Fukushima fishing port reopens 8 yrs after disaster

July 26, 2019

TOMIOKA, Fukushima (Jiji Press) — A fishing port in the town of Tomioka in Fukushima Prefecture reopened Friday, more than eight years after it was closed due to the March 2011 powerful earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent nuclear accident.

With its reopening, all 10 disaster-hit fishing ports in the prefecture have now become accessible by ships.

Five fishing boats flying flags signifying good catches arrived at the port on the day, and they were welcomed by people concerned.

While noting that false information about radiation persists, Kanji Tachiya, head of a local fishery cooperative, said at a ceremony to mark the port’s reopening, “We’ll try to revitalize the fishery industry as early as possible by appealing safety and security.”

Tomioka Mayor Koichi Miyamoto indicated his hope that the fishery industry will play a leading role in the postdisaster reconstruction.

Before the 2011 disaster, the Tomioka port was known for good landings of expensive fish such as flatfish, but many related facilities were heavily damaged by the quake and tsunami.

In addition, entry to the port area was restricted due to an evacuation order issued by the Japanese government following the triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The evacuation order was lifted in April 2017, and work to build and repair seawalls, and fishing facilities and equipment was completed by March this year.

According to the Tomioka town government, eight local fishing boats that have been evacuated to ports in the city of Iwaki and the town of Namie, both in Fukushima, are set to return to the Tomioka port.

In 2012, Fukushima fishers started trial operations in which the amount of catches is reduced and fish that passes radiation tests is put on sale.

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