A planned discharge of treated water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the sea will start around this spring or summer, some two years after a decision on its release was made, the government said Friday.

A revised policy on the disposal of the treated water containing low-level concentrations of tritium as well as financial support for affected fishing communities was endorsed during a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers on Friday.

"We would like to thoroughly explain these measures to fishing communities and other relevant parties while listening to their concerns," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at the meeting.