Japan to allocate more funds for fisheries industry amid China import ban

Japan's government says it has compiled emergency measures to support the fisheries industry. It will provide another 20.7 billion yen, or roughly 140 million dollars, to the sector that has been hit hard by China's suspension of Japanese seafood imports.

China halted the shipments on August 24th in response to Japan's release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant the same day. The move is a huge blow for people in the fishing industry.

Some of the emergency funds are to be used to buy and temporarily store seafood, including scallops that were set to go to China.

The money will also go to finding new export markets through the Japan External Trade Organization.

The government has already allocated about 550 million dollars to deal with the reputational damage to the industry and other impact from the water release.