South Korea bans fish imports from Fukushima region

, Sept 6: South Korea on Friday banned imports of all fishery products from

's Fukushima region, which has been suspected of leaking hundreds of tonnes of radiation-contaminated water everyday.

"Imports of all fishery products from eight prefectures surrounding Japan's Fukushima, which is seriously polluted and damaged by radiation, will be banned", Xinhua reported citing the website of South Korea's ministry of oceans and fisheries.

The eight prefectures are Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Iwate, Tochigi, Chiba and Aomori.

In the past, import bans had been imposed only on 50 fishery products from the Fukushima region, but it will be expanded to all products from now on, the ministry said.

The radiation has worried many and thereby prompted a sharp decline in the consumption of fish. Scientists have found high levels of cesium in the fish near the plant. Fisheries off Fukushima are closed for the time being.

IANS