22 Aug 2012

Fukushima fish 380 times safe radioactive level

9:29 pm on 22 August 2012

The operator of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant has detected radiation up to 380 times the government safety limit in fish caught near the crippled facility.

It is the highest contamination recorded in marine life so far, the ABC reports.

The operator TEPCO recently measured radiation in 20 kinds of fish and shellfish caught along the coast.

It says it detected 38,000 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive caesium in a rock trout caught about a kilometre from Minamisoma City, north of the shattered plant.

TEPCO says it also found high levels of caesium in nine other fish species.

In March 2011 an earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns in reactors at the plant.