A Newcastle University academic investigating the cause of mass crab deaths along the North East coast has been saddened by comments made by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.
Marine biologist Dr Gary Caldwell believes comments made by Mr Houchen are a "personal attack" launched at him and the science behind his report. But Mr Houchen insists "All I have done is state the facts."
Dr Caldwell is one of a team from four universities who were commissioned to investigate mass crab deaths on Teesside in a study funded by the North East Fishing Collective. In October last year huge piles of crabs were littered across the shoreline, some mixed with piles of seaweed that were waist deep in some places.
