Need to protect fish in the Severn Estuary

I WAS pleased to read the recent article ‘Harmful fishing may face a ban in protected areas’, which prompted a letter to George Eustice and Ian Liddell Grainger. I thought at last a tidal turn, this government is looking to protect more wildlife, starting with the fish in a “Blue

Belt” of marine protected areas around the UK’s seas. I wonder, George, do you know that EDF are planning to destroy 182 million fish every year (IFCA) for 60 years by taking the entire water content of the Severn Estuary annually into its direct cooling water tunnels to cool the nuclear reactors at HPC, even though there are known alternative cooling methods available?

The Environment Agency stated that this fish and marine destruction must not be done and made the Acoustic Fish Deterrent a condition of the DCO for HPC. Please look at all the evidence of needing to protect fish in the Severn Estuary and the marine reserves that have been set up to try and rejuvenate the fragile breeding grounds which are now under severe threat with these water intake tunnels as wide as double decker buses hoovering up and killing all the marine life the estuary water contains. Wildlife organisations such as Severn

Rivers Trust and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have voiced their horror at the proposed action which will deplete the much needed fish stocks in the estuary. Alongside the four areas you are considering immediate extra protection, which is good to hear, do not allow a decision being made shortly by EDF that will cause a catastrophe for the next 60 years with the fish in the Severn Estuary.

Jo Smoldon Bridgwater, Somerset