Even Domestic Fishermen Unconvinced by Japan... Fishermen's Representative Says "Opposition to Ocean Discharge Remains Unchanged"

Japanese Government Persuades Nationwide Fishermen Representatives Following Fukushima
National Fishermen's Association President: "Opposition Maintained Without Social Reassurance"

The Japanese government is facing difficulties persuading its fishermen as it prepares to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, based on the final report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). After failing to convince representatives of Fukushima fishermen, representatives of fishermen nationwide have also expressed opposition to the ocean discharge of contaminated water to the Japanese government.

According to Kyodo News, Sakamoto Masanobu, chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations and a representative of Japanese fishermen's organizations, met with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi in Tokyo on the 14th and said, "At this point, our position opposing the ocean discharge of treated water has not changed."

After the meeting with Minister Nishimura, Chairman Sakamoto emphasized, "While I somewhat understand the scientific safety, social reassurance is different," and added, "As long as we cannot gain reassurance, we cannot change our position opposing the discharge."

Minister Nishimura met again with Chairman Sakamoto after about 20 days to explain the safety of the contaminated water discharge and measures against reputational damage (rumor damage). The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations adopted a resolution opposing the Fukushima contaminated water discharge for the fourth consecutive year at a general meeting held on the 22nd of last month.

At that time, Chairman Sakamoto said, "Our position opposing the discharge has not changed, and we want to request through the resolution that the government take responsibility over several decades."

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (right), is delivering a greeting on the 11th during a visit to the Fukushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Association Federation in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. Tetsu Nozaki, Chairman of the Fukushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Association, is seated to the left of Minister Nishimura.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 11th, Minister Nishimura visited the Fukushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Association to convey that the discharge of contaminated water is inevitable, but Nozaki Tetsu, chairman of the Fukushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Association, expressed opposition to the discharge. Chairman Nozaki pointed out, "We cannot accept the discharge," and said, "If the nuclear power plant decommissioning work is completely finished and fishermen can continue to engage in fishing in Fukushima under such conditions, then we might understand."

The Japanese government promised in 2015 not to dispose of contaminated water without the understanding of Fukushima Prefecture fisheries officials, but after deciding on the ocean discharge policy, it has once again begun persuasion efforts.

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