Fukushima

November 07, 2023

I came across an AP article in the business section of today’s local newspaper that reported Japanese consumers are eating more fish from local markets.  The fishing communities in Fukushima had feared the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the nuclear power plant damage by the tsunami, coupled with the China’s ban on Japanese seafood, would have a devastating effect on the area’s economy.  Consumers have instead supported the region by eating more fish.  Customers nationwide are placing orders, with many asking for “Joban-mono,” or fish from the waters off Fukushima and its southern neighbor Ibaraki that includes regional favorites Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and Shortnose greeneye (Chlorophthalmus agassizi).  Almost all the fresh local catch sells out.  One customer said it was less about supporting local businesses than the Joban-mono tasting good.  “I’m not worried about the treated water discharge.  I’ve been checking sampling results and I trust them.”

When I looked online, I found the disabled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is located on an 860 acre (3.5 km²) site in the towns of Ōkuma and Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.  The plant suffered major damage from the magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011.  The chain of events caused radiation leaks and permanent damage to several of its reactors, making them impossible to restart.  The Fukushima plant started releasing treated and diluted radioactive wastewater into the sea on August 24th.  Officials said the release was necessary because more than 1.3 million tons of radioactive wastewater has accumulated in the 1,000 tanks at the plant since its cooling system was destroyed.  Even with the wastewater release the tanks are estimated to reach capacity in the first half of 2024.  Prior to release the water is treated to reduce radioactive materials to safe levels and is then diluted with massive amounts of seawater to make it safer than international standards.  The release is expected to continue for decades and was strongly opposed by fishing groups and neighboring countries. 

The Fukushima wastewater release resulted in the immediate ban of all imports of Japanese seafood by Beijing and caused a major hit to Japanese seafood producers, processors, and exporters.  Thae ban was especially hard for those in northern Japan who specialize in scallops and sea cucumbers, a delicacy in China.  China’s seafood ban and reports of its impact on the fishing industry may have tempered Japanese criticism of the water release and encouraged people to eat more seafood from the region.  Futoshi Kinoshita, executive of Foodison which operates the Sakana Bacca chain, said, “After China’s ban on Japanese seafood, we are seeing more customers buying not only Fukushima fish but also Japanese seafood in general to support the industry.”  Fish testing data are key to consumer confidence in the seafood’s safety, but the data alone is not enough.  Officials are hoping those concerned about Fukushima fish will develop confidence by seeing their friends or relatives eating it without worry.

Thoughts:  The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded in a July report that the Fukushima discharge, if carried out exactly as planned, would cause negligible impact on the environment and human health.  Japan’s government set up a relief fund to help find new markets and the US Embassy in Tokyo has also helped, including sourcing its military bases in Japan.  Fukushima’s fisheries community, tourism, and economy were badly hit by the tsunami and are still recovering.  Local fishing was beginning to return to normal in 2021 when the government announced the water release plan.  The local catch is still about one-fifth of its pre-disaster levels due to a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes.  While nuclear power may be a promising alternative fuel, accidents at Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986), and Fukushima (2011) have yet to be mitigated.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.