Japan Press Weekly

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2021 April 7 - 13 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Fisheries cooperative association head opposes ocean release of radiation-tainted Fukushima water

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on April 7 in a meeting with the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations (JF Zengyoren) at the Prime Minister’s Office said that after reviewing experts’ suggestions, he will decide on whether to release radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

After the meeting, Zengyoren president Kishi Hiroshi in front of the press said, “I’m absolutely opposed to the ocean release plan,” and expressed concerns over possible damages due to the release.

Later on the same day, asked by reporters for a comment on the meeting between Suga and the Zengyoren head, Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji said that it is unacceptable for PM Suga to callously approve the ocean release plan.

Kokuta pointed out that local fisheries devastated by the March 2011 “triple disaster” of earthquake, tsunami, and meltdowns of the Fukushima NPP are now experiencing hardships caused by poor catches. He said, “I definitely oppose the government plan to discharge radioactive water into the ocean because such an act will destroy the fishing industry in disaster-hit regions."

The JCP lawmaker demanded that the government carefully consider experts’ proposals other than the ocean release proposal.

Past related article:
> JCP Dietmembers: Gov’t should hold national discussions on ocean release plan of radioactive Fukushima water[July 28, 2020]