福島の漁再開―一歩ずつ、元の姿に

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 1
EDITORIAL: More stringent labels on fish products needed
福島の漁再開―一歩ずつ、元の姿に

Fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture recently went back to their livelihoods for the first time since the nuclear disaster last year. For the past 15 months, they had voluntary suspended their operations.
Their catches were sold at retail stores within the prefecture on a trial basis.
　原発事故で自粛が続いていた福島県沖の漁が１年３カ月ぶりに再開され、県内の小売店で試験的に売られ始めた。

We sincerely hope they get back on their feet soon. Putting their offerings through thorough radiation tests will be a sure way to win back customers still leery of sea produce following the reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant.
　検査を徹底し、消費者の理解を得つつ、事故前の生活を取り戻していってほしい。

Two kinds of octopus, as well as shellfish, were selected for the initial shipments. No detectable amounts of radioactive cesium were found in these species in regular testing done after the disaster.
　販売されたのは、事故後の定期的な検査で放射性セシウムが不検出となっているタコと貝の３種類。

After being tested for radiation beforehand, the octopus and shellfish were boiled and put on sale. Sales were fairly brisk.
出荷時の検査を経て、ゆでた商品が並び、売れ行きはまずまずという。

Fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture plan to start test sales outside the prefecture to gauge overall consumer reaction.
消費者の反応を見ながら、県外でも販売を試みる計画だ。

Fishermen who are still idle are receiving compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the crippled nuclear power plant.
　漁を自粛している漁業者には東京電力から賠償金が支払われている。

Stable livelihoods are vital for rebuilding the ravaged local communities.
とはいえ、地域社会を再興していくには、安定した生業が欠かせない。

The government’s new food safety standards on radioactive cesium levels, introduced in April, set the limit at 100 becquerels per kilogram for common food items. The new ceiling is five times stricter than the previous, provisional limit.
　食品の放射能汚染では「１キロあたり１００ベクレル以下」という基準がある。今春から、以前の暫定基準より５倍厳しくなった。

However, the prefectural fishing cooperative has adopted its own limit of 50 becquerels.
県漁連は「５０ベクレル以下」の独自基準を設けている。

Naturally, people have different levels of anxiety about radioactive contamination. There are many who feel they may still be at risk if they eat food containing radioactive materials even if the levels of contamination are below the safety limit.
　ただ、放射能汚染への不安感には個人差があり、基準を満たしていても安心できないという人が少なくない。

Only small samples from large catches of seafood can be tested for radiation. Unlike agricultural or livestock products, marine produce generally cannot be strictly linked to specific areas since fish swim far and wide.
一度に大量に水揚げする魚介類はサンプリング検査にならざるをえない。農産物や畜産類と違って広い海を泳ぎ回る問題もある。

To reassure consumers about the safety of seafood caught off Fukushima Prefecture, local fishermen need to adhere to some simple common-sense steps. They must make sure that careful radiation tests are carried out before shipment and fully disclose information about both the test methods and results.
　出荷時の検査をきめ細かく行い、検査の方法と結果を合わせて公表する。

It is also crucial to sell seafood that has been found to contain no detectable levels of radioactivity or marine produce meeting the safety standards.
不検出の魚種をはじめ、基準を満たす魚だけを出荷する。この基本作業を続けていくしかない。

As for shipments out of the prefecture, wholesalers may be unwilling to buy seafood caught off Fukushima Prefecture because of concerns about sales.
　県外への出荷では、卸業者が売れ行きを心配して買い付けを控えることも予想される。

Direct sales to consumers should also be considered as many people are keen to support disaster-hit areas by buying food products from the areas, so long as they know they are safe.
消費者に直売するルートも検討してはどうか。「安全なら、買って被災地を助けたい」と考える人は多いはずだ。

In Pacific waters off Fukushima Prefecture and in Tokyo Bay, TEPCO and the central and local governments are doing radiation tests on samples of seawater, mud from the seabed, fish and living things they eat.
　福島県沖などの太平洋と東京湾では、東電や国、自治体が海水と海底の土、魚やそのえさとなる生物の検査を続けている。

Amounts of radioactive cesium have fallen significantly or to undetectable levels in many kinds of fish that swim near the surface or in the middle depths of the sea. This includes most migratory species of fish, along with squid and octopus, according to the Fisheries Agency.
　水産庁の分析では、海面近くや海中の中層を泳ぐ魚の多くと回遊性の魚、イカやタコ類などではセシウムが減っていたり、不検出になったりしている。

In contrast, fish that live near the seabed are often found to contain levels of radiation above the safety threshold. This seems to be explained by the fact that cesium tends to be absorbed in mud on the sea floor.
　一方、海底近くにいる底魚類では基準を超える例が目立つ。セシウムが海底の泥に吸着するためとみられる。

Radiation tests of samples of seawater and seabed mud should be carried out more frequently and at more locations for further analysis.
海水や海底土の検査も地点と回数を増やし、分析を深めてもらいたい。

Place-of-origin labels of fish usually show the prefectures where the landing ports are located. But this can be a disadvantage because it does not make clear where the fish was actually caught.
　魚の産地表示では水揚げ港の都道府県を示すことが多いが、どこでとったのかわからないのが難点だ。

A growing number of labels on seafood products caught in Pacific waters off eastern Japan, including Fukushima Prefecture, show the name of the prefecture or one of the seven sea areas into which the region has been divided. This new labeling system is being promoted by the Fisheries Agency.
　福島県沖を含む東日本太平洋の水産物では、水産庁の指導で、「○○県沖」や、七つに分けた海域での表示が広がりつつある。

Further efforts should be made to provide consumers with more accurate and detailed information about seafood products from the region.
消費者への丁寧な情報提供に、さらに工夫してほしい。