MPs call for urgent inquiry into seal pup deaths

Tees Valley MPs have called on Defra to launch an urgent inquiry into the seal deaths

MPs have called for an urgent inquiry into the deaths of seal pups in an estuary.

Six Teesside MPs have written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) asking for steps to be taken to investigate why 21 young seals born in the Tees Estuary this year died.

The Tara Seal Research team monitored seals born in the Seal Sands area and said within weeks all of them had died, mainly from a condition called mouth rot.

A Defra spokesperson said the department was aware of the report and continued to "engage with scientists and wildlife experts".

Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash, alongside Andy McDonald, Anna Turley, Chris McDonald, Lola McEvoy and Luke Myer, said the situation was an "immediate crisis".

The joint letter states: "While we acknowledge that Defra has noted multiple possible causes for seal mortality, including disease, the unprecedented scale of losses in the Tees estuary requires urgent and coordinated action.

"In similar situations internationally, governments and wildlife authorities have taken proactive steps to investigate causes, mitigate risks, and protect marine mammal populations."

The MPs' letter asked the following questions:

• What monitoring is Defra undertaking to track pup survival, health and disease outbreaks in the Tees estuary?

• How is information being shared with local conservation groups and veterinary experts?

• Has Defra commissioned or funded research to identify the causes of mouth rot and associated seal pup mortality, including potential environmental contributors such as water quality, pollutants, and prey availability?

• How is Defra working with organisations such as Tara Seal Research, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, universities, and coastal communities to ensure a coordinated response?

Local vets have called for a dedicated seal treatment centre to be set up to prevent further seal deaths next year.

A Defra spokesperson said: "Seal deaths can sadly occur for many reasons, including storm surges, food shortages, trauma, predation or disease outbreaks such as mouth rot.

"We are aware of this report and continue to engage with scientists and wildlife experts and remind the public not to approach dead or sick seals."