CNN新闻英语第 73 课：Japan's Whaling Controversy 日本捕鲸的尴尬

ANCHOR 主播
Since the late eighties, Japan has banned commercial whaling, but since then critics say they've found an alternative way to feed consumer demands. Matt Walsh has more on this year's controversial catch. 自20世纪80年代末以来，日本就已经禁止商业捕鲸，但自那以后，批评家说日本人找到了满足鲸鱼消费需要的另一种方式。马特·沃尔什为您详细报道今年日本颇有争议的捕鲸活动。

REPORTER 记者
Feeding Japanese tastes and feeding debate. Over the past week, some 2000 tons of fresh whale meat has been distributed throughout Japan. Anxiously anticipated by those who want to slice and eat it, the shipment is also being greeted by sharp criticism from opponents of whale hunting. 既要满足日本人的口味，又要使争议双方满意。在过去几周内，有2000吨鲸鱼肉发送到日本各地。对那些想要把鲸鱼肉切成薄片食用的人来说这真是"久旱逢甘霖"，但这一做法同时也遭到捕鲸反对人士的强烈指责。

This whale meat is the product of Japan's whale research program. The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in 1986, but allows Japan a limited catch each year for scientific purposes. 这些鲸鱼肉是日本鲸鱼研究项目的产物。国际捕鲸委员会已于1986年禁止商业捕鲸，但是允许日本每年捕获一定数量的鲸鱼用于研究。

REPORTER 记者
Critics outside the country say the research program is simply a front for continuing to satisfy Japan's taste for whale meat. That market is declining though, perhaps because limited supplies are driving up prices. This week, sashimi quality red whale meat is selling for the equivalent of about 22 dollars a kilogram. Whale blubber is cheaper, at about nine dollars a kilo. 日本境外的批评家说，该研究项目只不过是继续满足日本品尝鲸鱼肉的一个借口。由于供应有限而导致价格上扬，鲸鱼肉市场正在衰退。本周上等红色鲸鱼肉的卖价相当于大概每公斤22美元。鲸脂便宜些，大约每公斤9美元。

AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN 男被访者
If the price of whale meat goes down, I should think people would eat more of it, because the Japanese have been eating whale meat since long ago. 我认为如果鲸鱼的售价降低，人们会吃更多的鲸鱼肉，因为日本人吃鲸鱼肉由来已久。

REPORTER 记者
Japan does indeed have a long history of eating whale, but the younger generation's consumption of the delicacy is going down. The government is distributing a portion of this year's catch to school cafeterias, to try to ensure that Japan's growing up maintain the culture's taste for it. 日本吃鲸鱼的历史悠久，但是年轻一代吃这种美味的人正在减少。日本政府今年给各
学校食堂分发了一些鲸鱼肉，旨在使日本年轻一代保持吃鲸鱼肉的传统。

AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN 男被访者
There was the culture of whaling in Japan. If the whaling disappears it would make me feel sad, because that means that the particular form of the culture fades out. 捕鲸是日本的一个传统。如果捕鲸业消失，我将为此感到难过，因为这意味着这种特殊的文化形式在慢慢消亡。

REPORTER 记者
Even in the face of declining consumption, Japan is discussing plans to buy imported whale meat from Norway, the only country still engaged in commercial whaling. But conservationists say an increase in international trade would further threaten whale populations. 虽然日本食用鲸鱼肉食用量在减少，日本仍在考虑从从事商业捕鲸的唯一国家挪威进口鲸鱼肉。但是环保主义者声称， 国际鲸鱼肉贸易量的增加会进一步威胁鲸鱼的数量。