June 25, 2020

The fishery industry is opposed to dumping ALPS-treated radiation-tainted water from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea as announced by the Abe government.

The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations on June 23 unanimously adopted a special resolution "strongly objecting to the ocean release" for the first time in its ordinary general meetings.

The government is considering discharging the contaminated water into the sea after having it diluted and treated with the multi-nuclide removal equipment ALPS.

The resolution, however, states, "We cannot help but feel a strong distrust and resentment due to the fact that only a small number of people are dealing with such an important issue which the entire nation should thoroughly discuss."

The resolution also points out that coastal fishery operators are aware of the need for efforts aimed at promoting the decommissioning of damaged reactors and bringing the polluted-water problem under control, and that they have been making "painful decisions" so as to cooperate with the plan of discharging purified groundwater around the Fukushima Daiichi reactor buildings into the ocean.

The resolution continues to say that the release of ALPS-treated water or tainted water into the sea will only increase Japan’s reputational damage both at home and abroad, pointing out, "Efforts made by fishermen in Japan to restore pubic confidence in fisheries products will come to naught and there will be a destructive effect on the future of the country's fishing industry."

The resolution demands that the government abide by its conventional policy of "not releasing contaminated water into the sea without fishermen's consent".

Past related articles:
> UN human rights experts urge Japan not to make hasty decision on ocean release of radioactive Fukushima water [June 11, 2020]
> Fukushima residents oppose gov’t plan to discharge radioactive Fukushima water into ocean [April 7, 2020]