Long-Term Stability of a Sand Smelt (Atherina presbyter Cuvier) Population Subject to Power Station Cropping

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Abstract
(1) The sand smelt (Atherina presbyter Cuvier) is a species of fish particularly susceptible to impingement at power station cooling water intakes. (2) Data are available from 1971 to 1981 for the numbers and sizes of sand smelt impinged at Fawley Power Station, Hampshire, during which time it was the commonest impinged fish species. (3) Recruitment into the population of a new 0 group is in July/August. Somatic growth only occurs during the summer and autumn. There is a seasonal inshore migration for spawning by 2 year and older fish, and virtually none survive after 3 years. (4) The observed population age structure did not change significantly over the period of this study, despite age-selective cropping by the power station. It is suggested that this stability is afforded by a density-dependent response. (5) It is concluded that the 10 years of operation of Fawley Power Station has had no significant effect on the long-term stability of the local sand smelt population.