Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident on Fishery Products and Fishing Industry

Abstract

On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and the resultant gigantic tsunami struck the Tohoku area of Japan (the Great East Japan Earthquake) and damaged many fishing boats and fishing ports. The earthquake and the subsequent tsunami also seriously caused the damage to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP). Consequently, large amounts of radioactive cesium (Cs) were released into the atmosphere and ocean and subsequently polluted fishery products of Fukushima and adjacent prefectures. The Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Association (Fukushima FCA) has voluntarily stopped the fishing operations off Fukushima Prefecture since March 2011 due to the influence by the FNPP accident. The concentration of radioactive Cs in seawater rapidly decreased by ocean processes, and accordingly the concentration in fishery products did reduce. From April to June 2011, the proportion of inspected specimens off Fukushima exceeding the Japanese regulatory limit was 57.1%, but it decreased and continued to be 0% after April 2015. In addition, most of fishing industries in Fukushima Prefecture have been already restored from the damage by the earthquake and its aftermath. The Fukushima FCA started the trial fishing operation from June 2012.

Bring voices from the coast into the Fukushima treated water debate

“…The revitalization of fisheries has hence brought significant benefit to the Fukushima coast, both for sales of seafood and also fishers’ wellbeing, which cannot be offset through economic compensation alone. Moreover, the amount of effort that has gone into this revitalization, through re-engaging fishers and building trust with consumers and brokers, should not be underestimated, nor should the time taken to reach a stage where local seafood is once again part of daily life ( 13 ). When viewed through this lens, any actions that may jeopardize this recovery—such as releases of water perceived as “tainted” into the marine environment—are likely to be met with concern or opposition.…”

The Impact of Japan’s Discharge of Nuclear-Contaminated Water on Aquaculture Production, Trade, and Food Security in China and Japan

“…Since this time, this topic has become a focal point of international concern to examine its socioeconomic and environmental impacts on the national as well as the global economy in the coming years [9,10]. In March 2011, many fishing ports were damaged as a result of a massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku area of Japan; this earthquake and tsunami also caused severe damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) and increased the contamination to exceed the Japanese regulatory limit (it was 57.1%), but it decreased by 2015 to reach zero [11,12]. Japan officially began releasing accumulated radioactive water containing various radioactive elements into the ocean.…”