PERUVIAN fishermen are expressing concerns over Japan decision to release nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean.
The fishing community of Puerto Morro Sama in Tacna province fears for their livelihoods and food security, as the dumping could harm marine life and disrupt fishing stocks.
Susana Condori, a local fish vendor in Peru, expressed her worries.
“I have been selling fish here for 20 years. I think it is very bad. It will wreak havoc on the fishing stock. What are future generations going to eat?” Susana Condor, Fish vendor in Peru said.
Port Manager David Cutipa echoed these concerns and called on Peru’s government to seek assistance from international organizations such as the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization to ask Japan to reconsider its plan to discharge treated nuclear wastewater in the Pacific Ocean.
The Peruvian governor of Tacna Province, Liliana Cornejo raised concerns about Japan’s assurance that the treated nuclear wastewater will be safe and free of nuclear contaminants.
“The Japanese government said that the water had already been treated. But that’s not true. According to the information we have gathered, the water could still cause radioactive contamination. It will harm not only the ocean, but all the people who make their living from fishing along the coasts of Peru,” Gov. Liliana Cornejo, Tacna Province, Peru said.
Meanwhile, despite domestic and international opposition, Japan intends to proceed with the treated radioactive wastewater discharge.
