Japanese fishing group calls for China to lift ban on Japanese seafood imports

The Japan Fisheries Federation has called on the government to continue efforts to end China’s ban on seafood imports from Japan.

The head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, Sakamoto Masanobu, made the decision in a meeting with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito Ken on Friday.

Sakamoto thanked the government for supporting the fishing industry following the release of purified and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which began operations a year ago.

He added that the industry has been seriously affected by China’s actions to halt imports of seafood products from Japan.

He added that the industry alone cannot do anything about China, and the Japanese fishing community is very worried about the future.

Saito said the government at various levels has urged Beijing to immediately lift restrictions that are not based on scientific evidence.