2006年VOA标准英语-Skyrocketing Oil Prices Sinking Thai Fishi

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
02 May 2006

High global oil prices are taking their toll¹ in Thailand, where the nation's fishing fleet - one of the largest in Southeast Asia - has been affected². Hundreds of vessels⁴ are tied up at dock, threatening huge numbers of jobs.

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A passenger ferry makes its way across the Chao Phraya River, a major traffic artery⁵ for passenger and cargo⁶ vessels in the Thai capital.

 

Fishing boats lined up to block the Ta Chalom port during a protest against the hike fuel prices in central Thailand (File photo - March 31, 2005)   
  

Sirichaiekawat, an advisor⁷ to the National Fisheries Association, says the rise in the cost of diesel⁸ since the government cut price subsidies⁹ last year has hit boat owners hard.

"The fisheries are being hit by the oil price since last year ... when the oil price in Thailand, especially diesel, has been increased from 12 baht [31 cents] to around 20 baht [53 cents]. And this year it has gone to 26, 27 baht [71 cents] per liter - that is more than double from last year," he said.

In the southern ports, the home of the Thai fishing fleet, hundreds of vessels are remaining in dock rather than pay the high running costs, threatening the livelihood¹⁰ of tens of thousands. In Songkhla province, desperate vessel³ owners are trying to sell their boats.

The Thai fishing fleet numbers about 20,000 well-equipped trawlers, which has led to massive over-capacity. This figure does not include a further 30,000 unregistered vessels.

Last week, the Fisheries Association and other fishing industry representatives agreed to set up a fund to buy some of the boats and reduce supply.

Fewer vessels on the water means declining catches. The association says the volume of export-quality shrimp¹¹ caught at sea this year could fall by as much as 50-percent, to 37-thousand tons.

Wicharn says the industry faces the threat of a heavy unemployment.

"In the beginning, when it first hit in last year, I know the vessel about 20 to 30 percent along the coastline have been stop already. And [now] with the oil price we are facing, I am sure that is going to be 40 to 50 percent of the boats are going to be stopped," he added.

The government is taking steps to assist the industry. The Energy Ministry¹² is offering fuel at below market prices to small-scale fishermen. And the cabinet late last month moved to make natural gas more widely available for boats.

Thailand imports 90 percent of its fuel and consumes 70 million liters a day. On Tuesday, the Thai central bank's Monetary¹³ Policy Committee called rising oil prices a significant risk factor in the long-term outlook for the economy.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

4 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》

5 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

6 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 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。

9 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》

10 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

11 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。

12 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。

13 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。