Waters to the south more radioactive than to the north (of the plant)

May 21, 2013

Fishermen net fish in Fukushima waters to measure radiation levels

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/recovery/AJ201305210005

By HIROSHI KAWAI/ Staff Writer

A fishing vessel from Fukushima Prefecture caught fish in waters south of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on May 20 to test them for levels of radiation contamination, as local fishing cooperatives hope to soon resume fishing in the area.

The No. 12 Akira Maru belonging to the Iwaki fishermen’s cooperative trawled plenty of flatfish and other species.

Due to ocean currents, the concentration of radioactive materials has been found to be higher in waters to the south of the plant, than to the north.

Of the Akira Maru's catch, nine species of fish were kept as samples to measure radiation levels in them. The fishermen tested about 10 kilograms of each type and threw the rest back into the sea.

“It feels hollow to have to throw fish back into the sea, considering that they could fetch high prices,” Captain Akiyoshi Abe said.

Before the nuclear accident triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, waters off the prefecture were known as a good fishing area where more than 100 species could be caught.

Many local fisheries cooperatives have had to suspend operations since the nuclear accident.