Reclaim Our Sea protestors form human chain on Saltburn beach

The protestors stood arm in arm on Saltburn beach and others across the region at midday on Sunday as they chanted “reclaim our seas”, in protest against marine deaths, dredging and pollution off the North East coast.

It comes after a study was released this week claiming mass marine life deaths off Teesside are likely to have been caused by a toxic chemical.

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The demonstration by campaign group Reclaim Our Sea followed another protest by the group on North East beaches in August.

Protestors on Saltburn beach. Picture: CHRIS LLOYD (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Alison Pake, co-founder of Reclaim Our Sea and seal rescuer, said: “We are seeing more people from around the country wanting to shout out and demand action to stop our seas and waterways from being poisoned with toxic waste and sewage.

“Something is killing the very thing that gives us life.  What happened around the Tees is devastating. We see death around the shoreline frequently not only crabs and lobsters but seals, porpoise, dolphins and whales – it’s not right.”

People formed a human chain in protest over marine deaths, pollution and dredging. Picture: CHRIS LLOYD (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Fellow co-founder Jane Hardy added: “As an open water swimmer I’m horrified at just how much sewage is dumped in rivers and at sea. I’m fortunate enough to be able to check an app and I know when to avoid the sea.  Unfortunately, our wildlife doesn’t have access to this technology and has to somehow swim, feed, live & survive in this filthy water.

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“How on earth can anything survive in a sea which is so appallingly abused? Please will someone in authority actually wake up, listen and act before the ocean dies.”

Hundreds of people gathered at Saltburn, with events taking place across the region. Picture: CHRIS LLOYD (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Earlier this week scientists at Newcastle, Durham, York and Hull universities concluded that crab deaths are more consistent with poisoning by “industrial toxins” than by natural algal bloom, which the Government has claimed was the most likely cause behind the mass deaths. 

Prime Minister Liz Truss was also asked about the issue during an interview on BBC Radio Tees on Thursday (September 29), when she was forced to admit she “would need to look into” the issue.

Reclaim Our Seas is calling for a halt to dredging in the Tees, a further investigation into the cause of marine deaths, and an overhaul of legislation on dredging.

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