Seafood exports from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, experienced a significant decline last year. The fall in exports resulted from China's import ban, which was imposed as a reaction to Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. Preliminary data released by Japan Customs on Friday highlighted this downturn, revealing a 32% decrease in exports compared to the previous year.
Before the ban, Hokkaido's seafood exports were valued at 82.5 billion yen in 2022. However, the ban, aimed at protesting the wastewater release, led to a stark drop in revenue. By the end of 2023, Hokkaido's seafood exports plummeted to 56.7 billion yen, marking a decrease of 25.8 billion yen or 32% of the total value from the prior year.
In response to the ban, Hokkaido scallop exporters have been working diligently to diversify their market presence beyond China. They are now facing additional trade challenges in the United States this year, further complicating their efforts to stabilize their export revenue. The trade shifts are driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and the lingering effects of the import ban.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, located in Japan, has been a focal point of international concern since its catastrophic meltdown in 2011. The plans to release treated wastewater into the ocean have sparked widespread environmental and political debates, influencing international trade policies and impacting Japan's seafood industry.
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