Fukushima's Fishing Industry Faces Decline as Controversial Radioactive Water Release Begins

Concerns rise as Japan initiates discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear plant

In a pivotal move that has sparked concerns among the Japanese populace, the government of Japan has commenced the discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean on the morning of the 24th. The waters off the coast of Fukushima glistened like any other summer day, while local fishermen voiced their anxieties about the decision.

For decades, the fishing industry in Fukushima has struggled to recover from the devastating blow dealt by the 2011 nuclear disaster. The recent plan to release the contaminated water into the sea has brought new challenges to the industry's already fragile state. The seafood market in Onahama, a harbor town located about 60 kilometers south of the nuclear plant, saw some fishermen taking a break after concluding their operations for the day. One fisherman, Yoshida (36), who manages a fishing vessel, expressed his concerns, saying, "We are all worried, but do we have any other choice but to continue venturing out into the sea?"

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, began releasing the diluted radioactive water from storage tanks within the nuclear facility into the ocean starting from 1:00 PM on the same day. As the release neared, traders at the local seafood market and restaurant, 'Laramu,' wore tense expressions. A 60-year-old merchant who has conducted business at Laramu since its opening in 1997 stated, "We've endured challenges since the East Japan earthquake 12 years ago. This might not hit us as hard, but I am concerned about a potential drop in customers for some time."

Prior to the nuclear disaster, the fishing yield in Iwaki had reached only 20% of its pre-disaster levels. There were plans to increase this to 50% over the course of three years. However, the specter of 'radioactive water release' now hangs over these ambitions. Even as concerns mount, Shiono (38), who has been trading seafood in the area for 13 years, remains optimistic, stating, "We know the seafood here is safe. Hasn't the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) vouched for its safety? Once the discharge starts, people will eventually understand, so I'm not worried." Sagawa, an employee at a pickled foods and dried seafood store, expressed apprehension about the future of sales, particularly of seaweed produced in the nearby Soma port.

The decision to release the radioactive water was made by the Japanese government and TEPCO in 2015, with a commitment to not make any decisions without the understanding of stakeholders, including fishermen, according to the Japan Fisheries Cooperatives (JF Zengyoren). However, there has been resentment among fishermen who feel that this promise has been broken. Fishermen like Ono Haruo (71), who operates in the Shinchimachi port located about 50 kilometers north of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, expressed his anger, stating, "The government has abandoned us. They made promises but never came to meet with us. Can a country lie like this?" Even before the radioactive water discharge began, seafood prices near Fukushima had already experienced a decline. China announced a complete halt to imports of Japanese seafood on the same day.

As news of the radioactive water release broke at 1:00 PM, JF Zengyoren released a statement, emphasizing their unchanged stance against the ocean release of contaminated water. They hoped that the Prime Minister would honor his commitment and support the fishermen. While the Japanese government has allocated approximately 80 billion yen (around 72.92 million USD) for fishermen support after the release, local fishermen expressed a desire for more than just financial aid. They want continued livelihoods. Citizens, not directly involved in the fishing industry, demonstrated their interest by following the updates on their mobile phones. A citizen, Matsui Noboru (60), said, "While we empathize with the fishermen's situation, constantly expanding the storage tanks for radioactive water isn't a good solution for the community. We need to gradually decrease it to mitigate the risk in case of another earthquake or tsunami."

From Fukushima City to Tokyo and Sendai, citizens' groups opposing the radioactive water release staged protests across Japan. In response to the discharge, Fukushima residents and a legal team have announced their plan to file a lawsuit next month, demanding the cancellation of the plan and a halt to the water release.