Fish contaminated with radiation were caught in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture on Monday. This is the first time in two years that irradiated fish were found in the waters of Fukushima Prefecture.

Photo: NHK

NHK TV reported that the radioactive cesium that was detected this time was in black fish named sebastes schlegelii, which were caught on Monday at a fishing ground about 8.8 kilometers off the coast of Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, at a depth of 24 meters.

Laboratory tests of the irradiated fish showed that the content of radioactive cesium in the fish’s body reached five times above permitted levels to 500 becquerels per kilogram. The Japanese standard for the radioactive content in food is no more than 100 becquerels per kilogram. Consequently, local fishermen have temporarily suspended fishing for this species in local waters and fishery cooperatives have suspended its sale.

File photo of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

On February 13, Japan suffered a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake and Fukushima Prefecture is one of the hardest hit areas. It currently remains unclear whether the content of radioactive cesium in fish was a result of this recent earthquake, as the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday found that the pressure inside one of the reactor containment vessels had dropped.

(Compiled by Liao Yuecen)