Unclear future for cultured pearls II

　　Every day the laboratory collects samples to monito r the water quality in ago bay.

　　When dangerously high levels of plankton are detect ed, mikimoto scientists alert government authorities wh o advise local farmers to evacuate their oyster. We exp erimented by forcing plankon into the oyster. Much to o ur surprise when the plankton entered, the oyster tried very hard to expel the plankton. With 3-5 minutes, the movement of the heart became very abnornal and the oyst er died at once. So we know this plankton is very dange rous.

　　But red tide isn't the only problem. Ago bay is now pushed to the limits, accommodating hundreds of small p earling companies.

　　Just in our area alone, there are over. 130 compani es. So overcrowding too has become a huge problem.

　　On many farms, the traditional 4 year growth cycle has been reduced to as little as six months. As a resul t, nacre thickness is sometimes just a cosmetic layer t hat can wear thin over time.

　　Several decades ago, in may father's time, almost a ll the pearls were a two-year crop, sometimes even 3 ye ars. If we left these a year longer, they'd be of bette r quality. But to leave the oyster one more year is a c ostly gamble because they will probably die. That is ou r dilemma.

　　Not only then are they smaller, less robust creatur es, but the pollution in the water changes the color of the nacre and change the color of the pearl.

　　If you look at the annual harvest, teh overall look of an entire harvest is yellowish-green, not an attract ive colour and not a saleable color.

　　Science may have unraveled the oyster's screts. But the pearl remains and evocative symbol of nature's geni us, and a haunting reminder that huamans too often dest roy what they treasure most.

　　每天，实验室都要在AGO BAY收集样品，监测水质。

　　当大量危险的沲游生物实发现时，MIKIMOTO的科学家们告诫政府部门劝说当地养珠人移珠蚌。

　　实验时，我们把浮游生物注入珍蚌中。意想不到的是当浮游生物进入蚌体时，珠蚌的排异性非常强，3到5分钟之内，蚌的心脏运动异常并很快死户。可见浮游生物是非常很快死亡。可见浮游生物是非常危险的。

　　但问题不只是赤潮，现在AGO BAY 挤满了上百家小型珍珠企业。

　　在我们这个区域，就有130家多家公司。过度拥挤也是面临的一大问题。

　　海湾中密布的珍蚌养网，限制了海湖的涌动，减少了食物的供给。

　　在一些养殖场，珍蚌传统的4年生长期被缩短为6个月。所以真珠质的厚度就像脸上化妆品，不久就会磨薄了。

　　几十年前在我父亲的年代里，几乎所有的珍珠都要养2年甚至3年。假如我们让珍蚌多长一年，它们的质量就会更好。但这也是风险极大的赌博，因为在这一年中它们面临着死亡的威胁。真是进退两难。

　　珍蚌不但更小，生命力更弱，受到污染的水会改变真珠质和珍珠的颜色。如果你看了一下每年的采捞情况，整体上珍珠看起来是微黄发绿的，没有诱人的色泽就没有好价钱。

　　科学还没有完全揭开蚌的秘密。但珠珍却始终是大自然神奇的符号并时刻提醒人们：人类总爱毁掉他们最珍视的东西。

　　(broadcast on CCTV)