(Seafood.com) Japan's fisheries
Restoration work is now underway at those fishing ports in preparation for landings of skipjack, saury and other species, for which peak fishing period is expected to come in summer and afterwards.
There is, however, a lingering fear among consumers that the fish from those areas might be polluted by radioactive materials because of the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
The ministry hopes to dissipate the negative rumors about the health of the fish through extensive implementation of inspection on the radioactive substances.
MAFF is now coordinating with regional governments on installment of inspection devices mainly in northern prefectures including Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori. For the time being, a plan is advanced to introduce such devices to about 10 fishing ports which have so far seen considerable progress in restoration.
Taking the occasion of the natural disaster, the ministry intends to restructure and consolidate small-scale fishing ports in the area. At present more than 300 fishing ports exist in the region.