IWAKI, Japan. As beach season kicks off in Japan, offering seafood delights to holidaymakers and prosperity to business owners, Fukushima faces potential troubles ahead. The tsunami-devastated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is expected to initiate the release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea within the next few weeks. This contentious plan has sparked fierce protests both within and outside Japan.

Local residents express deep concerns that the water discharge, occurring 12 years after the nuclear disaster, could deal another blow to Fukushima’s image and negatively impact businesses and livelihoods. Yukinaga Suzuki, a 70-year-old innkeeper at Usuiso beach in Iwaki, located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the plant, emphasizes the significance of a healthy ocean for his livelihood. He pleads with officials to postpone the water release until the swimming season ends in mid-August.

Although authorities argue that the potential impact would be limited to rumors, uncertainties remain regarding its effect on the local economy. Many residents feel powerless, as the government’s one-sided crafting of the plan seems inevitable.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the operator, have grappled with managing the vast amount of contaminated water accumulating since the 2011 nuclear disaster. They have now proposed releasing it into the ocean during the summer. The process involves treating the water and diluting it with more than a hundred times the amount of seawater before releasing it through an undersea tunnel into the Pacific Ocean. Officials assert that this method is safer than what national and international standards require.

However, some residents, like Suzuki, remain skeptical despite the government’s safety awareness campaign. They express uncertainty about the actual safety of the plan and its potential long-term impacts.

The Fukushima region, known for its fisheries community, tourism, and economy, is still in recovery mode. The Japanese government has allocated 80 billion yen ($573 million) to support the struggling fisheries and seafood processing industry and to combat possible reputational damage caused by the water release.

The water release plan has also sparked international concerns. Chinese and South Korean fishing groups worry about the potential damage to their seafood’s reputation and have turned it into a political and diplomatic issue. Hong Kong has pledged to ban the import of aquatic products from Fukushima and other Japanese prefectures if the treated radioactive wastewater is discharged into the sea.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted a review to assess the transparency and credibility of Japan’s plan. Its final report, delivered directly to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, concluded that the method meets international standards and that its environmental and health impacts would be minimal. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi assured that radioactivity in the water would be almost undetectable and there would be no cross-border impact.

Although scientists generally agree that the environmental impact of the treated water would be negligible, some call for more attention to dozens of low-dose radionuclides that remain in the water, citing insufficient data on their long-term effects on the environment and marine life.

As the release date approaches, the Fukushima community remains divided, with some calling for further precautions and comprehensive cross-checks to gain public trust. The concerns extend beyond the treated water release, with attention being drawn to the ongoing small leaks of radioactivity into the environment from the damaged plant.

In the face of mounting pressures, the Japanese government and TEPCO must navigate public sentiment and ensure transparency to address the concerns of residents, businesses, and international partners. As the planned release draws near, the potential consequences for Fukushima’s recovery and reputation loom large.