A hoard of live crabs that were dumped in the glass recycling bin of a Tynemouth pub have now been returned safely to the sea. 

On Monday morning, the bar staff of the Turks Head pub, on Front Street, encountered a “bucket full” of shore crabs, seemingly dumped in its outside glass recycling bin.

While the identity of the wildlife tipper remains unknown, they have been dubbed the “midnight marine marauder” by the employees of the Greene King watering hole. (Image: LDR)

Fortunately, the coastal critters had survived their ordeal and were returned to the wild at King Edwards Bay. While the staff kept an upbeat tone in their subsequent Facebook post about the events, they did remind residents that a glass recycling bin is not the ideal place for living crabs. 

The Turks Head’s Facebook post on Monday read: “Not to be sticklers about recycling, but we feel we need to remind whoever is the midnight marine marauder of Tynemouth that dumped a bucket full of live carbs in our glass bins overnight, that crustaceans are traditionally none recyclable. Always remember, crabs belong in the sea, not in bins on Middle Street.” 

When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority advised people to collect sea life responsibly and to minimise disturbance to the natural environment. 

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Guidance from The Wildlife Trust states: “When rockpooling, be careful to leave everything as you found it – replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure not to scrape anything off its rocky home.” 

Tynemouth councillor, Lewis Bartoli said: “I think the serious side is obviously that marine life shouldn’t be removed from the sea and dumped inland.

"At least the tale has a happy ending as the crabs made their way back. But a reminder for people who go crabbing to return them back to the sea and not dispose of them, they are our wildlife”