World
        

Asia

ROK's fish market hit by radiation fears

Updated: 2011-04-08 15:47

(Xinhua)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

SEOUL - Fear about radiation from the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan has taken a heavy toll on sales of seafood in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

At the Noryangjin fisheries wholesale market in Seoul, the loud sales pitches about fresh and cheap seafood that usually attract customers ring hollow in the face of the lack of customers.

Related readings:
ROK's fish market hit by radiation fears Few signs of life in Japan nuclear evacuation zone
ROK's fish market hit by radiation fears Scientists search for nuclear water in Pacific
ROK's fish market hit by radiation fears Japan stops leaks from nuclear plant

The news that radioactive water has been pouring into the Pacific Ocean from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant has cut the number of customers even further.  Fishmongers say customers are keenly sensitive about the origin of the seafood displayed.

"Lots of customers don't even dare to eat domestically caught fish. I can feel (the loss) in my bones but don't know what to do, " said a fishmonger.

Japanese pollack, used to be popular among customers, are now nowhere to be found in the market.

The troubles with the Japanese nuclear power plant have triggered the customer's tendency to buy frozen fish caught before an explosion at the nuclear plant. "After Japan's radiation leak, customers don't come even though it has been continuously said that there's no harm in eating fish," said another fishmonger.

Meanwhile, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute said it takes nearly five years for ocean currents near Fukushima to come to ROK after circling the North Pacific Ocean, and that the country is not at a worrying stage.  ROK's government has suspended the import of food from areas surrounding the Fukushima nuclear complex. It says it is screening all fishery products from Japan for radiation contamination.

E-paper

Green light

F1 sponsors expect lucrative returns from Shanghai pit stop

Buying into the romance
Born to fly
Light of hope

European Edition

Specials

Share your China stories!

Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.

No more Mr. Bad Guy

Italian actor plans to smash ‘foreign devil’ myth and become the first white kungfu star made in China.

Art auctions

China accounted for 33% of global fine art sales.

Beloved polar bear died
Panic buying of salt
'Super moon'