My good friend Mark Everard included this in his latest Newsletter. This will undoubtedly have a significant impact upon the fish within the Bristol Channel and I would urge all who care to sign the petition linked beneath.
‘Acoustic fish deterrence at the intake of Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor
I have noted previously that EDF is frankly telling lies about the alleged ‘minor impact’ that an uncontrolled abstraction of cooling water from the Severn Estuary would have on fish. Modelling suggests 182 million fish killed a year for 60 years… hardly minor! Add to this the many are protected species – shads, lampreys, salmon, sea trout and others including much of the allis and twaite shad population of the UK that congregates in Bridgwater Bay – not to mention impacts on non-designated species. EDF suggests that creating a small bit of saltmarsh – highly unpopular with local communities and farmers – will offset damage if they are allowed to backtrack on fitting acoustic fish deterrent systems (about which they also promote untruths relating to noise and maintenance) but this is utter rubbish as it will not address biomass or species diversity to any significant degree.
As you know, I have done national and local radio around this. There is also now a petition that you can find here – https://win.newmode.net/hinkley-point-nuclear-power-station-fish-protection – so please have a look at this and, if you are so motivated, please sign it.’
