Removing rubble in sea water around Fukushima plant

September 27, 2016

Debris recovery operation in sea carried out for first time since Fukushima nuclear disaster

https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/debris-recovery-operation-in-sea-carried-out-for-first-time-since-fukushima-nuclear-disaster

FUKUSHIMA —

For the first time since the 2011 nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, the removal of debris in seawater located up to 20 km from the plant site has finally started.

The recovery operation, which began Monday, focuses on the removal of rubble in seawater within 5 to 20 km of the wrecked plant, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Five and a half years after the disaster, fishing has yet to be carried out in these waters while tsunami debris on the ocean floor near the Fukushima plant has remained untouched.

With an aim to start trial fishing operations within this targeted cleanup area, the Soma-Futaba Fisheries Cooperative Association employed 32 fishing boats to recover debris such as driftwood and gill nets on Monday.

Following suit, from Tuesday, the Iwaki City Fisheries Cooperative Association started debris removal operations and will continue the cleanup efforts until February of next year.

Japan Today