This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
Farmers in the United States have grown genetically engineered crops since the late nineteen nineties. Now, a federal agency is deciding whether to let a genetically modified animal into the food supply for the first time.
美国农民从19世纪90年代末就已经种植转基因农作物。现在，美国食品药品监督管理局正在考虑是否首次将转基因动物列为食品供应行列。
A company, AquaBounty Technologies, has developed the AquAdvantage Salmon. The fish is an Atlantic salmon that contains genes from two other kinds of fish: ocean pout and Chinook salmon.
AquaBounty Technologies公司开发了AquAdvantage鲑鱼，这是一种拥有来自大洋鲶（ocean pout）和奇努克鲑鱼（chinook salmon）这两种鱼类基因的大西洋鲑鱼。
With these genes, it can grow twice as fast as a wild Atlantic salmon. The company says the fish does not taste or smell any different from other salmon.
有了这些基因，这种鲑鱼的成长速度是野生大西洋鲑鱼的两倍。该公司称，这种转基因鲑鱼味道与其他鲑鱼并无差异。
The Food and Drug Administration says there would be no need for special labeling if the salmon is found to have the same basic contents as other fish. But critics say the genetically changed salmon is different from other fish. They say if the FDA approves it for sale, people should be told what they are buying.
美国食品药品监督管理局（The Food and Drug Administration，以下简称FDA）表示，如果这种转基因鲑鱼与其他鱼类并无差异，就没有必要贴注特别标签。但是，反对者称，转基因鲑鱼和其他鱼类是不同的，如果FDA批准这种鲑鱼上市销售，就应该告知人们，他们买的是哪种鱼。
Americans eat mostly imported seafood. Last year that included a billion dollars worth of imported salmon, one of the top imports.
美国人食用的海产品基本都是进口，去年进口了价值1亿美元的鲑鱼，是主要进口产品之一。
Most of the wild salmon caught in North America comes from Alaska. That state banned farmed salmon from its waters years ago.
北美捕获的野生鲑鱼大多是来自阿拉斯加州，多年前该州就禁止在它的水域养殖（转基因）鲑鱼。
Alaska Senator Mark Begich is leading a group of other United States senators, organizations and businesses to try to stop the FDA approval process.
阿拉斯加州参议员马克·贝基（Mark Begich）正领导一个由其他美国参议员、机构和商业组织组成的团体，试图阻止FDA的认证程序。
Wenonah Hauter of the activist group Food and Water Watch says the AquAdvantage Salmon has not been studied enough for food safety.
维权组织“食品和水观察”的薇诺娜·豪特(Wenonah Hauter)称，AquAdvantage鲑鱼在食品安全方面并没有被充分研究证实。
WENONAH HAUTER: "Why are they using three studies with very small samples that the data is not available to the public, and one of the studies is nineteen years old?"
豪特：“为什么他们采用了三项标本非常少的研究结果，且研究数据不对公众公开？同时其中一项研究结果已19年之久？”
Ms. Hauter worries that the farmed fish could escape into waterways and reproduce with wild populations. And she says the idea could spread to other countries.
豪特担心养殖的（转基因）鱼类会逃离并进入自然水系，并且同野生鱼类杂交繁衍后代。她称，这种（转基因鱼类的）想法也可能流入其他国家。
WENONAH HUNTER: "We know there are fish farming operations in China, in Asia, that are very interested in this, that have a poor record regarding regulation. And we're very concerned that there will be escapees."
豪特：“我们知道中国有水产养殖，他们对转基因鱼类也非常有兴趣，在监管上他们也存在不良记录。同时，我们也非常担心（转基因）鱼流入大自然。”
But the company says most of its fish are raised at inland fish farms. And it has promised the Food and Drug Administration that it would only market female salmon unable to reproduce.
但是，该公司称，这种转基因鱼类大部分在内陆渔场养殖。并且该公司向FDA承诺，他们仅出售没有繁育能力的雌性鲑鱼。
David Edwards at the Biotechnology Industry Organization says the genetically modified fish is "just a new technology."
生物技术工业组织（Biotechnology Industry Organization）的大卫·爱德华（David Edwards）称，转基因鱼“只是一项新技术”。
DAVID EDWARDS: " "As the public has the opportunity to learn about it and the public has the opportunity to taste it, I think it's something that they'll appreciate. If the FDA says it's safe, and the data certainly does indicate that, then I'm certainly willing to go out and eat the fish."
爱德华：“由于公众有机会了解它，品尝它，我想，他们将来会感谢这个东西。如果FDA称这是安全的，并且数据确实能证实这点，我肯定愿意吃这种鱼。”