Does the fish pass achieve its potential?

MR Jones’s letter “no simple solutions to big problem” (Western Mail, December 31) is guilty of misusing the contribution of the barrage to the UK’s total electricity demand by ignoring the contribution the barrage would make to the local needs for a sustainable and reliable energy source.

He is also concerned about the impact the barrage would have on the movements of migratory fish.

Since the barrage does not block the entrances to the two main rivers, namely, the Neath and Tawe, it would be of interest to see what data the NRW have on the inability of fish to navigate along the barrage wall to gain access to these rivers. I am aware of the impact the turbines could have on such fish, but is this an unsurmountable problem?

Surprisingly, Mr Jones has only taken an interest in such matters since 2013. He should be made aware of the devastating impact during the 1980s the fish pass at the entrance to the River Tawe had on the passage of migratory fish.

The Environment Agency (Wales) which is now apart of the Natural Resources Wales have kept a low profile in this area. Perhaps the time has come to publish the data on whether the fish pass does or not does not achieve its design potential in allowing the free movement of fish. If it does not achieve these aims then it should insist on the development of a workable scheme.

Only then will the general public and those interested in fisher problems, take as creditable the views of the NRW. Emlyn Lloyd Pontardawe