Test fishing starts in Fukushima

October 18, 2013

Test fishing process in Fukushima

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131018_32.html

In the test fishing off the coast of Fukushima prefecture, fishermen are allowed to operate in limited waters and catch only certain types of seafood. This is to ensure the products' safety and win consumer trust.

In the immediate aftermath of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, sea currents were flowing to south. Thus radiation levels were higher in marine products caught in the waters south of the plant.

Test fishing first began in June 2012 off the northern coast of the prefecture. Radiation levels in marine products caught there were the lowest among samples.

Test areas have gradually been expanded after regular checks by the prefectural government and others found that radiation levels in many products are falling.

In March this year, authorities allowed fishing by small boats closer to the northern coast.

Authorities initially limited test fishing to 3 types of seafood in which almost no radioactive materials were detected in sampling. Now fishermen are allowed to catch 18 types.

Local fishermen caught more than 100 types of marine products before the nuclear accident.

They can now go to the sea only once a week or so, as they are monitoring how consumers will react to products from Fukushima.

The prefectural association of fisheries cooperatives says it wants to catch more marine products, taking into account the results of regular radiation checks.

Oct. 18, 2013 - Updated 11:10 UTC

Test fishing starts off southern Fukushima

   http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131018_31.html 

Fishermen have brought in their first catches off the southern coast of Fukushima Prefecture since a nuclear accident at a power plant occurred 2 years and 7 months ago.

13 trawlers from 2 fisheries cooperatives in Iwaki City set out on Friday morning.

They returned before noon with 1.3 tons of catch including octopus, hairy crab and a local specialty fish.

Fishery officials took samples and tested them for radioactivity. They say no radioactive materials were detected.

The products will be shipped around the prefecture on Saturday.

The nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant forced local fishermen to stop their work due to concerns of marine products being contaminated with radiation.

Test fishing began off the northern coast of the prefecture in June last year.

But fishery workers in southern parts of the prefecture had to wait until the prefectural fisheries association concluded that seawater and marine products were safe.