Japan looks to release non-radioactive Fukushima water into ocean

Local fishing groups, who worry about reputational harm and a threat to their way of life, have also criticized the plan, which the Japanese government approved two years ago as essential to decommissioning the plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

The Nuclear Regulation Authority-approved plan, according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, must be quickly implemented by Tepco if the water release is to begin on August 24 as anticipated, barring unforeseen circumstances. 

The announcement comes a day after the government claimed to have gained "a degree of understanding" from the fishing industry regarding the release of the water, even though a fishing group claimed it still feared the reputational damage would cause livelihoods to be destroyed.

According to Tepco, the first release of water will consist of 7,800 cubic meters spread over roughly 17 days and begin on Thursday.

According to Tepco, the water will have roughly 190 becquerels of tritium per liter, which is less than the World Health Organization drinking limit of 10,000 becquerels per liter. A becquerel is a radioactivity unit.

Japan has declared the water release safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, approved the plan in July, stating it matched international standards and would have a "negligible" impact on people and the environment.