Prior to the release, the government announced measures to support the fishing industry in the event of reputational damage worth ¥80 billion.

The new measures will aim to mitigate the damage from the ban, mainly the purchase and storage of scallops, the fishery of which is particularly dependent on exports to China, the news agency reported.

In addition, the government will re-equip domestic processing plants and instruct the Japan External Trade Organisation to find new markets, the report said.

On Aug 24, Japan began dumping treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, despite strong opposition from other countries in the region.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.