04/04 Fishermen wary of rumor mill / Worry lack of information could lead to doubts about seafood safety

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Local fishermen have reiterated concerns that rumors about contaminated seawater could harm their business, after it was confirmed Saturday that highly radioactive water was leaking into the sea from a pit at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The fishermen want the government to find a fundamental resolution to the problems at the plant and to prevent speculation by keeping the public informed.

Fusayuki Nambu, 77, head of the Soma-Futaba fishery association in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, called on the government to release full, accurate details.

"We don't know what damage the radiation leak might cause, because assessment surveys haven't been conducted. This could give rise to dangerous rumors if people get the impression that all the seawater near Fukushima [Prefecture] is contaminated," he said.

Three fishery associations in south-central Ibaraki Prefecture on Saturday issued a statement declaring the waters of southern Kashimanada to be safe, citing the results of radiation tests on seafood caught in the area. The Oaraimachi, Kashimanada and Hasaki fisheries associations said only extremely small amounts of radioactive material had been detected in fishery products.

Tsutomu Ishida, head of the Oaraimachi fishery association, said: "If this situation continues, fishermen won't be able to make a living. We really hope things will go back to normal quickly."

A Fisheries Agency official in charge of disaster response said, "Not only fishermen but all people, including consumers and people in other countries, hope the leak of contaminated water into the sea will be stopped as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, an extremely small amount of radioactive cesium was reportedly detected in sardines and other fish caught off Chiba Prefecture. The amount detected was well within the range allowed under government regulations, and the Fisheries Agency said the fish was safe to eat.

At a press conference Saturday, Junichi Matsumoto, deputy manager of a Tokyo Electric Power Co. nuclear power division, apologized for the ongoing troubles at the plant.

TEPCO public affairs manager Kaoru Yoshida, who also attended the press conference, avoided commenting on whether the firm might compensate people in the fishery industry. "We'd like to focus on dealing with the current situation," Yoshida said.

(Apr. 4, 2011)