Japanese Fisheries Association Passes Resolution Opposing Fukushima Nuclear Plant Contaminated Water Discharge

The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan adopted a resolution on the 22nd opposing the ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (referred to by the Japanese government as "treated water").

Contaminated water storage tanks inside the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan / Photo by Yonhap News

According to reports from Asahi Shimbun and the private broadcaster Nittere, the federation adopted a special resolution opposing the discharge for the fourth consecutive year at its general meeting. The reason cited was that there is no precedent worldwide for the ocean discharge of nuclear power plant contaminated water, causing fishermen to remain anxious.

Masanobu Sakamoto, chairman of the federation, stated, "Our position opposing the discharge remains unchanged, and we want to request through this resolution that the government take responsibility over several decades." Later that afternoon, he met with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura to reiterate the opposition.

However, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is reportedly practically finished with preparations for the discharge. Kyodo News reported that TEPCO announced for the first time that the concentration of radioactive substances in the contaminated water to be initially discharged falls below the country's regulatory standards. The analyzed contaminated water was a portion of 10,000 tons (t) stored in measurement and verification tanks, sampled in March.

TEPCO plans to dilute the contaminated water with seawater during discharge to keep the tritium concentration below 1,500 becquerels (Bq) per liter (ℓ), which is 1/40th of the national regulatory standard. In relation to this, after completing the excavation of a 1,030-meter-long undersea tunnel for the contaminated water discharge in April, 6,000 tons of seawater were injected, and from the 12th of this month, a roughly two-week schedule of trial operation of the discharge facilities began.

The Japanese government intends to proceed with the contaminated water discharge this summer as planned, provided that the report to be published soon by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not point out any particular problems.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.