Government plan to ‘re-sea’ North Somerset

For rewilding on steroids, look at Somerset. The government believes that nuclear power station Hinkley Point will kill 800 acres of fish. It wants owner EDF to offset that by flooding 800 acres of land with sea water. It wants EDF to re-sea the land. Read the accompanying article on Scribehound For more, visit Protect Pawlett Hams Neil’s own farming podcast is at How the conservation industry has ’chopped it off’: Aviva’s £21 million payout to WWT £800,000 grant for WWT at Steart £ million grant to WWT for Steart Taxpayer’s original £20 million payout for Steart That statement from EDF in full: Chris Fayers, Hinkley Point C’s head of environment, said: Hinkley Point C is working with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, the Environment Agency, and other conservation bodies to develop new natural habitats to compensate for the risk of any impact on protected fish species. The proposals include creating large areas of saltmarsh, seagrass and kelp, new oyster beds and the removal of barriers in rivers. New natural habitat is a better solution than an acoustic fish deterrent which would use 280 speakers to make noise louder than a jumbo jet 24-hours a day for 60 years. The system’s impact on porpoises, seals, whales, and other species is unknown. It offers a very small potential benefit to protected fish species and would also risk the safety of divers in the fast-flowing tides of the Bristol Channel. Power stations have been taking cooling water from the Bristol Channel for decades with no significant impact on fish populations. Hinkley Point C will be the first power station in the area to have any fish protection measures in place – including a fish recovery and return system. Despite scientific evidence that the remaining impact on fish is ‘very small’, the project supports further effective, proportionate, and practical compensation measures. Resolution of this issue matters. The project is one of Britain’s biggest acts for the environment, built to meet exacting environmental standards. It will make a major contribution to energy security and the fight against climate change. EDF background information: The Bristol Channel has the third highest tidal range in the world, with fast flowing water and poor visibility. Engineering studies have shown that installing and maintaining the Acoustic Fish Deterrent poses risks to offshore teams which are unacceptable considering the small and uncertain potential benefit. Hinkley Point C’s data is based on decades of real data from operating Hinkley Point B and scientific research from the Government marine experts CEFAS. Fish populations are subject to a range of pressures including commercial fishing. They are also eaten by other fish, birds, porpoises, and seals. Natural mortality can be up to 60% for shoaling species. What is an issue here is the potential impact on protected species. The total amount of all fish estimated to be killed without the Acoustic Fish Deterrent has been predicted by CEFAS, the government’s marine experts, to be in the range of 18 to 46 tonnes in a year – less than the annual catch of one small fishing vessel. Acoustic fish deterrents have been used by one other power station in the UK which features close to shore intake structures. The technology has not been tested on offshore intakes networks which stretch further out to sea, such as Hinkley Point C’s. It was proposed that 288 speakers would make sound at 160db non-stop during the operation of the power station. Noise above 100db is considered “highly hazardous“ for humans. Hinkley Point C’s water intake system includes a fish recovery and return system and low velocity, side entry water intake heads which reduce the risk of fish entering the pipes. More information can be found here: Fish protection measures | Hinkley Point C | EDF () Responses to the initial consultation are now being considered by HPC before proposals are anticipated to be submitted in Spring 2025. A final determination will be made by the Secretary of State for DESNZ.