2007年VOA标准英语-Australia Urged to Protect Pristine Coral Sea

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
17 September 2007

Conservationists have started a campaign to urge the Australian government to formally protect the Coral Sea, one of the country's last tropical marine¹ wildernesses².  A coalition³, led by the World Wildlife Fund, has declared it a 'predator⁴ diversity hotspot' for its abundant shark populations.  The environmental groups are concerned the area could be damaged by a variety of man-made threats. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney.

Conservationists describe the Coral Sea as "a stunning⁵ blue-water highway, full of oceanic predators⁶."

It is a haven⁷ for hammerhead and white tip sharks, as well as manta rays.

The Coral Sea covers 780,000 square kilometers and borders the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's east coast.

Wildlife groups want the government in Canberra to give it full environmental protection and create what would be the world's largest marine park.

Gilly Llewellyn, from the conservation organization WWF, says pollution and oil and gas drilling are among many threats that could damage the Coral Sea's ecosystem⁸.

"It could potentially be targeted by illegal fishermen," Llewellyn said. "Sharks are increasingly rare in our oceans today.  These are the sort of lions and tigers of the sea and,  unfortunately, they're prized for their shark fin⁹, which commands a high price in the Asian marketplace.  And so, you know, illegal fishers, looking for sharks for their fin, are becoming increasingly bold. So, without formal protection for the Coral Sea we're afraid it might be vulnerable to that in the future."

Environmentalists point to the alarming statistic¹⁰ that coral reefs are declining five times faster than the rainforests.

The Coral Sea is considered one of the most spectacular scuba¹¹ diving destinations in the world, partly because there are so many sharks within the system of reefs.

An Australian government spokesman says a panel of experts is reviewing protection options. 

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 wildernesses   

荒野( wilderness的名词复数 )； 沙漠； （政治家）在野； 不再当政（或掌权）

参考例句：

• Antarctica is one of the last real wildernesses left on the earth. 南极洲是地球上所剩不多的旷野之一。
• Dartmoor is considered by many to be one of Britain's great nature wildernesses. Dartmoor被很多人认为是英国最大的荒原之一。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

5 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

6 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

9 fin   

n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼

参考例句：

• They swim using a small fin on their back.它们用背上的小鳍游动。
• The aircraft has a long tail fin.那架飞机有一个长长的尾翼。

10 statistic   

n.统计量；adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• Official statistics show real wages declining by 24%.官方统计数字表明实际工资下降了24%。
• There are no reliable statistics for the number of deaths in the battle.关于阵亡人数没有可靠的统计数字。

11 scuba   

n.水中呼吸器

参考例句：

• I first got hooked on scuba diving when I was twelve.12岁时我开始迷上了带水中呼吸器潜水。
• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。