Japanese government seeks fishing industries understanding over ... - The Japan Times
Japanese government seeks fishing industry's understanding over nuclear plant water release | The Japan Times
Mito, Ibaraki Pref. – Industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met with local fisheries industry representatives Saturday to seek their understanding for the planned release into the sea of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The government will “make all-out efforts to prevent reputational damage” to the fisheries industry from the water release, Nishimura told representatives of a federation of fisheries cooperatives in a meeting in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Federation chief Masami Tobita said, “We’re absolutely opposed to the release.” The plan to release the treated water over decades is “fueling anxiety about the future and doubt about continuous fishing operations,” he said.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: nuclear
Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.