Fish market in tsunami-hit town reopens

A fish market in a northeastern Japanese town that was devastated by the March tsunami has begun trading again.

The market in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, had been closed for about 8 months after the tsunami swept away the market building and an ice-making facility.

On Monday, 20 tons of mackerel, salmon and other fish were brought in. The market's first fish auction since the tsunami was about a half the normal haul for this time of the year but enough to bring life to the market again.

Before the auction, about 30 fishermen and market officials observed a moment of silence for those killed in the disaster.

The head of the town's fisheries cooperative says he has mixed emotions. He says the reopening is only a small step forward and that more fisheries workers should come back to the market.

One dealer says the market will gradually be revitalized now that the fish have returned.