In Japan, fishermen are angry. They say their livelihoods have been affected by the discharge of radioactive waste water. The release from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant began one year ago. Reporter Liu Yaohong from Fukushima has more.
Shinchi is a small fishing town lying on the Pacific coast, near the northern tip of Fukushima prefecture. Haruo Ono’s family has fished off the coast of Shinchi for generations. Ono says that, over the last year, even though market prices have not declined drastically as he once worried, his unease has not gone away. His distrust towards TEPCO and concerns over the long-term impact of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater discharge remain strong.
Haruo Ono Fisherman from Fukushima “I am filled with anxiety. I am worried about the future –30 years, 50 years from now. Will our children and grandchildren be affected by this in ways we can’t yet imagine? If 30 years from now, fish with high levels of radioactivity are found, it means we’ll be stuck in this situation forever.”
Ono’s frustration is palpable when recalling how the Japanese government and TEPCO pushed forward the wastewater discharge plan despite the opposition from local fishermen. He thinks that the decision not only disregards concerns of local fishermen, but also neglects the severe consequences that future generations may face.
Haruo Ono Fisherman from Fukushima “The Ocean is not a dumping ground. It’s where we fishermen make our living. When our workplace is polluted, of course, we feel angry. The ocean doesn’t only belong to human beings, it’s home to other beings as well. As a human being, I can’t condone dumping any waste into the sea. It makes me extremely angry.”
He noted that since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the local fishing industry has not returned to what it used to be. He emphasized that the discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater could cause irreversible damage to the marine environment. He’s therefore urging Japan to reconsider the decision.
Haruo Ono Fisherman from Fukushima “TEPCO should stop and rethink what is the right thing to do. If stopping the discharge is the correct action, then that’s what should be done. I hope TEPCO can understand this. We should cherish the fish. Marine life deserves the right to live as any other beings.”
According to Japanese authority’s recent data, the export value of Japan’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food from January to June this year declined for the first time in four years.