International controversy after the Fukushima water spill

Beijing bans the import of Japanese seafood products.

Japan begins dumping contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. The spill arises more than 12 years after the earthquake and tsunami that seriously affected the nuclear power plant and after having treated the water to eliminate most of the radioactive waste, with the exception of tritium.

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TEPCO, the operator of the plant, has ensured that the discharge -necessary for the dismantling of the nuclear power plant- will not cause harm to human life or the marine ecosystem.

This process, which is expected to last decades and has the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency; It continues without convincing the population, who fear for their safety and for the future of the fishing industry.

Terumi Kataoka, a Fukushima resident, says: “I feel angry and unconvinced. Why, even up to this point, this country doesn’t listen to our voices and the voices of the fishermen.”

Boycott of the Japanese fishing industry

The news has also sparked controversy outside of Japan.

In South Korea, police arrested 16 student activists for allegedly trying to break into the Japanese embassy to protest the dumping, and various political parties have spoken out against the move.

Several citizen protests and another by the main opposition bloc, the liberal Democratic Party (PD), were organized there.

Municipal and provincial governments across the country have promised to increase radiation controls on fish and shellfish.

China has announced the suspension of the import of fishery products of Japanese origin “to prevent the risk of radioactive contamination” due to the spill, after having urged Japan in previous days to cancel its plan.

Hong Kong and Macao have banned seafood from Fukushima and nine other Japanese prefectures.

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