JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE AID TO SEAFOOD INDUSTRIES
T he Japanese government will give the seafood industry an additional ¥20 billion ($136.77 million) after China has imposed a blanket ban on imports of Japanese seafood. The new aid, announced on Monday, aims to help the industry find new outlets abroad and strengthen domestic processing systems. It complements an 80 billion yen fund set up by the government to support and defame fishermen. China's ban came into effect in August after Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) began releasing tritiated water from its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. The water was treated to remove radioactive isotopes, but China has expressed concerns about the safety of the effluent. The Japanese government claims the water is safe, but the ban has damaged the reputation of Japanese seafood and led to a decline in exports. The government hopes this additional support will lead to a recovery in the industry. This 20 billion yen will be used for various activities such as: