Japan will begin releasing treated and diluted radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday 24 August. At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, to be ready for the discharge on Thursday, weather and sea conditions permitting. The release of treated water into the ocean faces strong opposition from the Japanese fishing industry on the grounds that it would harm seafood, Euronews reported. The government and the plant's operator, on the other hand, argue that Fukushima is now decommissioned and that it is necessary to drain the water to prevent possible leaks.