China bans seafood from Japan after the Fukushima nuclear plant begins its wastewater release

People protest at a beach toward the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged by a massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami, in Namie town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. The operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday — a controversial step, but a milestone for Japan's battle with the growing radioactive water stockpile. The banner, seen at right, reads: Oppose to the release of the treated radioactive water into the ocean. - AP

OKUMA, Japan (AP): The tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday - a controversial step that prompted China to ban seafood from Japan.

People inside and outside the country protested the wastewater release, with Japanese fishing groups fearing it will further damage the reputation of their seafood and groups in China and South Korea raising concerns, making it a political and diplomatic issue.