The end of whaling for Japan? 日本捕鯨業(yè)末日來臨？

媒體英語會帶大家一起學(xué)習(xí) BBC 撰稿人在報(bào)道世界大事時(shí)常用到的單詞和短語。

三艘日本捕鯨船在結(jié)束了本年度的南極海域捕鯨活動后已返回日本。日本說，在國際法庭宣布捕鯨違法之后已經(jīng)取消了原定于明年年初開始的下一次南極海域的捕鯨計(jì)劃。以下是記者 Michael Bristow 為 BBC發(fā)回的報(bào)道。

It wasn't much of a homecoming: family and friends on the dockside. The crews waved back and then unloaded their cargo of whale meat. It could be the last one for some time from the waters off the Antarctic.

Japan has cancelled next year's hunt after the International Court of Justice said it was illegal. Australia and New Zealand convinced the judges that Japan was not catching whales for scientific research, as it had claimed - to get round a worldwide ban on whaling.

Those welcoming home the flotilla were glum. One official bowed in apology. "People don't understand Japanese ways," said this man.

The captain from one of the returning ships said he hoped he'd someday return to the Antarctic. But next year will be the first time in 25 years that Japan has not hunted whales in the Southern Ocean.