An offshore wind turbine stands positioned in the sea off the coast of the town of Naraha in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on Oct 2013. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP)

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Thursday said it would pull out of a wind power turbine project in Fukushima Prefecture owing to its unprofitability.

The project was supposed to be symbolic of the region's reconstruction and return to business after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear travesties

The 60 billion yen (US$580 million) project was supposed to be symbolic of the region's reconstruction and return to business after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear travesties.

Japan had, as part of its efforts to fight climate change, set a target of raising its offshore wind power generation to up to 45 gigawatts in 2040.

ALSO READ: Japan plans huge offshore wind expansion to hit climate goal

This compares to just 20,000 kilowatts as it stands now, with the government deciding to remove the remaining two of three turbines in the fiscal year starting April.

The decision was met with indignation by local fisherman and others attending a meeting on the matter in Fukushima on Thursday.

READ MORE: Japan plans carbon emission cuts, more nuclear energy

They accused the government of wasting tax payers' money and said a full investigation should be carried out as to why the project was being scrapped.