Most Fukushima fishermen are tight-lipped but Haruo Ono can't keep his thoughts to himself on Japan's plans to release treated cooling water from the stricken nearby nuclear power plant into the Pacific from Thursday.
"Nothing about the water release is beneficial to us. There is no advantage for us. None. It's all detrimental," Ono, who lost his brother in the 2011 tsunami that crippled the plant, told AFP.
"Fishermen are 100 percent against," the 71-year-old said at his modest home in Shinchimachi, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of the nuclear plant in northeast Japan.
"The sea is where we work. We make a living off of the sea, we're at the mercy of the sea. So if we don't protect the sea, who would?"
Around 1.34 million tonnes of water, equivalent to more than 500 Olympic swimming pools, have accumulated at the Fukushima plant since the earthquake and tsunami that killed 18,000 people in 2011.
It has been contaminated by being used to cool the highly radioactive reactor cores that went into meltdown, combined with groundwater and rain.
But plant operator TEPCO says the water has been diluted and filtered to remove all radionuclides except tritium, which is far below dangerous levels.
- 'Sewer' -
The plan gradually to begin releasing the water at a maximum rate of 500,000 litres (132,000 US gallons) a day via a pipe one kilometre (half a mile) out to sea has won approval from the UN nuclear watchdog.
But many in the Japanese fishing industry are worried about the reputation of the country's seafood, just as it was starting to recover 12 years after the Fukushima disaster.
"Fukushima was seen as something people should avoid (after 2011). Even car number plates from Fukushima was taken off when people had to evacuate to other prefectures," local artist Tomomi Kodama, 40, told AFP.
"Now if the water is released from the plant, I am worried about how the world would possibly accept it," she said.
As well as being a major source of national pride, seafood is a major Japanese industry, with almost 600,000 tonnes -- worth around $2 billion -- exported in 2022.
China is its biggest customer, accounting for around a quarter of this, but Beijing has accused Tokyo of treating the ocean like a "sewer" with the water release.
In a move that experts say is partially motivated by rivalry in other areas, China even before the release banned food shipments from 10 Japanese prefectures and imposed radiation checks for elsewhere.
These time-consuming controls have already led to a 30-percent slump in Japanese seafood imports into China last month, Japanese and Chinese media reported, citing Chinese customs data.
Hong Kong, another important market for Japanese seafood exports, has also threatened restrictions, and it is unclear how consumers elsewhere will react.
- Insecurity -
Masanobu Sakamoto, head of Japan's national fisheries cooperative, reiterated on Monday his opposition to the move.
"(Scientific) safety doesn't necessarily equate to a feeling of security in society. There are concerns that the once the water is discharged, there will be reputational damage," he said.
"There is no way people in the fisheries industry can rest reassured," he said.
People in the fishing industry "really had a hard time in many aspects (after 2011). And now, after 12 years, they are finally settling down and moving toward happiness -- gradually," said Ono, whose
three sons are also fishermen.
"What the government is doing now is to abandon Fukushima. What the government should truly protect is the people of Fukushima, the fishermen, not TEPCO," he said.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
6/10.
This article provides insight into the potential implications of releasing treated cooling water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. It highlights the opinions of local fishermen and other stakeholders, which could be useful information for defense industry analysts to consider when evaluating the potential impacts to the region. The article also speaks to the potential for the water release to further damage the reputation of Japanese seafood, which could have long-term consequences for the defense industrys presence in the area.
Stock Market Analyst:
3/10.
This article does not provide much information that would be useful to a stock market analyst. The article does not provide any data or specific analysis related to the stock markets, and does not offer any insight into potential market trends or movements.
General Industry Analyst:
5/10.
This article provides some relevant information for a general industry analyst, including local opinions on the water release, the potential impacts on the reputation of Japanese seafood, and the approval from the UN nuclear watchdog. However, it does not provide any specific data or analysis on the consequences of the water release for the general industry and does not address potential future impacts.
Analyst Summary
: This article examines the potential implications of the release of treated cooling water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Local fishermen are largely against the water release, citing potential damage to the reputation of Japanese seafood, while the UN nuclear watchdog has approved the plan. This article provides relevant information for defense industry analysts to consider when evaluating the potential impacts to the region, however it does not provide any data or specific analysis related to the stock markets or the general industry.Comparison to Significant Events and Trends: Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the Japanese seafood industry has struggled to recover, with many people avoiding products from the region. The potential water release from the Fukushima nuclear power plant could further damage the reputation of Japanese seafood and have long-term consequences for the defense industrys presence in the area.Investigative
Question:
- 1. How will the potential water release from the Fukushima nuclear power plant affect the reputation of Japanese seafood in the long-term?
- 2. What are the potential health risks associated with the water release?
- 3.
What is the long-term economic impact of the water release on the defense industry in the region?4. What other environmental concerns have been raised by stakeholders in the region regarding the water release?
5. How will the water release be monitored to ensure it meets safety standards?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
