AGRICULTURE REPORT - U.S. Seeks to Increase Ocean Fish Farmi
AGRICULTURE REPORT - U.S. Seeks to Increase Ocean Fish Farming
By Mario Ritter
Broadcast: Tuesday, June 14, 2005
I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
Most fish farming involves freshwater fish. Eighty-five percent of aquaculture in the United States is done in rivers and lakes. Production at sea mostly involves shellfish harvested close to shore.
But a proposed American law could greatly increase ocean aquaculture. It would permit fish farming up to three hundred twenty kilometers from shore. The bill is called the National Offshore 1 Aquaculture Act of two thousand five. The administration of President Bush sent the measure to Congress on June seventh.
Fishing laws limit the size and time of year of harvests. The proposed changes would define 2 aquaculture harvesting as something other than fishing.
The secretary of commerce would gain the power to sell ten-year permits to operate ocean farms. Production would take place within waters called the Exclusive 3 Economic Zone. Foreign companies could buy the permits if they have an American business agent. The secretary could also establish environmental requirements if existing ones are not enough.
Some experts say more fish farming could help wild populations recover from over-fishing. But critics say strong rules are needed so fish farms do not threaten the environment or wild fish populations. Fishermen's groups worry about possible effects on traditional fisheries.
Pollution is a concern. Also, farmed fish can escape into wild populations. And farmed fish are fed wild-caught fish.
Conrad Lautenbacher heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 4 Administration in the Commerce Department. He says the goal is to balance the needs of fishermen, coastal 5 areas, seafood 6 consumers, the environment and the aquaculture industry.
Demand for seafood is increasing. There are strong economic reasons for the United States to increase its aquaculture operations. The nation imports about seventy percent of its seafood, much of it farm-raised. The National Marine 7 Fisheries Service says the seafood trade deficit 8 is eight thousand million dollars.
Internationally, the ocean aquaculture industry is growing. Fish such as cod 9, flounder and even tuna are being raised. These fish bring higher prices than more commonly farmed seafood.
The most commonly farmed fish is the carp. And the world's biggest aquaculture producer is China.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. Our reports are online at www.unsv.com. I'm Gwen Outen.
- A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
- A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。
- Please define the words.请解释这些字的意义。
- It's hard to define exactly what has changed.很难解释清楚到底发生了什么变化。
- The hotel charges 6 pounds a day,exclusive of meals.这家旅馆一天收六英镑，不包括饭钱。
- This bathroom is for the President's exclusive use.这间浴室是总统专用的。
- Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
- Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。
- The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
- This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
- There's an excellent seafood restaurant near here.离这儿不远有家非常不错的海鲜馆。
- Shrimps are a popular type of seafood.小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。
- 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。
- The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
- We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。