Ikanago fish shipments banned in Fukushima Prefecture

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In Japan's first restrictions on seafood related to the nuclear crisis, Prime Minister Naoto Kan on April 20 ordered a suspension of shipments and consumption of "ikanago" (sand lance) caught off Fukushima Prefecture.

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Ikanago fish shipments banned in Fukushima Prefecture
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In Japan's first restrictions on seafood related to the nuclear crisis, Prime Minister Naoto Kan on April 20 ordered a suspension of shipments and consumption of "ikanago" (sand lance) caught off Fukushima Prefecture.

The order was relayed to Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said, based on the special measures law concerning nuclear energy preparedness.

On April 13, 12,500 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram was detected in ikanago caught off Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. That was 25 times the interim legal limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram.

The prefecture is home to the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, where large volumes of contaminated water have been discharged into the sea.

Shipments of vegetables and milk produced near the nuclear power plant had also been suspended. Doubts had been raised about enforcing restrictions for fish because they can travel long distances. But the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said ikanago generally stay within the same area.

The government said the ban will apply to "those landed in Fukushima Prefecture." Since ikanago fishing requires the governor's permission, the ban targets fish "caught in the sea off Fukushima Prefecture."

Fishing operations had already been halted since the March 11 tsunami damaged all 10 ports in the prefecture.

The government also plans to continue monitoring radioactivity levels in fish caught off neighboring Ibaraki Prefecture.

The level of radioactive iodine found in ikanago caught near Kita-Ibaraki in the prefecture was 4,080 becquerels per kilogram, according to reports released on April 4. The following day, the government designated the limit of iodine at 2,000 becquerels per kilogram and strengthened inspections of marine products by the fisheries ministry.

All fishing cooperatives in Ibaraki Prefecture have since stopped fishing for ikanago.

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, are expected to compensate fishermen for the damage caused by the fishing ban.

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