NFDRI and KINS (Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety) will kick off an intensive co-investigation on the impacts of radiation leakage to domestic and marine fisheries in Korea.

The disastrous radiation leaks from quake-hit plants in Fukushima, Japan on Mar. 11 triggered people’s concerns on marine pollution and radioactive contamination.

For this reason, NFRDI will conduct an intensive research in the East, West, and South Sea to ascertain the impacts of nuclear radiation to S. Korean seawater and fisheries.

At the end of March, seawater samples from the southern sea in Jeju Island, northern part of Tsushima current, and the Yeonpyeong Island region will be collected by research ships. After then, the samples will be delivered to KINS for radiation analysis.

In April, an intensive radioactivity analysis will be conducted by collecting the samples of surface water, deep water, bed sediment, and marine life in 22 spots of the overall East, West, and South Sea.

With this, change of sea current and seawater structure will be thoroughly estimated.

NFRDI will also strengthen monitoring on marine environment and migratory fish with KINS in the offshore sea so as to secure safety management of fisheries.