Campaigners will form a wave of light along a popular seaside pier this weekend in protest against the government’s response to the fishing crisis.

An independent panel is being set up to look into the cause of a mass die-off of crabs and lobsters on North Sea beaches last year, but locals say immediate action is needed “to halt the continued decimation if our North East waters”.

People will gather at Saltburn Pier on Saturday at 6pm before forming the wave, which is said to symbolise hope and achievement but also let those in power know there is still much to be done.

Read more: Independent panel to be set up to look into mass deaths of crabs and lobsters

A statement from campaign group Reclaim Our Seas adds: “We will send our wave of light the length of the pier to meet the waves before bringing to life marine themed beach art on the sand below using mobile phone lights and lanterns provided by Guardian of the Sea.

“This will be captured from above by drones hovering in the night sky. This magical extravaganza of light will bring our dead crustaceans back to life.”

An official investigation into the incident, led by the Environment Department (Defra), pointed the finger at an algal bloom as the likely cause, and concluded it was unlikely that dredging, chemical or sewage pollution or animal disease had been the cause.

But subsequent research by academics, backed by the fishing industry, suggested the incident could have been caused by industrial pollutant pyridine, possibly from dredging in the mouth of the River Tees to maintain channels for port traffic.

There have been calls for a halt to dredging for the new Teesside freeport pending a full analysis of the situation.

Hartlepool fisherman Stam Rennie said local livelihoods are now at risk due to the year-long issue. He said: "I don't understand how the evidence provided by academics has not made them pause the dredging and test for Pyridine.

"It is still a dead zone…no crabs, lobster or prawns. No sign of an algal bloom either. They are killing our marine ecosystem.

“Generations of fishing has come to an end for me and my family…let's hope it isn't to late for the sea."

Meanwhile, Whitby fisherman Adrian Noble is equally as worried about the future of fishing in the region. "The lobster are dying again,” he said. “I'm bringing in empty pots. It's heart breaking. We are also seeing pots with dead lobsters.

“Those which are alive are dying before I can get them to shore. Something is killing the sea again.”

Rowan Mclaughlin coordinator of South Tees Green Party added: "Although we have secured a new investigation into last year's mass crab and lobster deaths we won't stop fighting until we know our seas are safe from the poisons of the past.

“We must #PAUSETHEDREDGE until we are sure it won't do more irreparable damage to the North East coast and livelihoods.”

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