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Marine biologists have noticed that whale shark numbers have been falling in recent years.
海洋生物学家注意到，近年来鲸鲨的数量一直在下降。
But the scientists have not known exactly why.
但科学家还不知道确切的原因。
A new international study suggests that collisions with shipping traffic could be a major reason for the decrease.
一项新的国际研究表明，与船舶的碰撞可能是鲸鲨数量下降的主要原因。
The study was led by the Marine Biological Association of the U.K. and the University of Southampton, along with experts in Australia and New Zealand.
这项研究是由英国海洋生物协会和南安普顿大学以及澳大利亚和新西兰的专家共同领导的。
The study appeared in the publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
这项研究发表在《美国国家科学院院刊》上。
Researchers examined satellite data to observe about 350 whale sharks.
研究人员检查了卫星数据，观察了大约350头鲸鲨。
They found that the world's largest fish spend most of their time in waters used by large shipping boats.
他们发现，世界上最大的鱼大部分时间都在大型运输船经过的水域中活动。
The study showed that information from the devices used to observe their movements often ended in busy shipping paths.
这项研究表明，用于观察它们活动的设备所提供的信息通常会在繁忙的航道上终止。
The researchers believe many sharks are probably being hit and killed by boats before sinking to the ocean floor.
研究人员认为，许多鲨鱼可能被船碰撞后死亡，之后沉入海底。
Mark Erdmann is with the University of Auckland in New Zealand and a scientist at the non-profit environmental organization Conservation International.
马克·厄德曼就职于新西兰奥克兰大学，也是非营利环境组织保护国际的科学家。
He was one of the writers of the new study.
他是这项新研究的作者之一。
Erdmann believes shipping is a major threat to whale shark populations.
厄德曼认为，船舶是鲸鲨数量的主要威胁。
"…What the study found is that, indeed, there is a tremendous amount of overlap between where whale sharks are moving and global shipping traffic. So, those are real collision-risk areas," he said.
他说：“……该研究发现，事实上，鲸鲨的活动范围和全球船舶的航行区域有大量重叠。因此，这些都是真正产生碰撞危险的区域”。
Whale sharks can grow up to 20 meters long.
鲸鲨可以长到20米长。
They play an important part in providing healthy ocean environments.
它们在提供健康的海洋环境方面发挥着重要作用。
Most deadly strikes between whale sharks and boats are likely to go unobserved or unreported.
鲸鲨和船只之间的大多数致命袭击可能不会被人们发现或报道。
There are currently no laws to protect whale sharks against these kinds of collisions.
目前还没有法律来保护鲸鲨免受此类碰撞。
I'm Jonathan Evans.
乔纳森·埃文斯为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
