IAEA Confirms Successful Release of Treated Radioactive Wastewater from Fukushima Power Plant

Second release of 7,800 tons of treated wastewater completed; ongoing process has faced opposition from local fishing groups and neighbouring countries, causing trade restrictions impacting Japanese seafood industries.

• The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, successfully completed the release of a second batch of 7,800-tons of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. The plant began releasing treated wastewater into the ocean on August 24 and is expected to continue doing so for decades.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted its first safety and monitoring mission since the release began two months ago and found 'no issues.' A recent marine sampling mission involving scientists from IAEA and countries including China, South Korea, and Canada also went well.
• The discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima plant has faced significant opposition, primarily from local fishing groups and countries such as South Korea and Russia. China banned all imports of Japanese seafood on the day the release began and Russia has since imposed trade restrictions.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for China to immediately lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports. The ban, among other trade restrictions, has had a significant impact on Japanese seafood producers, processors, and exporters.
• According to the IAEA, their two-year review of the wastewater release plan concludes that if carried out as planned, the release will have a negligible impact on the environment, marine life, and human health. Despite this, the continuous release of wastewater has sparked international repercussions, notably from China and Russia.

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