Japanese Fisheries Industry, Growing Uncertainty Over China's Seafood Import Ban

China's announcement of a ban on Japanese seafood imports, triggered by the start of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, has unsettled Japan's seafood industry.

On the 26th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that in Toyosu, Tokyo, where seafood handling companies are concentrated, a mood of discouragement is spreading as exports of domestic seafood to China have become impossible due to the contaminated water discharge from the Fukushima nuclear plant that began on the 24th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Not only China but also Hong Kong expanded the number of Japanese prefectures subject to seafood import bans from 5 to 10, dealing a significant blow to Japan's seafood industry. China and Hong Kong are Japan's first and second largest export markets for seafood, respectively. According to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, last year’s export value to China and Hong Kong was 87.1 billion yen (78.9 billion KRW) and 75.5 billion yen (68.4 billion KRW), respectively.

Nikkei reported that avoidance of some Japanese seafood products within the Greater China region has been observed since around last autumn. Dried sea cucumbers and abalone exported to Hong Kong and Taiwan saw reduced orders starting last year, increasing domestic supply in Japan and causing prices to fall. Scallops, popular in the Greater China region, also faced blocked sales channels, resulting in a 30% price drop compared to the same period last year.

Hamazushi, a Japanese conveyor belt sushi franchise, announced it will suspend sales of scallop and salmon roe sushi at its Chinese stores due to the inability to procure Japanese seafood.

According to Teikoku Databank, a market research firm, about 700 Japanese food companies export to China, of which 164 are seafood-related companies.

The Japanese government is demanding that China lift the total ban on seafood imports and is considering measures to support fishermen and seafood industry workers.

The government judged that if China’s ban prolongs, seafood industry workers will be seriously affected and has begun preparing countermeasures. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the previous day that they will establish special consultation desks for business operators at organizations such as the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, and the Japan External Trade Organization.

Tomoki Kobayakawa, President of Tokyo Electric Power Company, also said after meeting with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura the previous day, "If damages occur due to (China’s) ban, we will definitely compensate."

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