The weight of shellfish caught and landed in the UK has dropped by 44% in the last year, a new analysis by Labour has found.
Vessels 10 metres and under, which tend to fish closer to the shore, brought in 1,813 tonnes in January 2022, but a year later this dropped to 1,012, the opposition party said.
The Government’s own figures, compiled by the Marine Management Organisation, showed a drop of 41%.
Labour said the reduction in shellfish catches is having a significant impact on jobs and livelihoods in fishing and coastal communities.
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said Labour’s focus on vessels under 10 metres does not paint a complete picture, adding that the number of total fishing landings grew by 6% this January compared to last year.
They said: “We know that bad weather was one of several factors affecting the inshore fleet and the figures have no connection with crustacean mortalities in the North East, which took place before the reporting period.
“We are backing our fishing communities with £100m to boost growth and opportunities, including for shellfish vessels.”
Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon is to visit fishermen in Hartlepool, Co Durham, on Thursday where the local fishing industry has reported a 95% drop in their catches of shellfish such as lobsters and crabs.
Researchers from Durham, Hull, York and Newcastle universities, commissioned by the North East Fishing Collective, found high levels of pyridine in dead crabs, which was later found to be toxic to them.
Modelling also showed that pyridine would be quickly transported along the north-east coast, with the worst affected areas being Hartlepool and Redcar.
A Government report published in January said “it is about as likely as not” that a novel pathogen had caused the deaths, though none was identified.