Fishing industry holds up Fukushima groundwater dumping plans

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is planning on releasing groundwater - from around its damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant - into the ocean, pending agreement from local fishermen.

Groundwater has been seeping into the reactor buildings and has therefore been mixing with radioactive waste. TEPCO is hoping to avoid flooding in the damaged reactor building and to stop the groundwater from become radioactive itself, by pumping it out and dumping it into the ocean.

TEPCO are working to prove the safety of the water, in order to get the go-ahead from the parties involved. A trial has been run of the groundwater dumping procedures, which saw around 200 tonnes of groundwater pumped out from around the factory and stored in tanks. The water was tested and has been found to contain only radioactive substances in the same levels as rivers and streams in surrounding areas.

Currently the amount of water seeping into the reactors and becoming contaminated has increased by around 400 tonnes. This has created problems with storing the contaminated water. The company is hoping that intercepting the groundwater by digging wells and then pumping it away from the area will solve the problem and aid them in the decommissioning of the nuclear plant. If they are given permission to continue it is estimated that the amount of water seeping into the reactor core will be decreased by around 300 tonnes.

Some of the leaders of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations had previously agreed that TEPCO's plan was a good idea. However, opposition from members was so great that the plans were ultimately rejected.

Talks are ongoing in an attempt to assuage the fishing industry's fears over the effect that the groundwater would have upon the fishing stock and the surrounding environment. Government officials will be involved in briefings in an attempt to emphasise the fact that TEPCO's plan is safe and is fully inline with the central government's policy.