First fish auctions in Fukushima since 3/11

October 19, 2013

Post-accident fish auctions in Fukushima

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131019_19.html

Auctions for fish caught off Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture took place on Saturday for the first time since the March 2011 nuclear accident.

The bidding was held at 4 wholesale markets in Fukushima Prefecture.

More than 100 wholesalers gathered at 6 AM at the central wholesale market in Iwaki, where 400 kilograms of marine products were put up for bid. The seafood represented 30 percent of the entire haul from Friday's test fishing off the prefecture.

No radioactive materials were found in any of the samples that included octopuses and horse crabs as well as the local specialty, greeneye fish.

The greeneye sold for 800 yen, or about 8 dollars, per kilogram. That is 20 to 30 percent higher than the same type of fish from other prefectures.

A wholesaler, Yuji Kanari, said he is very happy as he had been looking forward to dealing with locally-caught fish again.

The marine products were then delivered to retailers across Fukushima Prefecture.

The fish have been put on sale with a certificate showing radiation test results.

At a fish store in Iwaki, a man who bought horse crabs said he came in the morning as he was anxious to eat local food.