However, information gathered for the first three months of this year suggest two thousand nine will be even worse. 但是今年前三个月搜集的信息表明, 2009 年可能会更加严重。
Pirates have attacked at least sixty-one ships so far, compared to six for the same period last year. 与去年同期的 6 艘船只被袭相比,海盗目前已经袭击了至少 61 艘。
Experts say pirates now control at least seventeen ships and three hundred crew members. 专家说海盗现在控制了至少 17 艘船只和 300 名船员。
The amount of money paid to hijackers is harder to confirm. 付给海盗们的钱数已经难以确认了。
Researchers believe this year's total is in the tens of millions of dollars. 研究者相信今年总计会在数千万美元。