‘Do not resume Japanese fish imports’

Activists claim import ban is still necessary

Environmentalists and consumer groups criticized the government on Wednesday for considering lifting the ban on Japanese fish imports which has been in place since September 2013 in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

The ban was enacted because the sea water near the power plant was found to be highly contaminated. The ban is applicable to all types of fishery products from Fukushima and eight prefectures nearby.

The groups gathered in central Seoul to urge the government to re-consider its plan to resume Japanese fish imports.

“It is like giving Japan a gift at the cost of the public health. We condemn the ministry’s approach,” the groups said in a statement.

The participating groups included the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, Hansalim, Child Save and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. Furthermore, the groups demanded the government ban all Japanese fishery products.

The criticism came after a foreign ministry official indicated last week that the ban could be lifted soon.

“A group of experts are doing research. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary after Korea and Japan recovered its diplomatic ties. We’re working to remove an obstacle in Korea-Japan relations as soon as possible,” a ministry official said.

A lot of the participants at the demonstration were mothers and children. “I don’t want my kids to be exposed to radioactive fish in school,” said Koh Hye-jin, 34, a mother of two children. “Although numbers show it’s below the dangerous level, it’s hard to believe. No matter how small, it can be a problem when the number accumulates.” Children were also among the demonstrators.

The import ban in 2013 was imposed when experts found the sea water near the Fukushima nuclear reactors was highly contaminated.

Since then, the government runs a sample test on Japanese fisheries products on a daily basis.

Although the results have not shown any significant threat, the public continues to show their concern about the safety of Japanese fish imports.

Yonhap Participants stage a performance of eating fish contaminated with radioactive materials during a protest in central Seoul, Wednesday. They urged the government to drop its plan to lift an import ban on fisheries products from Fukushima and eight...