EZCNN 易英网

The 11th Hour for Seafood Lovers 渔业危机倒数计时

课文朗读

课文讲解

課文 .pdf       繁體中文譯本

Since the mid-twentieth century when large commercial fishing fleets began roaming the world’s oceans, we have enjoyed ___1___ to abundant and relatively affordable seafood. Nowadays, Japanese restaurants serve delicious sushi and sashimi, while Chinese restaurants serve steamed cod and sweet vinegar yellow croaker. Then there is the ___2___ delicacy of shark fin soup offered at traditional Chinese weddings, of which there are about nine million per year in China. However, such widespread seafood ___3___ is leading us down a very dangerous path.

二十世纪，大型捕鱼队开始横扫世界各大洋，自此，我们一直享有充裕且相当便宜的海鲜。现今，日本料理餐厅提供美味的寿司及生鱼片，而中式餐厅则端上清蒸鳕鱼和糖醋黄鱼，此外还有东方婚宴中无所不见的美食：鱼翅羹──中国每年大概有多达九百万场喜宴。然而如此普及的海鲜消费却正将我们导向一条危险的道路。

A study published in the journal Science in 2006 found that if present fishing ___4___ continue, the world’s fisheries will collapse by 2048. Countless stories in the media today are filled with such alarming statistics, which all point to one broad ___5___: we are fishing at an unsustainable rate, and utilizing fishing techniques that, if left ___6___, will do irreparable damage to ocean ecosystems.

一篇于2006年《科学》杂志发表的研究报告指出，倘若人们不减缓现在的捕鱼速度，全球渔业将于2048年崩溃。现今，不计其数的媒体报导都充斥着这类令人恐慌的数据，而且都指向同一个概略的结论：我们正以远超过生态所能负荷的速度捕鱼，而且我们使用的渔捞技术若未受管制，将对海洋生态造成无法弥补的伤害。

With that being said, all hope is not lost. These ecosystems, though they will never return to their ___7___ pristine condition, can recover with our help. One proven method is to set aside zones that are off-limits to all human activity while keeping others ___8___ for fishing. Another possible solution is referred to as catch-share fisheries management, in ___9___ fisheries receive a share of fixed seasonal fishing quotas. We can also do our part by reading guides about sustainable sushi and fish, such as the one ___10__ by the Blue Ocean Institute, before buying seafood. With our assistance, aquatic life the world over will be able to bounce back.

虽说如此，我们仍有一丝希望。遭受破坏的生态系统虽然无法回到最原始的状态，但在我们的努力之下是能慢慢恢复的。一项已证实有效的方法是设立一些禁止所有人类活动的区域，只开放其他区域允许渔业活动。另一项可行的方法是渔获量管理机制，意指每个捕鱼队会分配到固定的季节性捕捞配额。我们也能为海洋保育出一份力，在选购海鲜之前先阅读一些像是蓝色海洋研究所提供的一些指南，了解如何选购永续寿司及海鲜。在我们的帮助下，全世界的海洋生物一起能恢复蓬勃生机。

－by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

commercial [kəˋmɝʃəl] adj. 商业的

abundant [əˋbʌndənt] adj. 丰富的; 充裕的

delicacy [ˋdɛləkəsɪ] n. 美味，佳肴

collapse [kəˋlæps] v. 崩溃; 垮掉

alarming [əˋlɑrmɪŋ] adj. 令人担忧的; 令人恐慌的

statistic [stəˋtɪstɪk] n. 统计数值

irreparable [ɪˋrɛpərəb!] adj. 〔破坏﹑伤害等〕不能修复的; 无法弥补的

recover [rɪˋkʌvɚ] v. 恢复

set aside  留出，拨出

off-limits [ˋɔfˋlɪmɪts] adj. 禁止进入的；禁区的

fixed [fɪkst] adj. 固定的

sustainable [səˋstenəb!] adj. 能长期保持的; 能长期维持的; 能持续的

assistance [əˋsɪstəns] n. 援助，帮助

More Information

单词发音

11th hour 在最后的时刻, 刚刚来得及 the latest possible time before it is too late

roam [rom] v. 漫步；漫游；流浪

cod [kɑd] n. 鳕鱼

vinegar [ˋvɪnɪgɚ] n. 醋

yellow croaker [ˋkrokɚ] 黄花鱼; 大黄鱼

fishery [ˋfɪʃərɪ] n. 渔业

pristine [ˋprɪstin] adj. 原始的; 崭新的; 完好无损的

quota [ˋkwotə] n. 配额；定额；限额

Save our seas: fix the Common Fisheries Policy

Answer