After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

Radioactive fish at 124 times 'safe' levels caught near Fukushima

Black sea bream (Photo: British Marine Life Study Society)

A fish with 124 times the level of radiation deemed safe for food consumption was caught near the ravaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

The government-affiliated Fisheries Research Agency announced Friday that a captured black sea bream fish had 12,400 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium, a drastic leap from the maximum of 100 allowed in food, The Asahi Shimbun reports.

The fish, caught 37 kilometers south of the plant, was one of 37 black sea bream captured in October and November for research on radiation levels. Two other fish captured also surpassed safe radiation levels.

While black sea bream fishing is restricted in some waters near Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, in some areas, including the northern municipalities of Ibaraki Prefecture just south of Fukushima Prefecture, fishers are merely asked to voluntarily refrain from capturing them.

Republished from Common Dreams.

Read More:

More in Environment

Pavlof Volcano erupting in Alaska on March 26, 2016.

Flights cancelled in and out of Regina, Yellowknife after volcano in Alaska

VANCOUVER — More flights have been cancelled after a cloud of ash spewed from a volcano on the Alaska Peninsula. WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said the airline cancelled three flights from...
Canada geese mating ritual

Egg addling program shakes up Canada geese population in Okanagan

VERNON, B.C. — Airborne flocks of Canada geese can be symbols of beauty and freedom, but the mess they leave behind on landing can quickly foul parks and beaches. The Okanagan hosts large numbers of...
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.