Japan Begins Commercial Whaling After 30 Years 日本30年后开始商业捕鲸

李明娟

Japan has resumed commercial whaling after a break of over three decades. Commercial whaling was banned in 1986 by an International Whaling Commission （IWC） moratorium1. However， Japan withdrew2 from the IWC in December. Japans government has promised all whalers will stay within 320 kilometers from its coast. The Japanese fisheries agency set a quota3 for killing 227 whales every six months. In the first days of resumed4 whaling， whalers caught two minke5 whales， which were taken to the northern port6 of Kushiro. The whale meat was auctioned7 in Tokyo and sold for record prices. Restaurant owners snapped8 up the meat at prices of up to $140 per kilo.

经过三十多年的中断，日本已恢复商业捕鲸活动。1986年，国际捕鲸委员会（IWC）禁止商业捕鲸。但是，日本在12月退出了国际捕鲸委员会。日本政府已承诺所有捕鲸者将留在距其海岸320公里的范围内。日本渔业局设定了每六个月捕杀227头鲸的配额。在恢复捕鲸的最初几天，捕鲸者捕获了两只小须鲸，这些小须鲸被带到钏路北部港口。鲸肉在东京进行拍卖，并以创纪录的价格出售。餐馆老板们以每公斤140美元的价格抢购鲸肉。

Japan has engaged in the practice of whaling for centuries. Whale restaurant chef Mitsuo Tani summed9 up why he thought the return of commercial whaling was important. He said， “A country that does not protect its food culture has no future.” He also promoted10 the health benefits11 of whale meat. He said， “It is five times lower in calories than beef， 10 times lower in cholesterol12， two times less fat than chicken and its packed with iron. But abroad， people do not know this.” However， Japans return to whaling has brought international outcry. The Humane Society accused13 Japan of starting a “new and shocking era of pirate14 whaling”. It added， “This is a sad day for whale protection globally.”

几个世纪以来，日本一直从事捕鲸活动。鲸鱼餐厅厨师谷光夫总结了为什么他认为商业捕鲸的回归很重要。他说：“一个不保护其饮食文化的国家没有未来。”他还宣传了鲸肉的健康价值。他说：“它的热量比牛肉低五倍，胆固醇低十倍，脂肪比鸡肉低两倍，而且富含铁。但在国外，人们不知道這一点。”然而，日本重启捕鲸活动引起了国际社会的强烈抗议。（美国）人道主义协会指责日本开始了一个“新的、令人震惊的海盗捕鲸时代”，它还说道：“这是全球鲸鱼保护的可悲的一天。”

摘自： breakingnewsenglish.com