Following China’s lead, Russia also implemented temporary restrictions on imports of fish and seafood from Japan. The move occurred in the context of the Fukushima Daiichi plant’s recent release of treated water into the sea, a measure aimed at long-term cooling and safety management after the 2011 disaster.
As stated by Rosselkhoznadzor, precautionary steps were taken starting October 16, 2023, aligning with China’s temporary import restrictions on Japanese seafood. The agency noted that partners would receive comprehensive information necessary to verify product safety. The possibility exists that these restrictions could be lifted once assurances are provided.
Criticism from Japan
Kyodo reported that Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries deemed Rosselkhoznadzor’s decision unfair and called for its cancellation. A similar appeal followed from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which argued that tightening import controls without solid scientific justification conflicts with global moves to reduce trade barriers for Japanese food products.
Tokyo emphasized that it had previously shared extensive, transparent statements with the international community about the safety of the discharged water, the purification methods employed, and the overall safety of seafood from Japanese waters. In response to a request for information dated October 10, and a deadline set for material submissions by October 16, Japan asserted that it had answered promptly and accurately, taking into account Russia’s interests.
Discharge of treated water from nuclear facilities
Tokyo Electric Power Company began releasing treated water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean on August 24. The accumulated wastewater, exceeding 1.25 million tons, has been stored in cooling reservoirs since the tsunami damaged the plant in March 2011. The discharge plan is projected to span about 30 years, and it has received backing from the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of its safety assessment framework.
China implemented broad restrictions on seafood imports from most Japanese prefectures. While Rosselkhoznadzor intensified scrutiny of Japanese fish products, supplies have not been entirely halted, and market access remains subject to ongoing controls.
Earlier assessments by Rospotrebnadzor indicated no detectable changes in radioactive content within Pacific Ocean waters, including tritium levels. Still, the department head warned that cumulative effects deserved continued attention as discharged water volumes increase and impact marine ecosystems, sediments, and biota. This concern reflects the broader debate over environmental monitoring and long-term safety for regional fisheries.
Fisheries near the Kuril Islands
In early October, Russia restricted Japanese fishing activity near the southern Kuril Islands. Octopus harvesting, typically launching mid-month, faced potential disruption amid these constraints. Moscow noted that consultations on fisheries had not occurred in the context of what it described as anti-Russian measures by the Japanese government, which it argued ran counter to the spirit of a 1998 agreement on neighborliness and cooperation. The stance also suggested that Tokyo’s actions were moving ahead of sanctions coordinated with Western partners.