South Korean fishery industry wants Japan to cancel its plan to discharge pollutants into the sea
The Japanese government intends to discharge the radiation sewage from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea.
The Central Committee of the Korea Fisheries Cooperative Association asked Japan to give up on the 19th.
The South Korean fisheries community said that once the Japanese side discharges pollution into the sea, the South Korean side will unite with the international fishing community to respond with tough measures.
On the 19th, Ren Junze, chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Fisheries Cooperative Association, met with the Japanese Embassy Counselor Masato Nagai at the Seoul headquarters of the agency to oppose the idea of Japan discharging nuclear waste water into the sea.
This agency previously estimated that if nuclear waste water is discharged into the sea, the sales of aquatic products in the domestic traditional aquatic product market and large supermarkets will be reduced by about 40% and 20%, respectively, and the Korean fishery will suffer huge losses.
According to the Central Committee of the Korean Fisheries Cooperative Association, this meeting was proposed by the Japanese side.
Japanese media reported last month that the Japanese government officially decided to discharge the treated nuclear waste water into the sea as soon as the end of October.
This plan was opposed by many parties, including the Japanese fishing industry, and the Japanese government has not issued a final decision so far.
Ren Junze warned that if the Japanese side forcibly discharges sewage into the sea, the Korea Fisheries Cooperative Center will unite with other members of the International Cooperative Union Fisheries Committee to respond with tough measures.
In Ren Junze's view, Japan should not make a unilateral decision on how to dispose of nuclear waste water, but should be fully and scientifically demonstrated by the international community.
Regarding how to dispose of nuclear waste water, the South Korean government has always called on Japan to maintain open and transparent information, emphasizing that ensuring the safety of the people is the top priority.
In response to South Korean demand, Nagai responded that the Japanese government will "maintain communication with neighboring countries."
Japan hopes that the Korean fishery community will understand the scientific and safe treatment of nuclear waste water.
(Liu Xiuling) (Xinhua News Agency Special Feature)