Fukushima Residents, Fishing Industry Sound Alarm Over Wastewater Release
Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean has triggered widespread unease among its citizens, with Fukushima residents and local fishers warning of irreversible consequences. A recent survey by Japanese NGOs shows 78% of respondents in coastal areas oppose the move, fearing contamination of seafood and long-term health risks.
\"Our livelihoods were just recovering after the 2011 disaster,\" said Hiroshi Tanaka, a third-generation fisher from Iwaki. \"Now customers are canceling orders because they don't trust government safety claims.\" The $800M fishing industry in Fukushima has seen exports drop 40% since 2020 due to preemptive import bans by South Korea and other Pacific nations.
Regional Tensions Rise
Environmental groups across Asia-Pacific have organized #SaveOurSeas protests, while scientists debate the effectiveness of ALPS filtration technology. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring the release, but critics argue independent verification remains limited.
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Japan's radioactive wastewater discharge plan worries its own citizens
cgtn.com
