Hinkley - Fish - Deregulation

Today EDF has published a press release which misrepresents the cost of

its acoustic fish deterrent and the impact that the Hinkley Point C nuclear
plant will have on wildlife. It comes as England’s leading nature groups
and over 60 MPs publish a letter calling on the Secretary of State for
Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Milliband, to reject the three
recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Review which threaten to
undermine protections for nature. Matt Browne, head of public affairs at
The Wildlife Trusts, says: “The developers of Hinkley C continue to
misrepresent the impact that the nuclear plant will have on nature.
Today’s press release claims that a number of plant safety measures are
fish protection measures. This is highly misleading and allows EDF to
pretend that £700 million is being spent to protect nature, when the real
figure is closer to £50m. It also misrepresents the number of fish
affected by the proposed plant – they spotlight the suggestion that just
two salmon will be killed per year when Environment Agency experts warn
that 4.6 million fish will die every year – including critically
endangered species such as European eel.

 Wildlife Trusts 10th Feb 2026 

 https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/edf-makes-distorted-claims-about-hinkley-c-fish-deterrent

 An underwater “fish disco” at Britain’s newest nuclear power station
has been mocked as an example of the huge cost and bureaucracy involved
with building things in the UK. But at least the new system, designed to
preserve fish species, actually works. EDF, the developer behind Hinkley
Point C plant in Somerset, on Tuesday said trials of the acoustic fish
deterrent – underwater speakers that blast out sound to keep fish away,
dubbed the “fish disco” – found it was “highly effective”. Tests
at sea and in laboratory tanks by scientists at Swansea University showed
that only a single tagged twait shad came within 98 feet of the device when
it was switched on, compared to 14 when it was off. This suggested “an
effectiveness of more than 90pc”, EDF said, although further trials will
be carried out later this year.

 Telegraph 10th Feb 2026 

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/10/hinkley-point-cs-fish-disco-actually-works-researchers-find/

 SEA trials have shown the effectiveness of an alternative method of saving
fish which might be killed by being sucked into the cooling system of
Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. Hinkley C owner EDF commissioned
Swansea University to trial a £700 million acoustic fish deterrent (AFD)
system which uses ultrasound technology. The system was shown to
keep target fish species away from the power station’s water
intakes on the bed of the Bristol Channel. It is one of three separate fish
protection systems for Hinkley C, giving it more fish protection than any
other power station in the world.

 West Somerset Free Press 10th Feb 2026 

 https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/hinkley-point-c-claims-success-with-sea-trials-of-ultrasound-fish-deterrent-877574

 Bridgwater Mercury 10th Feb 2026 

 https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/25842317.hinkley-point-acoustic-fish-deterrant-highly-effective/

 Engineering & Technology 10th Feb 2026 

 https://eandt.theiet.org/2026/02/10/hinkley-point-c-trials-acoustic-deterrent-technology-protect-fish-near-plant