The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has said the proposed Severn Barrage would ‘play Russian roulette’ with the large number of freshwater fish in the river.

The Severn Estuary is Europe’s largest inland fishery and is home to a vast quantity of salmon which RSPB say would risk their lives passing through the barrage.

RSPB Director of Communications, Stuart Thompson, said: “One in ten salmon passing through the potential barrage would be killed.

“It would be like playing Russian roulette,” added Thompson. “It would be a drastic measure, and frankly quite unnecessary.”

UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has attacked RSPB for opposing the proposed barrage. He told the Welsh Grand Committee the group did not understand the impact of climate change and sought the "comfort" of saying no to environmental projects.

Wicks believes that the project may be the solution to helping solve a growing energy crisis by providing 5% of Britain’s electricity.

Environmental groups such as the RSPB argue that the amount of renewable energy generated by the barrage could be made at half the cost.

Fatalities

Concerns have been voiced about the effect of the barrage turbines on the habitat of the Severn and fatalities have been predicted for the fish in the estuary.

Campaigner Stuart Ballard said: “Research has shown that up to 15 % of small salmon ‘smoults’ returning to the sea are killed by these sort of turbines.

“What chance would adult breeding salmon have as they are swept up and down the estuary by the tides, having to face the grinding turbines more than once?” added Ballard.

Engineers, however, think the barrage can be made without causing significant damage to the habitat of the Severn.

Spokesman for the Institute of Civil Engineers in Wales, Denys Morgan, said: "We believe the environmental issues associated with the project can be engineered successfully and sympathetically."

The government’s ongoing feasibility study is expected to explore and detail the effects of the proposed barrage on the habitat of the River Severn, but the debate between engineers and developers of the project and environmental groups is likely to wrangle on.

 

 

MP for Northavon and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment Steve Webb explains why he thinks the Severn Barrage would be positive.

Related articles -

'Curtains' for fishing industry

Exploiting energy resource is 'essential'