishers, and improved collaboration between government, councils, and scientific experts.