China, the top consumer of Japanese seafood, declared on China’s outrage over Japan’s release Thursday that it had placed the order because of consumer health concerns.
The assertion, however, is not supported by research; experts generally agree that there are no safety issues associated with the release for consumption of seafood or ocean life.
According to Henry Gao, a specialist in international trade law, “the main reason is not really the safety concerns.” He noted Japan’s recent alliance with the US and South Korea and stated, “It is mostly because of Japan’s moves against China.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observers at the site said their tests after the release on Thursday showed the discharge had even lower radiation levels than the limits Japan has set — 1,500 becquerels/litre — which is roughly seven times lower than the global standard for drinking water.
Analysts claim that the trade blow to Japan’s industry would be less severe than anticipated and short-lived, in contrast to the fears of the country’s fisherman.
Japan’s domestic market continues to be its primary fish market.
The majority of the catch is consumed locally, therefore leading seafood companies Nissui and Maruha Nichiro have both stated that they anticipate little impact from China’s prohibition.
The stock prices of both firms were somewhat higher at the closing of trading on the day the ban was announced, according to Reuters.
Beyond China, no other nation has even suggested a complete embargo; South Korea continues to forbid the import of fish from Fukushima and other neighboring prefectures.
Even those who consume a lot of seafood will only be exposed to very low amounts of radiation, experts claim.
China’s outrage over Japan’s release
These doses fall between 0.0062 and 0.032 microSv annually, according to Mark Foreman, an associate professor of nuclear chemistry in Sweden.
According to Associate Prof. Foreman, humans can safely be subjected to tens of thousands of times more radiation than that, or up to 1,000 microSv of radiation annually.
The government of Japan has acknowledged that the local fishing industry will probably suffer significantly.
Beijing had already come under fire for disseminating “scientifically unfounded claims,” and on Thursday night, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pleaded with Beijing once more to check into the study.
On Thursday night, Mr. Kishida told reporters, “We have asked the revocation (of China’s restriction) through diplomatic channels. We firmly support expert conversation that is grounded in science.
Sushi enthusiasts in Hong Kong consume their final bites As Japan unleashes Fukushima water, China responds.
Authorities had already implemented a limited restriction on seafood from select regions of Japan in China and its territories Hong Kong and Macau, but they have now increased that prohibition.
Mainland China and Hong Kong, which each purchase approximately $1.1 billion (£866 million) or 41% of Japan’s seafood exports, are the two largest foreign consumers of Japanese seafood.
According to local media, the leader of a Japanese fisheries union called Japan’s Industry Minister after China’s ban to ask him to push Beijing to lift the restriction.
On the other hand, eateries in Chinese
cities will not be short on seafood specialties. Only 4% of the seafood that China imports comes from Japan; India, Ecuador.
Russia are the countries that Beijing imports the most seafood from, according to statistics from Chinese customs quoted by Reuters.
The total economy of Japan will barely be affected by China’s seafood embargo.
Less than 1% of Japan’s total exports of cars and machinery and other goods are marine products. Analysts claim that a seafood ban would have little effect.
According to Stefan Angrick, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, “the Fukushima water release is primarily of political and environmental significance.”
“A potential ban on Japanese food shipments would have very little economic impact.”
Even Nevertheless, there is still a persistent negative view of the industry’s safety and harm in South Korea, where there have been large-scale protests.
Fishermen in South Korea reported a significant reduction in the sale value of their catch in the months prior to the water’s release, but prices held steady the day following the release.
There is a division within Japan, according to surveys. The administration has put a lot of effort into assuring the public and placating business. If seafood sales plummet, it has pledged subsidies and an emergency buy-out.
On Friday, Osaka officials suggested that government buildings offer seafood from Fukushima.
Tepco, the organization in charge of the Fukushima plan, also announced that it will compensate nearby businesses that experienced a decline in sales.
Locals are resilient though. Many Japanese users of Twitter even applauded the restriction after China’s announcement on Thursday, cynically suggesting it would result in cheaper fish at home.
“In spite of inflation, good news… One user tweeted, “Even Hokkaido sea urchin will be extremely cheap.
The Chinese government expanded its ban on fish imports on Thursday, making it applicable to the entire country of Japan.
Some people questioned if sushi, sashimi, and other goods were still safe after the wastewater leak became highly political and stoked intense concern over seafood in both China and South Korea.
Fish selling groups placed banners at the Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul on Friday encouraging customers not to succumb to paranoia.
Seafood from us is secure. 1 reading. “Let’s eat with assurance. Don’t spread unfounded rumors and exaggerations, another person urged.
China’s outrage over Japan’s release
At the largest market in the city, 52-year-old Yoo Jae-bong was attempting to sell fresh halibut, croaker, and sea bream.
He claimed that the day before the water was released, there had been a rush of buyers.
The first batch of the more than a million tons of wastewater that will be discharge over the next 30 years. The wastewater that was release into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.
The water is safe for people to drink, according to the Japanese government. The electric company that ran the facility.
International authorities concur. According to the nuclear inspector for the United Nations. Then, he said, “it died down. The atmosphere is really tense.
The contamination of seafood outside of the immediate region of the facility will be “significantly below any public health concern.
Independent scientists agree that Japan’s plan is technically sound, similar releases have taken place without issue worldwide.
The additional radiation will be negligible compared to what is currently present in the ocean.
