Name and address of AM Your name and address

Date

Dear (insert name of AM)

Tidal Lagoon in Swansea Bay

I am writing to express my concern about plans for a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. I support the UK’s current targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, tackle climate change and increase the proportion of overall energy generated from alternative sources. However, a development of this scale could have a major impact on biodiversity. The State of Nature report showed 60% of our wildlife is in decline. We cannot accept further loss of important habitats or species.

The Hendry Review focused on the economic viability of the lagoons and does not provide any definite views on the conservation consequences of the proposed lagoons, and yet the review is being reported as a ‘green light’ for a tidal lagoon in Swansea. Media reports claim that there is overwhelming support for a tidal lagoon in Swansea from all quarters and I want to make it clear that this is not the case. The development of renewable energy must not come at the expense of nature.

The tidal lagoon could have a major detrimental impact on fish. Natural Resources Wales have stated that Salmon stock levels in Wales are considerably below the level considered to be sustainable, and that some sea trout stocks are similarly low and in an unsustainable condition. Their evidence shows that numbers of returning adult fish are at historic lows, and that there is a significant and worrying reduction in the number of young fish in our streams. Natural Resources Wales concluded that the tidal lagoon could have a 'major adverse effect' on migratory fish due to injury as they pass through the turbines. They estimated that 21% of salmon and 25% of sea trout, species of national importance, could be killed every year as they migrate to and from local rivers, mainly the Tawe, Neath and Afan. In light of serious concerns about the sustainability of Salmon and Sea Trout populations throughout Wales, this impact must surely be of major concern?

Other environmental impacts that you may like to include:

Other fish species that will also suffer include shad, lamprey and eel, which are also deemed to be of international importance.

The lagoon will impound a large area, causing the direct loss of intertidal habitat such as mudflat and sandflat. As well as this direct habitat loss, there will be a major adverse impact on protected species/features, including Sabellaria reefs, hydroid rockpools, intertidal mudflats and sandflats. The mitigation for these impacts proposed by Tidal Lagoon Power will not negate the impact. For example, translocation of Sabellariais unproven and therefore success cannot be guaranteed.

Related to the loss of mudflat and sandflat habitat is the impact this may have on birds which forage there. There may be a temporal increase in foraging opportunities due to tidal lag and artificial lighting, but there is no indication as to whether this is adequate to mitigate the spatial loss of foraging opportunities.

We have concerns as to loss of the subtidal sands and gravels (protected features). Tidal Lagoon Power are proposing a new-style rocky reef habitat on the lagoon wall, but this will change the biodiversity in that area and may have an impact on the natural assemblages in the area. The wall may even provide opportunities for colonisation by invasive, non-native species which could cause further harm to local biodiversity.

We have concerns as to potential impact on the sand habitat of the Blackpill SSSI, especially related to the reduction in sand accretion and the impact this may have on ringed plover and sanderling.

The impacts on marine mammals are not clearly understood, and although extensive marine mammal monitoring is planned, this needs to cover a sufficient period in order to fully understand the impacts before any other tidal lagoons are built. This is an important point given the regularity of harbour porpoise sightings in the bay and likely hotspots around Mumbles.

In order to personalise the letter you may like to add in some of your own concerns on matters which the Wildlife Trust does not deal with directly. Some of the concerns our members have talked to us about include;

  • The visual impact.
  • The disruption that the development will cause during construction, especially along Fabian Way.
  • Welsh Government possibly helping to fund the scheme, when there are many other pressing needs for scarce funds.
  • The high cost of this type of energy, which will be passed onto consumers and will impact on future generations.
  • The fact that the current focus on tidal lagoons could reduce opportunities for other technologies that harness tidal energy and could have less damaging impacts eg tidal fences.
  • The potential for flooding.
  • The impact on angling and other existing leisure activities.

It is important that any decisions adhere to the Well-being of Future Generations Act which requires any decisions to take account of the resilience of ecosystems and biodiversity. Any decision will also need to comply with the duty under the Environment Act to sustainably manage natural resources. A tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay does not meet either of these legislative requirements.

Our Key Asks to include in the letter:

If a tidal lagoon is built in Swansea, the development must be subject to strict monitoring and mitigation of any impacts on the marine environment. A long-term, fully funded and legally-binding mitigation and decommissioning package should be agreed, along witha robust and comprehensive research programme, to monitor its impacts.

If a tidal lagoon is built in Swansea Bay, there must be a pause of at least 10 years (covering two life cycles of the Atlantic salmon)before any further tidal lagoon development is permitted. A pause of this length will allow a fuller picture to emerge of how lagoon developments impact on the wider marine environment and how such impacts can be mitigated or off-set.

I look forward to receiving your reply in response to my concerns

Yours sincerely

(insert your name)