Japanese seafood -- how safe? (August update)
Niseko, Hokkaido. August 10, 2011. Five months have passed since the terrible March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami and subsequent radiation crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. Fortunately, the problems at the plant that led to radioactive contaminated water being dumped into the Pacific Ocean have now been stabilized. Regular testing results also indicate that the water in and around the Fukushima plant is now virtually free from any contamination. (results below). Importantly for Hokkaido, and Ezo Seafoods, which specializes in Hokkaido seafood, testing to date indicates that Hokkaido seafood products including oysters, pink salmon, chum salmon and squid are safe. And while we cannot take anything for granted, any future threat to Hokkaido's seafood seems minimal with the main affects of the contamination limited to the Fukushima area.
However contamination of fish around the Fukushima coastline is a serious issue. To date, some 17 species have tested above the provisional government safety limit for radioactive caesium (list below). Importantly, none of these species have made it to market because there is a ban on fishing along the Fukushima coast. A concern remains for migratory fish such as Skipjack Tuna (Katsuo), Saury (Sanma) and Mackerel (Saba), however commercial fisheries in all prefectures are required to conduct testing prior to fishing. Its basically -- "No safe results, no fishing". So far, there have been no cases of contamination of migratory fish, or even local fish, outside of the Fukushima fishing areas. What is becoming apparent is that demersal or bottom feeding fish such as Olive Flounder (Hirame) and Dab Flounder (Karei) have been the most vulnerable to contamination. But the culprit -- radioactive cesium -- has a half life of 50 days, and most of the caesium is excreted, according to the Ministry of Fisheries report, which means that as each day passes, the threat is reduced even further.
Greenpeace, meanwhile, has conducted its own testing, and returned results similar to the government program -- namely that some samples taken from the Fukushima area returned negative results, including several types with high levels of radioactive caesium. It has called on the Government to label fish with its origin as well as level of radioactivity. While most Japanese seem to be eating seafood again, public concern remains high and such a program would go a long way to restoring confidence to Japanese fishing industry.
For travelers to Hokkaido, or restaurant owners, you can enjoy eating or serving your seafood with a high degree of confidence. Currently, no seafood from Fukushima, or immediately north or south of Fukushima, is making its way to the Sapporo Wholesale Markets. Period. The Sapporo Wholesale Market is the hub of Hokkaido seafood. Furthermore, as reported in my May posting, one of the main reasons for the safety of Hokkaido's seafood is that it is protected by a southward current -- the Oshio. And one more fact -- Hokkaido seafood suppliers such as Ezo Seafoods source seafood from the Sea of Japan along the western coast, and the Sea of Okhotsk to the north.
For travelers to Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan, I hope the information presented including from both the Government and Greenpeace perspectives can help you make up your own mind -- but in my experience, the Japanese public are the true gauges of food safety and see for yourself how much seafood they eat in Tokyo's sushi restaurants these days (well, that's another problem....).
LINKS
Hokkaido Seafood testing results:
Fukushima Seawater Testing:
www.mext.go.jp/component/english/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2011/08/02/1305678_080218.pdf
Ministry of Fisheries Q&A:
www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/kakou/kensa/pdf/eigo_qa_20110803.pdf
Japan Times article on Greenpeace Testing:
search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110810a4.html
(No contamination reported north of Fukushima, including Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori)
SUMMARY AND ACTUAL TESTING DATA
JUNE TESTING ACTUAL RESULTS: www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/kakou/kensa/pdf/eigoban_june_20110705.pdf
In June, some 87 tests were conducted between June 29-30. Excessive levels of Radioactive Caesium showed up in 3 types of marine life all in the Fukushima area including Surf Clams (Hokkigai); Northern Sea Urchin (Kitamurasaki Uni); Ayu Sweetfish.
JULY TESTING ACTUAL RESULTS www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/kakou/kensa/pdf/eigoban20110803july.pdf
In July, 389 tests were conducted. Excessive levels of Radioactive Caesium showed up in 16 types of fish, again all in the Fukushima area including: Fat Greenling (Ainame), Rockfish (Shiro Mebaru), Ayu Sweetfish, Arame Seaweed, Spot Skate (Komon Kasube), Slime Flounder (Babagarei), Olive Flounder (Hirame), Golden Rockfish (Usu Mebaru), Willow Gudgeon (Honmoroko); Brown Hakeling (Ezoinainame).
AUGUST TESTING ACTUAL RESULTS www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/kakou/kensa/pdf/eigoban20110803august.pdf
In August, to date, 81 tests have been conducted. Excessive levels of Radioactive Caesium showed up in 6 types of fish, again all in the Fukushima area including: (Fat Greenling (Ainame), Spot Skate (Komon Kasube), Olive Flounder (Hirame), Golden Rockfish (Usu Mebaru), Stone Flounder (Ishigarei).
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