More problems with fish

April 26, 2012

Cesium contaminated fish found in Tone river

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120426_08.html

Radioactive cesium exceeding the new legal limit has been found in fish in the Tone River, which passes north of Tokyo. Authorities have taken measures to stop the shipment of fish caught in the river.

Chiba prefectural officials say a silver crucian carp caught in the river contained 110 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram. The new limit is 100 becquerels per kilogram.

The Tone River is the river with the largest drainage area in Japan. The town where the contaminated fish was caught is located about 180 kilometers from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The prefecture has asked 10 municipalities along the river and 6 fishery cooperatives not to ship fish from the river to market.

Last month, fish and shellfish pulled from a pond near the river were removed from circulation because of radiation levels above the legal limit.

Prefectural officials say they will check other types of freshwater fish for radioactivity.