On Thursday, Japan began releasing water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, the site of a nuclear accident in 2011, into the Pacific Ocean, reports NPR. The government in China, and local fishermen, object to Japan’s decision.
In retaliation, China announced an expansion of its existing seafood import ban from Fukushima to include all of Japan.
The area is known for its high-quality, expensive seafood. Local fishermen now fear that the prices will suffer. To address their concerns, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida combatted misinformation about the effects the treated radioactive water will have on the local seafood supply.
"We'll continue taking necessary measures to ensure fisherfolk can continue their activities with peace of mind, and we pledge to continue doing so even if the water release takes a long time," Kishida told representatives of a fisheries cooperative.
The Japanese government shared that the nuclear wastewater is being incorporated into the ocean safely, gradually diluted with seawater, and slowly added to the ocean. The plan has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Full Story
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