2007年VOA标准英语-Australia Urged to Protect Pristine Coral Sea
时间：2019-02-05 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（九月）
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 marine 1 wildernesses 2. A coalition 3, led by the World Wildlife Fund, has declared it a 'predator 4 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 stunning 5 blue-water highway, full of oceanic predators 6."
It is a haven 7 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 ecosystem 8.
"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 fin 9, 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 statistic 10 that coral reefs are declining five times faster than the rainforests.
The Coral Sea is considered one of the most spectacular scuba 11 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.
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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》
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。