From 1990 to 2000, fishermen trying to get swordfish (剑鱼) off the coast of California accidentally caught and killed over 100 sea turtles (海龟), and injured many more. In 2001, the government set up the Pacific Leatherback Conservation Area (PLCA), an area off the coast of California where fishing boats are not allowed to enter from August to November. Since then, the number of turtles killed by mistake has fallen rapidly, but a small number of animals still die from being caught in fishing nets each year. And at the same time, the once $15 million swordfish industry has become a $ 2 million industry.
Scientists are hoping to find a way to not only protect sea turtles and other endangered creatures but also help fishermen make a living. For this, many scientists are looking at dynamic ocean management to help fishing boats meet fish where they are and avoid catching other creatures by mistake.
The first paper to suggest that the fish living in the open ocean should be guarded with fluid, ever-changing zones of protection, came out in 2000. Larry Crowder, a professor at Hopkins Marine Station, remembers reading it and thinking, “Cool idea, but it will never work.” In 2000, scientists didn’t have the computer power to cheaply test statistical models or deal with satellite data quickly. They didn’t have enough data dealing with fish or satellite data on ocean conditions, either.
Now scientists can download satellite data of oceans in minutes and attach satellite archival tag to sea animals to track their movements. They first collect data by marking the creatures, collecting reports from fishing boats, or other tracking ways. Then they compare that data with weather conditions, the time of year, and any other data that can be sensed. Finally, they can predict where fish probably are.
Crowder and his workmates used the data to develop a tool called EcoCast during the 2012 and 2015 fishing seasons, they could have fished in at least 125,000 square miles, without high risk of hunting turtles.
28. The government hoped that PLCA and its rules could
.
A.prevent fishing in the PLCA |
B.help collect data for future research |
C.protect the creatures in the area to some degree |
D.make the public realize the importance of our environment |
29. Larry Crowder thought dynamic ocean management was
at first.
A.unrealistic | B.stupid | C.possible | D.interesting |
30. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?
A.A great way to collect data. |
B.Some technology fruits in this field |
C.A scientific way to find new ocean animals |
D.The way dynamic ocean management works |
31. What should be the advantage of using EcoCast?
A.It protects the ocean from pollution. |
B.It helps support the fishing industry. |
C.It prevents fishermen from getting lost while fishing. |
D.It both protects ocean animals and supports the fishing industry. |