A minister has said he will “seriously” consider a study that claimed a toxic chemical was more likely to have caused mass shellfish deaths than algae.

Last week we reported that new research carried out by several universities commissioned by the fishing industry said pyridine, which could have been released by dredging, was more likely.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was a “complex scientific issue” but previously concluded that a naturally occurring algal bloom was the most likely cause.

The £30,000 study was commissioned by the North East Fishing Collective following a crowdfunding appeal and carried out by academics at Newcastle, Durham, York and Hull universities.

Although it is yet to be peer reviewed, the study’s early report said tests found pyridine, which is used as an anti-corrosion treatment in marine infrastructure, was “highly toxic” to crabs “even at low levels” and caused twitching and paralysis before death similar to witness reports made at the time of the mass wash-ups.

Minister said any evidence “should be examined properly”.

Fisheries minister Mark Spencer said the government needed to look at the evidence from the new study

Thousands of crustaceans were found along the coastline including at Seaton Carew

Fisheries minister Mr Spencer, the Conservative MP for Sherwood, said: “These are credible universities which have carried out that research, we need to take that seriously.

“The fact this has happened again, at this time of year, does indicate it’s possibly an algal bloom, which is what the science has told us in the past.

“But we will listen to any research and any evidence. I think we all want the same outcome which is to stop these crustaceans from dying.”

Mr Spencer said his department would work with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas) – the government’s scientific arm – which did the examination work.