
Save Severn Estuary’s Fish: Demand Action from Hinkley — Sign the petition
Hinkley Nuclear Power Station must not remove protection for millions of fish in the Severn Estuary. Help us hold EDF accountable and ensure the Severn Estuary’s ecosystems are protected.
24/01/25
Blog
The new nuclear power station at Hinkley (HPC) will draw the equivalent of 3 Olympic swimming pools of cooling water per minute from the Severn Estuary, one of the UK’s most highly designated nature conservation sites.
The huge intake pipes, equivalent to the cross-section of 6 double decker buses, are required to have an Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) fitted to prevent millions of fish being sucked into the system and killed.
10 years into construction and EDF are still putting off fitting this important fish protection.
The Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is not against the power station providing vital power for the UK, BUT, is just demanding that the fish protection measures be installed as originally consented and that damage to the Severn Estuary ecosystem is properly addressed.
🐟👉 Sign the petition now

Why This Matters
HPC will draw 132,000 litres of water per second from the Severn Estuary, an internationally protected habitat that is home to dozens of fish species, including the endangered Atlantic salmon, European eel, and twaite shad. These species play a crucial role in global ecosystems and support the food chain for tens of thousands of birds and other wildlife including seals and cetaceans. Without the AFD, millions of fish will be killed annually, severely impacting biodiversity.
EDF tries to change consent
When HPC’s discharge consent was granted in 2013, it included three key measures to protect fish:
- Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD)
- Low-velocity side intakes
- Fish Recovery and Return system
EDF has previously sought to remove the AFD requirement, citing technical challenges. However, a Public Inquiry and subsequent rulings by the Secretary of State upheld the importance of the AFD, confirming its feasibility and necessity.
Now, EDF is once again putting off installation of the AFD and is instead proposing a “compensation package” which is falls short in addressing the serious ecological harm which will arise, particularly for migratory species like salmon and shad.
Scientists, AFD specialists and businesses highlight that the AFD is needed, proven and can be delivered at HPC. They are ready to work with EDF to deliver this vital work.
The True Cost to Wildlife
Without the AFD, EDF’s own estimates suggest up to 2.9 million fish will die annually, while other studies put the number of fish drawn into the water intake at closer to 182 million per year. The low velocity side intakes have been specifically designed to work with the AFD. Without it, the intakes can act as ‘artificial reefs’ attracting even more fish, turning the system into a death trap for countless species.
Inadequate Compensation
EDF’s proposed compensation measures—such as saltmarsh creation and limited fish passage improvements— are inadequate to address the needs of migratory species or marine fish. Moreover, fish passage improvements, designed to help fish navigate barriers such as weirs, are only being considered for the Severn and a number of Welsh rivers, with nothing planned for catchments closer to Hinkley PC – for example, such as the Bristol Avon.
The Petition
We call on the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to
- To safeguard the ecological health of the Severn Estuary and its river catchments.
- Uphold the requirement for EDF to install the AFD as originally agreed.
- Ensure there is proper mitigation and compensation, regardless of whether the AFD is installed.
- Ensure that compensation measures are comprehensive and address all affected species, with a specific focus on migratory fish, removing river barriers and restoring
- habitats.
- Press for the inclusion of the Bristol Avon in compensation plans, given its importance to migratory fish.
Take Action
Help us hold EDF accountable and ensure the Severn Estuary’s precious ecosystems are protected. Sign our petition and email the Secretary of State using our template below.
🐟👉 Add your name to the petition now
This petition is supported by:
The Rivers Trust
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
Angling Trust
Severn Rivers Trust
West Wales Rivers Trust
Atlantic Salmon Trust
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Institute of Fisheries Management
Fisheries Management Scotland
Afonydd Cymru
River Action
Wildlife and Countryside Link
CPRE Bristol & Avon
Sustainable Eel Group
Westcountry Rivers Trust
South East Rivers Trust
East Mercia Rivers Trust
Trent Rivers Trust
Mersey Rivers Trust
UK Youth for Nature
Fish Guidance SystemsUnderpin Consultants
Email your MP
Use our email template to raise this issue with your local elected representative.
Find out more at: BART Position Statement: EDF Hinkley Point C Impact on Fish