Japan resumes seafood exports to China two years after Fukushima wastewater launch

Japan introduced on Friday (November 7, 2025) that its seafood exports have resumed for the primary time since China imposed a ban over the discharge of handled radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plant greater than two years in the past.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara instructed reporters that six metric tonnes of scallops harvested in Hokkaido have been shipped to China on Wednesday (November 5, 2025), the primary cargo to that nation since Beijing banned Japanese seafood in August 2023.

Beijing introduced in June that it might ease the ban and put together for the resumption of imports, following repeated negotiations between the 2 sides.

The ban was a serious blow to Japan’s seafood trade, particularly scallop and seafood cucumber exports. China was the largest abroad marketplace for Japanese seafood.

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“The authorities takes the event as a optimistic transfer,” Mr. Kihara stated as he referred to as on China to proceed to re-register pending functions for Japanese seafood exporters.

A ban stays in place for seafood from Fukushima and 9 close by Prefectures, which China imposed instantly after the plant’s meltdowns.

Mr. Kihara stated Japan will even proceed to induce Beijing to raise the remaining bans and resume importing Japanese beef.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered triple meltdowns following a large earthquake and tsunami in 2011, inflicting leaks of large radioactive wastewater that have to be saved in tanks.

The utility received Japanese authorities approval and help from the International Atomic Energy Agency for the gradual launch of the water into the ocean after remedy and dilution. Japanese officers stated the wastewater can be a lot safer than worldwide requirements, and the IAEA’s complete report later confirmed that the discharges meet international security requirements.