Appeal for stricter regulations in the shipping industry following the devastating River Tyne nurdle spill 

Following an incident on 19th of July 2026, in which a ship collided with a container ship at the Port of Tyne in South Shields, we are calling for stricter nationwide regulations for the shipping industry, after an estimated one billion nurdles, according to the environmental charity Fidra, were swept into the River Tyne.

The spread of nurdles, also known as plastic pellets, into the River Tyne has raised fears among charities, local councils and residents, raising stark concerns about the incident's prolonged impact on the North East coastline.

With many residents citing the incident as the worst environmental disaster the region has seen in decades, calls are mounting for appropriate action, including mandatory measures at sea to prevent another disaster of this kind.

We are therefore asking for your help by signing this petition, to ensure that: 

• A full investigation into the Port of Tyne collision is carried out
• Stricter regulations for the shipping industry are introduced 

Every signature adds weight to this call. The longer these regulations are delayed, the longer our beautiful coastline, fragile wildlife and local communities play the price for an industry that has failed to safeguard us.

We owe this to the beaches we enjoy year round, to the wildlife that visits our shores, to the dogs that run across the sands, the fish that live in the seas and the local communities who reside nearby. Please, add your name today and demand better, and hold the shipping industry to account.