The Fukuoka High court on Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling doubling the monetary penalty imposed on the state for refusing to open the flood gates of the Isahaya Bay dike in southwestern Japan, further complicating the situation caused by a controversial government reclamation project.
The high court turned down an appeal from the central government against a decision by the Saga District Court in March ordering the state to pay ¥900,000 per day (about $7,300), or ¥20,000 per fisherman, raising the amount from the earlier ¥450,000 per day, or ¥10,000 per fisherman.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has so far paid ¥189.9 million to the fishermen through Wednesday. The state immediately appealed the high court ruling to the Supreme Court.