VOA标准英语2012--South China Sea Fishermen Caught in Political Net

（单词翻译）

South China Sea Fishermen Caught in Political Net

As a storm approaches, Filipino fishermen in Masinloc work together to pull their boats out of the water.

About 2,000 families here depend on the sea to make a living, but the spat¹ with China at rich fishing grounds in the Scarborough Shoals has taken a toll² on their income.

Miguel Bitana says in just a few days at the disputed Shoals he could earn what took him a week or more fishing in local waters.

“There really is a depletion³ of fish," said Bitana. "It's getting scarcer. That's also one thing that makes us feel bad, that fishing is banned in there but why are the Chinese still fishing there? Why is it that we Filipinos are not allowed to even go there?”

Meanwhile, declining fish stocks around Hong Kong waters have forced fishermen there to venture further into disputed territories, risking conflict and confrontation⁴.

Pang⁵ Wah-kan is Chairman of the Joint⁶ Committee of Hong Kong Fishermen’s organizations.

“We started fishing in the South China Sea in the 1960s," said From then on, several cases are reported that Filipino authorities detained our fishermen and ships and fined them. Some were detained and even confiscated⁷ by Malaysian authorities as well.”

The stand-off started in April when a Philippines Navy ship tried to arrest Chinese fishermen for allegedly harvesting endangered species of sharks and coral.

Chinese surveillance boats intervened and the two sides have since engaged in a war of words.

Nestor Daet is head of a Masinloc fishermen’s watch group that monitors for illegal fishing. 

“I think our government sent about two ships, four? And the other are Philippines coast guard, I think," said Daet. "But, compared to the Naval⁸ ships of Chinese we are no match. It's like David and Goliath.”

Fishermen on both sides say their governments need to come to an agreement so they can all make a living. 

“We should help each other to protect our seas so that ...we can return the stocks, the fish stocks of the sea,” said Jerry Escape, an officer with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic⁹ Resources in Masinloc.

Despite the stand-off, fishermen here say relations with Chinese fishermen have always been so friendly that in the past they would often barter¹⁰ with each other when fishing far from shore.

They hope that tradition continues next fishing season at the disputed Scarborough Shoals.