The independent panel investigating the die-off of wildlife in the sea off the Teesside coast does not include any members from agencies that are part of the government's Department for the Environment, according to a letter that has been published.

A letter sent by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Thérèse Coffey MP, to the chair of parliament's environment committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP, has confirmed that the panel her department established at the end of last year to investigate the evidence relating to deaths of sealife including crustaceans will not include agencies related to her own government department.

The letter, dated 11th January, also says that the report into the deaths is expected before the end of this month.

Read more: Fishermen launch legal bid to stop river Tees dredging and protect sea life

Thousands of dead crustaceans had previously washed up on beaches near Teesside in October 2021. Defra released a statement blaming the deaths on an algal bloom.

Further research by the University of Newcastle, commissioned by local fishermen, identified the toxic chemical pyridine as another possible candidate for the deaths.

After evidence was presented to the committee in October last year by government agencies including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Cefas, alongside local fishermen and scientists, committee chair Sir Robert Goodwill wrote to the secretary of state saying “There is clearly a need for further data and research on the causes of the mass die-off.”

As a result Thérèse Coffey set up an independent panel to investigate the evidence surrounding the causes of the sealife deaths. Last week's letter, which has only just been made public, says that "Membership is comprised from from 11 different organisations, including many leading UK marine science universities.

"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.

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"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."

Although the contents of the report are unknown, it's expected that it will be published shortly after it's received by the secretary of state.

This follows a legal challenge launched last month by local fishermen to stop dredging in the Tees until the conclusion of an investigation.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "It is absolutely right that Sir Patrick Vallance and his independent panel can consider all evidence without any political or undue influence. All the more important given the threats and harassment scientists and I have received over recent months on this issue.

"The fact the no one, including DEFRA, knows who is on the panel gives this work huge strength and true independence. 

"We await the panel’s findings and I’m pleased Government have taken this issue seriously by asking Sir Patrick Vallance to lead on this. He is a man of huge integrity and intellect, and it will give people great confidence in the findings when they report.

"I have always said that this issue is not for politicians to decide but for scientists. We now have the leading scientist in the country looking at this and I look forward to his report being published."