The Fisheries Department assuaged public concerns about radioactive-contaminated Japanese seafood by stating that screening on all imported seafood will be tightened.
The Fisheries Department’s deputy director-general, Thavorn Thunjai, stated on Monday that the department has addressed public concern following allegations of Japan dumping wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
On March 11, 2011, a severe earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroyed the power plant’s emergency generators, resulting in a loss of power and three nuclear meltdowns, three hydrogen explosions, and the release of radioactive pollution.
Though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved the release of wastewater on August 24, the Thai people is still concerned about contaminated seafood, according to Thavorn.
He also stated that the government has increased inspections of fish imports from Japanese cities near Fukushima, such as Tokyo, Shiba, Saitama, and Nagano.
To check for contamination, the department has requested assistance from the Office of Atoms for Peace at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation.
So far, the Fisheries Department has found no alarming amounts of radioactive contamination in any sampled imported Japanese fish, he said.
If any contamination is found, the entire consignment of imported fish would be refused and returned, according to Thavorn.
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