中国渔民在地缘政治冲突中的角色

 　　The territorial¹ tensions that are inflaming² relations between China and its neighbours are due in part to a collapse³ in local fish stocks, which is pushing the Chinese fishing fleet into conflict with nearby states.

　　导致中国与多个邻国关系恶化的领土争端在一定程度上是由于中国当地渔业资源大量减少，迫使中国渔船与周边国家发生冲突。

　　Friction⁴ between China and Japan in the East China Sea tends to flare⁵ shortly after China’s annual summer fishing ban — imposed to protect domestic fisheries — is lifted at the start of August. Similarly, diplomatic and military jostling in the South China Sea plays out against a backdrop of a steady stream of Chinese fishing boats captured in the waters of Indonesia and the Philippines, in what the Chinese foreign ministry⁶ has called China’s “traditional fishing grounds”.

　　每年8月初中国夏季休渔期（旨在保护国内渔业资源的禁止捕鱼制度）结束不久，中国与日本在东中国海(East China Sea)的摩擦往往就会升级。同样，南中国海(South China Sea)的外交和军事角力是在这样的背景之下上演的：不断有中国渔船在印尼和菲律宾的领海——中国外交部称之为中国的“传统捕鱼海域”——被扣押。

　　On the first day of August, the crackle and bang of fireworks marked the start of the fishing season in the coastal⁷ community along China’s eastern seaboard. A few days later, Japanese diplomats⁸ began vociferously⁹ protesting against the arrival of a 230-boat flotilla in disputed waters near islands that Japan calls the Senkaku and China the Diaoyu, accompanied by about a dozen Chinese coastguard vessels¹⁰.

　　8月的第一天，中国东部沿海地区在炮竹声中迎来了开渔季。几天后，日本外交官就高声抗议一支由230条艘船组成的船队在十数艘中国海警船陪同下，进入日本称为尖阁列岛(Senkaku)、中国称为“钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿”的群岛附近的争议海域。

　　Meagre catches in nearby waters plus government subsidies¹¹ to the fishing industry drive investment in bigger boats, which can roam further in search of more fish. Earlier this year, Chinese boats were caught in Australia, New Zealand and even Argentine waters, on the opposite side of the globe.

　　中国周边海域捕鱼量的匮乏，再加上政府对渔业的补贴，推动渔民投资建造更大型的渔船，到更远的地方捕捞更多的鱼。今年早些时候，在澳大利亚、新西兰、甚至地球另一边的阿根廷海域，都出现了中国渔船的身影。

　　Fishermen in Zhoushan, the eastern archipelago that is home to one of China’s largest fishing communities, say their boats have been pushed further afield by pollution and overfishing in China’s coastal waters.

　　位于华东的舟山群岛是中国最大的渔场之一，当地渔民表示，由于中国近海水域污染严重和过度捕捞的缘故，他们的渔船不得不开赴更远的海域。

　　“In all the seas of China there are no fish,” says Li Minkui, a tanned migrant worker who has drifted to Shenjiamen, the archipelago’s market port, looking for a spot on a boat before the start of the season. Over the 20 years he has worked in and around fishing boats, he says he has seen declines both in catches and the size of fish.

　　“中国所有海域都没鱼了。”皮肤黝黑的李民奎（音译）表示，他从外地来到舟山的沈家门渔港打工，希望开渔前在船上找一份工作。20年来，他不是在渔船上干就是做着相关的工作。据他所见，不光是捕鱼量下降了，鱼的个头也变小了。

　　Other men on the pier¹² agree, shouting out the names of fish — including the yellow croaker, octopus¹³ and cuttlefish¹⁴ — that are no longer caught in commercially viable¹⁵ volumes in Zhoushan’s waters. Only eels¹⁶ and shrimp¹⁷ remain, they say.

　　码头上的其他人也同意这种说法，他们张口就说出了几种在舟山海域捕捞量已无法取得经济效益的鱼类，其中包括黄花鱼、章鱼和墨鱼。他们说，值得捕捞的只剩下鳗鱼和虾了。

　　Foreign analysts¹⁸ sometimes depict¹⁹ Chinese fishing boats as convenient fronts for paramilitary expansionism. But the technocrats²⁰ setting Chinese fishing policy frame it the opposite way: China’s need to catch fish justifies²¹ a stronger international stance. The Chinese ambassador to Tokyo said that the dozen coast guard vessels deployed²² to the East China Sea this month were to “protect its fishing boats”.

　　外国分析人士有时会将中国渔船描述为中国进行准军事扩张的便利前线。中国负责制定渔业政策框架的技术官员却有着相反的说法：捕鱼的需求表明中国有必要在国际上持更强硬的立场。中国驻日大使表示，本月派往东中国海的十几条海警船是为了“保护中国渔船”。

　　Earlier this month, China’s minister of agriculture said the country would trim its fishing fleet to preserve local fish stocks. Previous initiatives have been coupled with incentives²³ to expand the long-distance fleet, thus increasing the fishing pressure in international waters.

　　中国农业部长本月早些时候表示，中国将减少渔船数量，以保护国内渔业资源。此前推行的相关措施同时伴随着扩大远洋渔船数量的激励措施，加大了国际海域的捕捞压力。

　　Chinese overfishing is partly driven by rising demand thanks to improved standards of living — by some counts, China accounts for about a third of world seafood²⁴ consumption, including farmed fish.

　　中国的过度捕捞部分是由于居民生活水平提高导致对鱼类需求上升推动的。根据一些估算，包括养殖的鱼类在内，中国约占世界海产品消费量的三分之一。

　　But that is far from the only factor. Chinese processors are the largest source of seafood imported into the UK, and account for substantial shares of the fish sold in Europe, North America, Japan and Korea. Almost half the Chinese fleet’s catch in international waters is ultimately exported.

　　但这绝非造成过度捕捞的唯一因素。中国加工厂是英国海产品进口的最大来源，欧洲、北美、日本和韩国市场上销售的鱼类产品，有相当大一部分也来自中国。中国渔船在国际海域捕获的鱼类接近一半最终用于出口。

　　Meanwhile, rapid expansion fuelled by debt and government incentives has left Chinese fish processors struggling with overcapacity, like many other industries in China. That encourages Beijing to subsidise the Chinese fishing fleet to keep searching for diminishing supplies of fish, just to maintain jobs in fish processing, boatbuilding and other related industries.

　　另一方面，在债务和政府激励措施助推下的快速扩张，已经让中国鱼类加工厂饱受产能过剩之苦，落入与中国其他许多产业相似的困境。这种局面愈发促使中国政府补贴国内渔船，以继续捕捞日渐减少的鱼类，仅仅是为了维持鱼类加工、造船及其他相关产业的就业机会。

　　“If the country wasn’t subsidising the diesel²⁵, half the boats here would be off the water,” says Mr Chen, a boat owner from Zhoushan who believes he is the last generation in his family to make a living off the sea. “But fishermen need to fish. If there aren’t fish in our waters, we need to go somewhere else.”

　　舟山一位陈姓船主表示：“如果国家不补贴柴油，这里有一半渔船不会出海。”他相信自己是家里在海上谋生的最后一代人。“不过渔民就要打鱼，如果我们的水域没鱼了，我们就得去别的地方。”

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 inflaming   

v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• And, by inflaming the liver, hepatitis can adversely affect dozens of life processes. 而肝脏的炎症又会对数十种生命过程产生有害影响。 来自辞典例句
• Your throat are inflaming. 你的喉部发炎了。 来自互联网

3 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

4 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

5 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• 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。

8 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 vociferously   

adv.喊叫地，吵闹地

参考例句：

• They are arguing vociferously over who should pay the bill. 他们为谁该付账单大声争吵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Annixter had cursed him so vociferously and tersely that even Osterman was cowed. 安尼克斯特骂了他的声音之大，语气之凶，连奥斯特曼也不禁吓了一跳。 来自辞典例句

10 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

13 octopus   

n.章鱼

参考例句：

• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。
• One octopus has eight tentacles.一条章鱼有八根触角。

14 cuttlefish   

n.乌贼，墨鱼

参考例句：

• I have no idea about how to prepare those cuttlefish and lobsters.我对如何烹调那些乌贼和龙虾毫无概念。
• The cuttlefish spurts out dark ink when it is in danger.乌鲗遇到危险的时候会喷出黑色液体。

15 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

16 eels   

abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system）

参考例句：

• Eels have been on the feed in the Lower Thames. 鳗鱼在泰晤士河下游寻食。
• She bought some eels for dinner. 她买回一些鳗鱼做晚餐。

17 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

18 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

19 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

20 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网

21 justifies   

证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护）

参考例句：

• Their frequency of use both justifies and requires the memorization. 频繁的使用需要记忆，也促进了记忆。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• In my judgement the present end justifies the means. 照我的意见，只要目的正当，手段是可以不计较的。

22 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

23 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

24 seafood   

n.海产食品，海味，海鲜

参考例句：

• 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。

25 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。