剑桥雅思7-第四套试题-阅读部分-Passage 2-阅读真题原文部分:

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2below.

Endless Harvest

More than two hundred years ago, Russian explorers and fur hunters landed on the Aleutian Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the North Pacific, and learned of a land mass that lay farther to the north. The islands' native inhabitants called this land mass Aleyska, the ‘Great Land'; today, we know it as Alaska.

The forty-ninth state to join the United States of America (in 1959), Alaska is fully one-fifth the size of the mainland 48states combined. It shares, with Canada, the second longest river system in North America and has over half the coastline of the United States. The rivers feed into the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska - cold, nutrient-rich waters which support tens of millions of seabirds, and over 400 species of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and molluscs. Taking advantage of this rich bounty, Alaska's commercial fisheries have developed into some of the largest in the world.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Alaska's commercial fisheries landed hundreds of thousands of tonnes of shellfish and herring, and well over a million tonnes of groundfish (cod, sole, perch and pollock) in 2000. The true cultural heart and soul of Alaska's fisheries, however, is salmon. ‘Salmon,' notes writer Susan Ewing in The Great Alaska Nature Factbook, ‘pump through Alaska like blood through a heart, bringing rhythmic, circulating nourishment to land, animals and people.' The ‘predictable abundance of salmon allowed some native cultures to flourish,' and ‘dying spawners* feed bears, eagles, other animals, and ultimately the soil itself.' All five species of Pacific salmon - chinook, or king; chum, or dog; coho, or silver; sockeye, or red; and pink, or humpback - spawn** in Alaskan waters, and 90% of all Pacific salmon commercially caught in North America are produced there. Indeed, if Alaska was an independent nation, it would be the largest producer of wild salmon in the world. During 2000, commercial catches of Pacific salmon in Alaska exceeded 320,000 tonnes, with an ex-vessel value of over US260 million.

Catches have not always been so healthy. Between 1940 and 1959, overfishing led to crashes in salmon populations so severe that in 1953 Alaska was declared a federal disaster area. With the onset of statehood, however, the State of Alaska took over management of its own fisheries, guided by a state constitution which mandates that Alaska's natural resources be managed on a sustainable basis. At that time, statewide harvests totalled around 25 million salmon. Over the next few decades average catches steadily increased as a result of this policy of sustainable management, until, during the 1990s, annual harvests were well in excess of 100 million, and on several occasions over 200 million fish.

* spawners: fish that have released eggs

** spawn: release eggs

The primary reason for such increases is what is known as ‘In-Season Abundance-Based Management'. There are biologists throughout the state constantly monitoring adult fish as they show up to spawn. The biologists sit in streamside counting towers, study sonar, watch from aeroplanes, and talk to fishermen. The salmon season in Alaska is not pre-set. The fishermen know the approximate time of year when they will be allowed to fish, but on any given day, one or more field biologists in a particular area can put a halt to fishing. Even sport fishing can be brought to a halt. It is this management mechanism that has allowed Alaska salmon stocks - and, accordingly, Alaska salmon fisheries - to prosper, even as salmon populations in the rest of the United States are increasingly considered threatened or even endangered.

In 1999, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)*** commissioned a review of the Alaska salmon fishery. The Council, which was founded in 1996, certifies fisheries that meet high environmental standards, enabling them to use a label that recognises their environmental responsibility. The MSC has established a set of criteria by which commercial fisheries can be judged. Recognising the potential benefits of being identified as environmentally responsible, fisheries approach the Council requesting to undergo the certification process. The MSC then appoints a certification committee, composed of a panel of fisheries experts, which gathers information and opinions from fishermen, biologists, government officials, industry representatives, non-governmental organisations and others.

Some observers thought the Alaska salmon fisheries would not have any chance of certification when, in the months leading up to MSC's final decision, salmon runs throughout western Alaska completely collapsed. In the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, chinook and chum runs were probably the poorest since statehood; subsistence communities throughout the region, who normally have priority over commercial fishing, were devastated.

The crisis was completely unexpected, but researchers believe it had nothing to do with impacts of fisheries. Rather, they contend, it was almost certainly the result of climatic shifts, prompted in part by cumulative effects of the el niño / la niña phenomenon on Pacific Ocean temperatures, culminating in a harsh winter in which huge numbers of salmon eggs were frozen. It could have meant the end as far as the certification process was concerned. However, the state reacted quickly, closing down all fisheries, even those necessary for subsistence purposes.

In September 2000, MSC announced that the Alaska salmon fisheries qualified for certification. Seven companies producing Alaska salmon were immediately granted permission to display the MSC logo on their products. Certification is for an initial period of five years, with an annual review to ensure that the fishery is continuing to meet the required standards.

*** MSC: a joint venture between WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and Unilever, a Dutch-based multi-national

Questions 14-20

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

14 The inhabitants of the Aleutian islands renamed their islands ‘Aleyska’.
15 Alaska's fisheries are owned by some of the world's largest companies.
16 Life in Alaska is dependent on salmon.
17 Ninety per cent of all Pacific salmon caught are sockeye or pink salmon.
18 More than 320,000 tonnes of salmon were caught in Alaska in 2000.
19 Between 1940 and 1959, there was a sharp decrease in Alaska's salmon population.
20 During the 1990s, the average number of salmon caught each year was 100 million.

Questions 21-26

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-K, below.
Write the correct letter, A-K, in boxes 21-26 on your answer sheet.

21 In Alaska, biologists keep a check on adult fish
22 Biologists have the authority
23 In-Season Abundance-Based Management has allowed the Alaska salmon fisheries
24 The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) was established
25 As a result of the collapse of the salmon runs in 1999, the state decided
26 In September 2000, the MSC allowed seven Alaska salmon companies

A to recognise fisheries that care for the environment.
B to be successful.
C to stop fish from spawning.
D to set up environmental protection laws.
E to stop people fishing for sport.
F to label their products using the MSC logo.
G to ensure that fish numbers are sufficient to permit fishing.
H to assist the subsistence communities in the region.
I to freeze a huge number of salmon eggs.
J to deny certification to the Alaska fisheries.
K to close down all fisheries.

READING PASSAGE 2 真题解析

篇章结构
体裁:说明文
主题:可持续性渔业

结构:
第一段:阿拉斯加的由来。
第二段:阿拉斯加水资源丰富使得渔业繁荣。
第三段:详细描述阿拉斯加繁荣的大马哈鱼渔业资源。
第四段:阿拉斯加曾经的过度捕捞及采取的措施。
第五段:过度捕捞后大马哈鱼数量回升的原因。
第六段:介绍管理渔业的认证组织MSC。
第七段:在MSC进行认证的最后阶段发生了大马哈鱼危机。
第八段:危机原因分析及阿拉斯加政府采取的措施。
第九段:阿拉斯加大马哈鱼渔业获得MSC认证。

必背词汇

第一段
explorer n. 探险者 Pacific n. 太平洋
volcanic adj. 火山的 land mass n. 大陆块
archipelago n. 群岛,多岛海 inhabitant n. 居民,居住者

第二段
mainland n. 大陆,本土 shellfish n. 贝,甲壳类动物
combine v. (使)结合,(使)联合 crustacean n. 甲壳类动物
coastline n. 海岸线 mollusc n. 软体动物
feed v. 喂,饲养;靠……为生 bounty n. 慷慨,宽大,恩惠
nutrient-rich adj. 富含营养物的,滋养的 fishery n. 渔场;渔业

第三段
according to prep. 按照,根据 nourishment n. 滋养品,养料,营养
commercial adj. 商业的 predictable adj. 可预知的
herring n. 鲱鱼 abundance n. 丰富,充裕
groundfish n. 底栖鱼,底层鱼(指生活于海底的鱼,如鳕鱼等) flourish v. 繁荣,茂盛,活跃 spawn v. 产卵
cod n. 鳕鱼 ultimately adv. 最后,最终
sole n. 鳎鱼 chinook n. 奇努克大马哈鱼
perch n. 鲈鱼;栖息;位于 chum n. 马苏大马哈鱼
pollock n. 青鳕 coho n. 银大马哈鱼
salmon n. 鲑,大马哈鱼 sockeye n. 红大马哈鱼,红鲑
pump v. 灌注;抽水;打气;盘问 humpback n. 驼背;座头鲸;小鲑鱼
rhythmic adj. 有韵律的;和谐的 exceed vt. 超过,胜过
circulating adj. 流通的,循环的 ex-vessel adj. 离船的

第四段
overfishing n. 过度捕捞 sustainable adj. 可持续的;养得起的;可以忍受的
crash n. 崩溃,破产,垮台
severe adj. 剧烈的,严重的,严峻的,严格的 basis n. 基础,根据
statewide adj. 全州范围的
declare v. 宣布,声明;申报 total v. 总计;达到
federal adj. 联邦的 decade n. 十年
onset n. 攻击,进攻 average adj. 平均的;通常的
statehood n. 州的状态或地位 annual adj. 每年的,年度的
take over v. 接管,接任 in excess of 超过
constitution n. 组织;宪法;体格 occasion n. 场合;机会;理由
mandate v. 命令;委任统治

第五段
primary adj. 主要的;初期的;根本的 approximate adj. 大约的,近似的
biologist n. 生物学家 particular adj. 特别的,独有的;挑剔的
throughout prep. 遍及,贯穿 halt n. 停止;休息
constantly adv. 不断地,经常地 mechanism n. 机制;机构;原理
monitor v. 监视,监听,监督 stock n. 储备;血统;股份
streamside n. 河滨,河边地带 accordingly adv. 因此,于是;相应地
sonar n. 鱼群探测器;声纳 prosper v. 兴隆,成功,使……昌盛
aeroplane n. 飞机 threaten v. 威胁
fisherman n. 渔夫 endanger v. 危及
pre-set adj. 预设的

第六段
marine adj. 海的,海生的;船舶的,航海的 indentified adj. 经鉴定的
approach n. 途径,方法
council n. 理事会,委员会 undergo v. 遭受,经历;忍受
commission n. 委任状;佣金 certification n. 证明,保证,鉴定
certify v. 证明,保证 appoint v. 任命,指定;约定(时间、地点)
enable v. 使……能够 committee n. 委员会
label n. 标签;商标 compose vt. 组成,构成
recognise v. 承认,识别,认可 official n. 官员adj. 官方的,正式的
criteria n. 标准 representative n. 代表;众议员;典型
potential adj. 可能的,潜在的

第七段
lead up to 作为……的先导 region n. 地区,地域,地带
collapse v. 倒塌,崩溃,瓦解 priority n. 优先权;优先顺序;优先
subsistence n. 生存,生活 devastate v. 毁坏
community n. 社区;团体;(生物)群落

第八段
crisis n. 紧要关头,危机 prompt vt. 激起,促进,推动
unexpected adj. 想不到的,意外的 culminate v. 达到顶点或高潮;以……告终
contend v. 争论,辩论;斗争,竞争 harsh adj. 粗糙的;刺耳的;严厉的
climatic adj. 气候的 frozen adj. 冰冻的
shift n. 变化;移动;接班 as far as 至于;远到

第九段
announce v. 发表,通告,正式宣布 permission n. 同意,许可,允许
qualified adj. 有资格的 initial adj. 开始的,最初的;字首的
grant v. 允许,同意, 承认

难句解析

1. Taking advantage of this rich bounty, Alaska's commercial fisheries have developed into some of the largest in the world.
参考译文:阿拉斯加的商业渔业充分利用了大自然的馈赠,已经发展成为世界上规模最大的渔业聚集地之一。
语言点:
(1) take advantage of sth.: to use a particular situation to do or get what you want
I took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
You'll want to take full advantage of the beachfront clubs.
(2) commercial
adj. related to business, the buying and selling of goods and services
Our top priorities must be profit and commercial growth.
n. an advertisement on television or radio
a soap powder commercial

2. Between 1940 and 1959, overfishing led to crashes in salmon populations so severe that in 1953 Alaska was declared a federal disaster area.
参考译文:1940到1959年间,过度捕捞使得大马哈鱼的数量急剧减少,1953年,阿拉斯加成为“联邦受灾渔区”。
语言点:
(1) lead to: to cause something to happen
A degree in English could lead to a career in journalism.
(2) so... (that)...
He was so weak that he could hardly stand up.
Everything happened so quickly I hadn't time to think.

3. Over the next few decades average catches steadily increased as a result of this policy of sustainable management, until, during the 1990s, annual harvests were well in excess of 100 million, and on several occasions over 200 million fish.
参考译文:在可持续捕捞政策的管理下,接下来的几十年里,大马哈鱼的产量平稳上升。20世纪90年代,大马哈鱼的年产量超过1亿条,个别年份甚至超过了2亿条。
语言点:
(1) as a result of sth.: in consequence of something
As a result of the pilots' strike, all flights have had to be cancelled
(2) in excess of sth.: more than a particular amount
The car reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.

4. The fishermen know the approximate time of year when they will be allowed to fish, but on any given day, one or more field biologists in a particular area can put a halt to fishing.
参考译文:渔民们知道一年中政府允许捕捞的大概时间段。但是在某些特定的日子,某个地区的一个或多个领域的生物学家有权要求停止捕鱼活动。
语言点:
(1) approximate: close to the exact number, amount etc. , but could be a little bit more or less than it These percentages are only approximate.
(2) put / call a halt to: to stop an activity from continuing
I urge those responsible to call a halt to the violence.

5. The crisis was completely unexpected, but researchers believe it had nothing to do with impacts of fisheries.
参考译文:这场危机完全出乎人们的意料,但研究人员相信这并不是渔业发展引起的。
语言点:
(1) have nothing to do with: not involved or connected
He said that he had nothing to do with the decision.
That had nothing to do with you.

试题解析

Questions 14-20

•题目类型:TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

•题目解析:

14. The inhabitants of the Aleutian islands renamed their islands“Aleyska”.
参考译文:阿留申群岛的居民将他们的岛名改为“Aleyska”。
定位词:inhabitants, Aleutian islands, Aleyska
解题关键字:renamed
文中对应点:
第一段末句,The islands’native inhabitants called this land mass Aleyska, the“GreatLand”;...
此题定位词均在文章第一段以原词出现。其含义为“岛上居民称此岛为Aleyska”,而题中关键词为重命名(renamed),与文章不符,故此题答案为FALSE。

15. Alaska's fisheries are owned by some of the world's largest companies.
参考译文:阿拉斯加的渔场属于一些世界上最大的公司。
定位词:Alaska’s fisheries, largest companies
解题关键字:owned by
文中对应点:
第二段末句,Taking advantage of this rich bounty, Alaska's commercial fisheries havedeveloped into some of the largest in the world.
此题通过定位词可以快速定位。文中定位句指出,阿拉斯加的一些商业渔场发展成为世界上最大的。题目中所提到的“渔场为最大的公司所拥有”在文中并未提及,所以此题答案为NOT GIVEN。

16. Life in Alaska is dependent on salmon.
参考译文:阿拉斯加的生活依赖于大马哈鱼。
定位词:life, salmon
解题关键字:dependent on
文中对应点:
第三段中间,‘Salmon, ’notes writer Susan Ewing in The Great Alaska NatureFactbook, ‘pump through Alaska like blood through a heart, ...’
通过题中定位词可定位于首次出现salmon的第三段。定位处运用比喻的手法说明大马哈鱼对于阿拉斯加意义重大,就像流过心脏的血液一样,这与题目中的dependent on(依赖于)对应,故此题答案为TRUE。

17. Ninety per cent of all Pacific salmon caught are sockeye or pink salmon.
参考译文:被捕捞的太平洋大马哈鱼有90%是红大马哈鱼或粉大马哈鱼。
定位词:ninety per cent, Pacific salmon
解题关键字:sockeye or pink salmon
文中对应点:
第三段后半部分,All five species of Pacific salmon—chinook, or king;chum, or dog;coho, or silver;sockeye, or red;and pink, or humpback—spawn in Alaskanwaters, and 90% of all Pacific salmon commercially caught in NorthAmerica are produced there.
此题定位词均在文中以原词出现,定位句介绍了在阿拉斯加水域产卵的五种太平洋大马哈鱼,并指出被捕捞的太平洋大马哈鱼有90%都产自此水域。而题目却将产自此水域的五种鱼等同为一种,是典型的“由文到题范围缩小型”,故此题答案为NOT GIVEN。

18. More than 320, 000 tonnes of salmon were caught in Alaska in 2000.
参考译文:在2000年,超过32万吨大马哈鱼在阿拉斯加被捕捞。
定位词:Alaska, in 2000
解题关键字:more than 320, 000
文中对应点:
第三段末句,During 2000, commercial catches of Pacific salmon in Alaska exceeded320, 000 tonnes, ...
根据顺序原则可迅速定位此题,且定位句和题目内容一致,文章中的exceeded与题目中的more than属于同义转述。故此题答案为TRUE。

19. Between 1940 and 1959, there was a sharp decrease in Alaska's salmon population.
参考译文:在1940到1959年间,阿拉斯加的大马哈鱼总量急剧下降。
定位词:Between 1940 and 1959,Alaska's salmon population
解题关键字:sharp decrease
文中对应点:第四段第二句,Between 1940 and 1959,overfishing led to crashes in salmon populationsso severe that...
定位词均以原词出现,定位句指出,在1940到1959年间,过度捕捞导致大马哈鱼总量大跌,这与题目完全一致。文章中的crashes与题目中的sharp decrease属于同义转述。故此题答案为TRUE。

20. During the 1990s, the average number of salmon caught each year was 100 million.
参考译文:在20世纪90年代,大马哈鱼的年捕捞量平均为1亿。
定位词:1990s, average number
解题关键字:100 million
文中对应点:第四段末句,..., during the 1990s, annual harvests were well in excess of 100 million, and on several occasions over 200 million fish.
根据年代可迅速定位于第四段末句,定位句指出年捕捞量超过(inexcess of)1亿,还有些年份为2亿,而题目则说平均为1亿,故此题答案为FALSE。

Questions 21-26

•题目类型:Sentence Completion
•解题方法:
1. 此题为配对形式的完成句子题,考生应首先利用题干信息回原文进行定位,然后分析选项关键词进行解题。
2. 此类题目的题干一般遵循顺序原则,可利用此原则简化定位过程。 

21题
定位词:biologists, adult fish
文中对应点:第五段第二句,There are biologiststhroughout the stateconstantly monitoringadult fish as theyshow up to spawn.
题目解析:此题定位较易,但解题较难。由定位句可知生物学家从成年鱼类开始产卵时对其进行监控,但是并未直接指出其目的,考生只能通过理解该段上下文分析得出:生物学家的监控是“当季捕捞盈余为本”管理方法的一部分,而这项管理带来了鱼量的增加,从而得出生物学家的目的是监控鱼量是否充足(abundance)。通过扫描选项关键词,只有G选项关键词能与之对应:to ensure that fish numbers aresufficient(对应abundance)to permit fishing。故正确答案为G。

22题
定位词:authority
文中对应点:第五段中间,..., but on any givenday, one or more fieldbiologists in aparticular area can puta halt to fishing.
题目解析:此题定位较难,考生应使用排除法,最后解决这道题。定位句指出生物学家可以制止(halt)捕鱼行为。通过扫描选项关键词,只有E选项关键词能与之对应:tostop(对应halt)people fishing for sport。故正确答案为E。

23题
定位词:allowed
文中对应点:第五段末句,It is this managementmechanism that hasallowed Alaska salmonstocks...to prosper,...
题目解析:此题按照顺序原则可迅速定位,定位句指出该项管理手段使得阿拉斯加的大马哈鱼渔业开始繁荣(prosper)。通过扫描选项关键词,只有B选项关键词能与之对应:tobe successful(对应prosper)。故正确答案为B。

24题
定位词:MSC, established
文中对应点:第六段第二句,The Council, whichwas found in 1996, certifies fisheries thatmeet highenvironmentalstandards, ...
题目解析:要定位此题,必须先辨识出established在文中的同义转述was found,定位句指出MSC会认证满足高环保标准的渔场;通过扫描选项关键词,只有A选项关键词能与之对应:to recognise(对应certifies)fisheries that care for theenvironment(对应meet high environmentalstandards)。故正确答案为A。

25题
定位词:the state
文中对应点:第八段末句,However, the statereacted quickly, closingdown all fisheries, ...
题目解析:通过题干主语可快速定位,通过扫描定位句和剩余选项可以很快看出K选项“toclose down all fisheries”与原文几乎完全一致。故正确答案为K。

26题
定位词:seven Alaska salmon
文中对应点:第九段第二句,Seven companiesproducing Alaskasalmon wereimmediately grantedpermission to displaythe MSC logo ontheir products.
题目解析:此题定位句指出题目中提到的7家公司被授权可以在自己的产品上使用MSC的标志。通过扫描选项关键词及剩余选项,发现F选项“to label(对应display)theirproducts using the MSC logo'’几乎与原文一致。故正确答案为F。

参考译文

无尽的丰收

两百多年前,俄罗斯探险者和皮毛狩猎者抵达阿留申群岛(位于北太平洋的一个火山群岛),发现了位于北部远方的一块大陆。岛上的原住民把这块大陆称为阿留斯卡,意为“伟大的土地”。如今,我们叫它阿拉斯加。

1959年,阿拉斯加加入美利坚合众国,成为美国的第49个州,其面积相当于美国其他48个州总面积的五分之一。它与加拿大共用北美大陆第二长水系,拥有美国一半以上的海岸线。多条河流注入白令海峡和阿拉斯加湾——冰冷而富含养分的水域是成千上万海鸟赖以生存的家园。此外,这片水域中还生活着400多种鱼类、贝类,虾蟹和软体动物。阿拉斯加的商业渔场充分利用了大自然的馈赠,已经发展成为世界上规模最大的渔业聚集地之一。

据阿拉斯加渔业与捕捞局称,在2000年,阿拉斯加商业渔场出产了成百上千吨的贝类和鲱鱼,还有一百多万吨底栖鱼(包括鳕鱼、鳎鱼、鲈鱼和青鳕)。阿拉斯加渔业真正的文化心脏和灵魂却是大马哈鱼。随笔作家苏珊•尤因在她的著作《伟大的阿拉斯加自然概况》一书中指出,大马哈鱼从阿拉斯加游过,就像血液流经心脏一样,为这片土地、动物和人们带来独具韵律、循环通畅的给养。可预见的丰富的大马哈鱼产量使本土文化得以繁荣发展,垂死的产卵鱼为熊、鹰和其他动物提供食物,最终为这片土地提供养料。5种太平洋大马哈鱼都在阿拉斯加水域产卵:奇努克大马哈鱼(王鲑)、马苏大马哈鱼(狗鲑)、银大马哈鱼(银鲑)、红大马哈鱼(红鲑)、粉大马哈鱼(驼背大马哈鱼)。北美90%的商业太平洋大马哈鱼都产自阿拉斯加。如果阿拉斯加是一个独立国家的话,它将是全世界最大的野生大马哈鱼产地。2000年,阿拉斯加商业大马哈鱼产量超过320, 000吨,船边交易额超过2. 6亿美元。

然而,捕鱼业并非一直这么风调雨顺。1940到1959年间,过度捕捞使得大马哈鱼的数量急剧减少,1953年,阿拉斯加成为“联邦受灾渔区”。不过,州政府通过抗争夺回了渔业自主管理权,在州法院的指导下开展渔业活动。而州法院负责确保阿拉斯加的自然资源在可持续发展的基础上进行开发利用。那时候,全国范围内的大马哈鱼产量大约为2500万条。在可持续捕捞政策的管理下,接下来的几十年里,大马哈鱼的产量平稳上升。20世纪90年代,大马哈鱼的年产量超过1亿条,个别年份甚至超过了2亿条。

产量提高的首要原因是实施了被称作“当季捕捞盈余为本”的管理方法。全州范围内的生物学家负责持续监测将要产卵的成年大马哈鱼。生物学家们坐在河滨的观测计算塔里,研究声纳系统,从飞机上进行观察,并与渔民交谈。大马哈鱼捕捞季节不是预先设定好的某一时刻。渔民们知道一年中政府允许捕捞的大概时间段。但是在某些特定的日子,某个地区的一个或多个领域的生物学家有权要求停止捕鱼活动。甚至连体育比赛性的钓鱼活动也会被禁止。正是这样的管理机制使得阿拉斯加的大马哈鱼储量得到保证,并使阿拉斯加的捕鱼业得以持续发展。而同时,美国其他地区的大马哈鱼数量却日益令人担忧,处在备受威胁、甚至是危险的状态中。

1999年,海洋管理委员会(MSC)授权审查阿拉斯加大马哈鱼捕捞业。该委员会成立于1996年,它为符合高环保标准的渔业发放证明,允许他们使用标签,表明他们知道自己肩负的环保责任。海洋管理委员会设定了一套评定商业捕鱼业的标准。渔业公司认识到通过环保负责评定所带来的潜在利益后,纷纷要求该委员会为自己做相关评定。于是,海洋管理委员建立了一个专门的评定委员会,组建专门的渔业专家小组,从渔民、生物学家、政府官员、产业代表和非政府组织等人士那里收集相关信息和观点。

在海洋管理委员会做最后决定的那几个月里,西阿拉斯加的大马哈鱼鱼群全线崩溃。于是,一些观察家认为,阿拉斯加大马哈鱼渔业不会有任何获得官方机构认证的机会了。在育空河和卡斯科奎姆河流域,奇努克大马哈鱼和马苏大马哈鱼几乎处于建州以来最贫瘠的状态。该地区对商业捕鱼拥有优先权的可持续发展机构对此束手无策。

这场危机完全出乎人们的意料,但研究人员相信这并不是渔业发展引起的。相反,他们辩称这必定是气候变化的结果,是太平洋气候现象厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜持续作用的后果。这些气候现象造成冬天的酷寒,结果大量大马哈鱼的卵在冰冷的海水里被冻死。海洋管理委员会的评定也似乎走到了尽头。然而,阿拉斯加州迅速做出反应,关闭所有渔场,甚至包括那些为了研究可持续发展的渔场。

2000年9月,海洋管理委员会宣布阿拉斯加大马哈鱼渔业通过了资格审查。7家生产阿拉斯加大马哈鱼的渔业公司立即获准在产品上使用海洋管理委员会专用徽标。该证明的起始期限为5年,之后每年进行一次评定,以确保渔业公司仍然符合规定的标准。