Overview
- A heavy fuel oil leak from a Coast Guard patrol vessel at Sendai–Shiogama Port in March contaminated farmed wakame and other seafood and prompted damage claims from local fishers.
- The 2nd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters presented a settlement draft covering about ¥85.6 million in April wakame losses to the Shiogama Fisheries Cooperative, which intends to accept the offer.
- Officials say the Coast Guard will make partial compensation payments to affected fishermen this month and will pay for disposal of contaminated seafood and fishing gear by contracting directly with local businesses.
- The regional office has said it will publish the accident investigation and planned prevention measures within June, and one report indicates the spill involved a mix of human error and mechanical faults.
- Cooperative leaders report continued damage in May and are pressing for faster, fuller payouts because wakame sales and local processing jobs depend on prompt compensation and safe disposal of tainted stock.