Restoring the reputation of Japanese fish and seafood following Fukushima water release

21 Sep 2023 --- The latest data from China’s customs authority revealed a sharp drop of 67.6% in Japanese seafood imports in August compared to the same month last year. The decline closely follows the Japanese government‘s implementation on releasing waste water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

China, the largest importer of Japanese seafood, implemented a complete ban on seafood imports from Japan in August due to concerns about the discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. 

Chinese government enforced the ban on the same day Japan began discharging the water, a process forecast to take 30 years to complete.

Later in the same month, Hong Kong SAR, Japan's second-largest seafood market, along with Macau SAR followed suit, prohibiting the import of aquatic products from ten Japanese regions, including Tokyo and Fukushima.

International responses and consumer concerns
According to data from Korea Customs Service, South Korean imports of Japanese seafood have seen a decline for the fifth consecutive month, despite South Korean authorities stating that Japan’s water treatment plans meet international standards for ocean discharge. 

The value and volume of Japanese seafood imports have continued to drop across the country. August witnessed the most substantial year-on-year decline of the year, with the import value reaching its lowest point in two years. In the same month, Japanese seafood imports to South Korea amounted to approximately 1,622 tons, reflecting a 24.9% decrease compared to the same period the previous year.

Singapore has also maintained its position on the safety of food imports from Japan. The Singapore Food Agency says its surveillance results, including for radiation, have been satisfactory. 

South Korean imports of Japanese seafood have seen a decline for the fifth consecutive month.Nonetheless, consumers are expressing their concerns by hoarding food products like seaweed and anchovies and discussing about the potential long-term health impacts of consuming Japanese seafood as well as sea-based dietary staples on social media.

Protecting measures on Japan's fisheries sector
In order to deal with the situation, Japan’s government has announced an additional aid package of JPY20.7 billion (approximately US$141 million) to assist the local fishery industry, which has suffered from a decline in seafood exports.

The announcement, made by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, comes on top of an existing JPY 80 billion (around US$550 million) fund designated to help seafood businesses weather the ongoing crisis and restore the reputation of Japanese products.

“We will protect the Japanese fisheries industry at all costs,” said Prime Minister Kishida in a press statement.

Japanese officials have also sought to reassure the public and trading partners that all seawater and fish samples taken since the release of the treated wastewater meet established safety standards for radioactivity.

In a show of support for Japanese fish, Kishida and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel visited the area to eat local fish in front of TV cameras. Kishida also calls the Fukushima flounder sashimi “safe and delicious” while eating it in a video clip published on social media by his office.

High-tech solutions in the high seas 
As Japan’s international food trade navigates a turbulent period, the innovators in the private sector are increasing effort to protect the country’s fishing industry.

Japanese companies are also working to help the fishing industry. 

A Japanese ocean technology company led by Mizukami Yosuke has been utilizing AI to analyze and monitor water conditions. Started in 2018, the company has been working with fishing fleet captains to compile and analyze ten years of hand-written journals. 

The data can be helpful for the sustainable management of fragile fish stocks. Major tech and telecom companies in Japan, such as Nippon Electric Company, KDDI Kabushiki Gaisha and Sharpare are also exploring new technology to address challenges such as tackling sea pollution and identifying fertile fishing grounds.

By Sichong Wang