FOLLOWING the approval of the discharge of Fukushima’s Nuclear wastewater into the sea, South Korea’s seafood imports from Japan plunged by 34.7% in June year on year.
This marks the 3rd month in a row of decline since the discharge of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant‘s wastewater into the sea received approval.
According to the latest data from the Korea Customs service, on July 17, the total import volume of fish and shellfish in June from Japan went down by 21.7%.
The fall in import figures came as the government of South Korea-and the public, continued to raise their concerns over Japan’s plan to discharge the wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, an event that is expected to take place later this summer.
The wastewater release is expected to be spread out over the next three decades.
Data released by the South Korean Customs service on Thursday also said that imports of tuna, and salmon have dropped by more than 60%, and more than 80% respectively, compared with the same period in 2022.
And last Friday, over 1,000 fishermen in South Korea’s Jangheung County, Jeolla Province, protested to voice their opposition against Japan’s plan to dump wastewater.
They were seen holding placards with slogans, and banners criticizing Japan’s plan.
Jeolla Province is a major producer of octopus and seaweed in the country, and many locals fear that their livelihoods are already under threat even before the polluted water is released.
It can be remembered that since 2013, South Korea has banned all seafood imports from 8 Japanese prefectures located near Fukushima and this is due to radiation level-related concerns.
