Five years on, tsunami debris on ocean floor near Fukushima nuclear plant remains untouched

31 January 2016

The Fisheries Agency will continue to subsidize efforts by Fukushima Prefecture to remove tsunami-related debris from the ocean floor. The newest tranche of cash will be used to lift vehicles, concrete blocks and smashed buildings from the seabed within 20 km of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. However, there is no agreement yet on where to dump it. Fukushima fishermen are asking authorities to demarcate a trial fishing zone up to 10 km from the plant. This means removal of the debris is a pressing matter.

Meanwhile, Fukushima fishermen hope to expand the trial fishing zone as early as next month. An underwater survey conducted by the prefecture in 2013 confirmed that several houses, cars and tetrapods are lying on the ocean floor. The survey was unable to determine the total amount of debris within the 20 km area. “Unless the debris is removed, fishing nets may be caught and the risk of accidents will rise,” said an official of the Soma-Futaba Fisheries Cooperative. “We want the debris removed soon.” Read original

(Fukushima Minpo News)