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Fishing operations resume off coast of Fukushima

40 Comments

The postponed recommencement of trial fishing operations 50 kilometers off the coast of Fukushima began early Wednesday.

Tetsu Nozaki, the chairman of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, told reporters that the recommencement had been scheduled for the beginning of September, but was delayed due to widespread reports that contaminated water had leaked into the ocean from TEPCO's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Fuji TV reported.

Twenty vessels left Soma port before dawn Wednesday. A fisheries association spokesman told reporters, "We're going out there to catch fish with the intention of selling them, so I'm really pleased."

The federation claims that only fish which pass radiation safety checks will be put on sale, Fuji reported.

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40 Comments
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Until I see Tepco executives and Abe eating said fish I'm not going to buy or eat this fish.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

"but was delayed due to widespread reports that contaminated water had leaked into the ocean from TEPCO’s stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant,"

It wasn't just REPORTS, it was factual admittances that the company has now dumped more than 2000 tonnes of irradiated water into the ocean.

"The federation claims that only fish which pass radiation safety checks will be put on sale, Fuji reported."

Yeah, we've heard that before -- a few weeks before rice with higher-than-permissable amounts of radiation were found to have been sold across Japan.

People, check your labels carefully. There is of course no way to ensure that the products haven't been mislabelled, especially given the reputation here, but if it simply says "Nihon sei" or "product of the Pacific" and does not specify prefecture (and is oddly cheaper than other seafood), I'd recommend staying away from it.

19 ( +19 / -0 )

but was delayed due to widespread reports that contaminated water had leaked into the ocean from TEPCO’s stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant,

it's still leaking so WTF has changed?

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Any one still eating fish from north of about Shikoku must be utterly insane. Or thick.

7 ( +10 / -4 )

Great now there is no way of knowing is it is mixed with the other fish in our local markets. Sure way of making people just avoid fish in general!!!

13 ( +13 / -0 )

These fishermen should return with a large catch after the fishery has been left alone for over two years. The level of irradiation would be determined by species. Pelagic fish like bonito, mactuna, tuna, etc. are the highest risk cos of the distances they travel. Whereas, reef fish like, pink snapper tend not to travel too far from their home range and are least likely to pick up contaminants. However, I too am a bit apprehensive about the testing procedure, which is run by the fisheries dept. If it was done by an outside body I would have more confidence in the results.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

dont buy fish or any products from fukushima ...its not bad rumours its fact that these foods are tainted with radiation. Wait another 50 years and things might be better.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

I thought the fisherman were fishing for the purpose of testing only? This is a disgrace

12 ( +12 / -0 )

This doesn't sound very good at all! Likely to do much more harm than any perceived good!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

seems like fugu won't be the only potentially lethal fish available in Japan......

6 ( +6 / -0 )

There is no way, as some commentators here have said that it is possible to test all fish for contamination nor is it possible to test such perishable items without spoiling. Time and time and time again we have all seen Japanese products sold here and sent abroad that have extremely high levels of radioactivity.

Avoid for the sake of your health.........

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Until I see Tepco executives and Abe eating said fish I'm not going to buy or eat this fish.

at least for 3 consecutive months !

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Olympic bid secured! Restart insanity!

12 ( +15 / -3 )

This apparent desire for almost every Japanese Government Agency and business to just ignore the facts which have been plainly obvious since about day 3 of this manmade disaster is going to put us all at risk.

Already we have seen our ever lowing expectations of Tepco's inept handling sink further and further as they continue to put money above sense, not only having been purposely deceptive but having factually been responsible for the situation but also responsible for not having come even close to following best practice and safety potentially having made a bad situation even worse.

Everything around that plant, the land, the ocean is useless for hundreds of years at least and other than the clean up and stabilisation efforts no-one should be anywhere near that place, let alone trying to grow or catch food for consumption by an under informed, deceived general population.

To be honest I just want to reply to these news stories with single swear words, then with that defeatist cry.. shouganai... because the people in power in the situation, in this country continually promise the world, but never deliver anything but rehearsed apologies.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

I was told a few years ago fish are labelled from the port where they are landed. China fisherman from the east coast do fish off the coast of Fukishima.

As someone above said, with no fishin for two years fish stock may have replenished somewhat... A tempting target for other fisherman.

I think I give up eating fish... Too bad. I like grilled Sanma.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think I give up eating fish... Too bad. I like grilled Sanma.

Don't. Hokkaido Pike Mackerel is in season from August through December!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Testing procedure: 'Yep. Those look OK. Bag 'em up', 'What should we label them as?' 'Just put "fish" on them.'

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Seriously Japan, WTF are you doing????????

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Fishermen happy, government happy, general public very pissed off. Time to dust off those radiation counters and refuse to buy at the shops unless proven independently to be safe. Supermarket owners have done it before. They need to ensure they have the public trust. Shoppers need to vote with their feet.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This is nothing but another of Shinzo Abe's government propaganda. More lies to cover the ones made earlier.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The fishermen here are testing probably just as much as Japan's whalers are testing. Whatever research fits.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Unbelievable! There is no way in the world I'm going to eat fish for a long long time. These guys are mad, mad! I understand they need to make money but why put peoples lives at risk. This is wrong on so many levels. God(s) save Japan.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I won't eat fish from there even if Abe wants to!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Good luck selling that stuff. I know it's probably paranoid, but we only eat fish products that are imported for the last two years. At risk of being off topic, Where do the fast food chains source their fish from? No labels required there I guess.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The unsold fish will end all up in the Izakaya chains all over Japan.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

C'mon you cynical people - put some Fukushima fish on your kids plates tomorrow! It's all just "harmful rumours" about those radioactive leaks into the sea, obviously by Japan-bashers. Our self-titled "Supreme Advisor" Abe has assured us everything is under control - so eat up!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

As i do most of the shopping, I have never been more motivated to learn to read Japanede before.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Seriously? And Japan dares to complain that Korea doesn't wanna buy their fish??? But it's all OK. Abe said everything is under control...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

A proper test for radiation would destroy the fish, and is impractical. A cursory test for radiation will catch highly contaminated stuff only. I don't really know the solution to this.

It's plausible that you could do a good job of testing if you could consistently achieve a good sampling. Yeah, a lot of 'if', 'could', 'plausible', 'consistently' in there. I'm not sure if you could get an accurate assessment (even with very sensitive counters) without destroying the fish for most purposes, as the water in them (especially whole ones) would be a very good rad blocker for the levels here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I would suggest in addition to not eating anything that comes from water to also being careful of vegetables from this area.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

With most of the world banning seafood from Fukushima, there is only one market left. Bon appetit Nippon.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Nuke does not lie. If you continue eating that contaminated fish, the results will be obvious within 5+ yrs

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Greed and stupidity never cease to amaze me! No more sushi for me!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I just can't comprehend the the persistence of the fishermen themselves. As hard as it is, why don't they just start looking for different employment? Their former livelihood ended 3/11.

They ought be criminally responsible for casting nets and lines. Along with the gov't. for allowing this fish to be put in the market.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Deformities may not show as radiation but would be a result

0 ( +1 / -1 )

recommencement of trial fishing operations 50 kilometers off the coast of Fukushima

If they are fishing to sell, then what's the "Trial" part of this?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Time to bring my geiger counter to the supermarket again.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I'd be interested if that works

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wonder how much they are being paid for the ' fishing ' publicity. Must be so much that they will not divulge.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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