🇺🇸 영어 원문
A gold panner caught illegally searching for gold in a protected river has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £4,700, the environment body Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said.
Brian Wright, 68, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, was caught panning at the Afon Wen river near Dolgellau, Gwynedd, in October and December 2024.
He was found guilty of environmental offences at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court on Monday, according to the regulator.
NRW said Wright had been caught disturbing the protected and valued environment of Coed y Brenin Forest, which the river runs through, and was a repeat offender.
Richard Berry from NRW said activities such as illegal gold panning could cause significant damage to river habitats and wildlife.
He added that this case should serve as a reminder that illegal gold panning is not permitted on NRW-managed land and that those who ignore the rules may face prosecution.
Gold panning is not permitted on NRW-managed land because of the potential damage to river ecosystems.
The environment body said the excavation of gravel and the removal of minerals could disturb riverbeds, impacting habitats that wildlife rely on.
NRW said although many people may be unaware of the repercussions, gold panning could lead to prosecution and sentencing where it risks disturbing spawning fish and damaging river habitats.
The regulator also said Wright had been sentenced for similar offences in May 2022.
Euros Jones, NRW manager for north-west Wales, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that gold panning was damaging and could create a concerning environmental cost.
Jones said Dolgellau has a history of gold mining and that very small specks of gold could be found among a lot of gravel.
He said there is a romance around the gold, and it attracts people to the river because the area is known for this.
🇰🇷 한국어 요약
친구들, 이 뉴스는 영국 웨일스의 한 보호 하천에서 불법으로 금 채취를 한 68세 남성이 벌금과 소송 비용으로 4,700파운드 이상을 내게 된 사건이야.
이 남성은 2024년 10월과 12월에 그위네드 지역 돌겔라우 근처 애번웬 강에서 금 채취를 하다 적발되었어. 금 채취는 강바닥의 자갈과 모래를 파내서 금을 찾는 활동인데, 보호구역에서는 허락되지 않아.
환경 기관인 웨일스 자연자원(NRW)은 이 행위가 하천 서식지와 야생동물에 큰 피해를 줄 수 있다고 설명했어. 특히 산란 중인 물고기를 방해하고 강 바닥 생태계를 망가뜨릴 수 있어서 기소와 처벌로 이어질 수 있다고 했어.
또 이 남성은 2022년에도 비슷한 위반으로 처벌받은 적이 있는 반복 위반자였어. NRW는 많은 사람이 이런 규칙과 결과를 모를 수 있지만, 불법 금 채취는 낭만적인 놀이가 아니라 환경 범죄가 될 수 있다고 경고했어.
도겔라우 지역에는 금 채굴 역사가 있고, 자갈 속에서 아주 작은 금을 발견할 수 있어서 사람들이 호기심에 하천을 찾기도 한대. 하지만 보호되는 자연에서는 규칙을 지키는 것이 정말 중요해!
🔑 핵심 단어 (Vocabulary)
- repeat offender – 같은 종류의 위반을 반복하는 사람 – NRW said Wright was a repeat offender.
- fine – 법원이나 기관이 내리는 벌금 – Wright was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £4,700.
- panning – 금이나 보물을 찾기 위해 자갈과 모래를 체로 씻는 행위 – He was caught panning at the Afon Wen river.
- protected – 공식적으로 보호받는, 훼손이 금지되는 – NRW said he disturbed a protected and valued environment.
- regulator – 규정을 감시하고 관리하는 기관 – He was found guilty at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, according to the regulator.
- disturb – 방해하다, 교란하다 – The excavation of gravel could disturb riverbeds.
- habitat – 야생동물이나 식물이 살아가는 자연 서식지 – It can impact habitats that wildlife rely on.
- prosecution – 법적으로 기소하는 일 – Those who ignore the rules may face prosecution.
- spawning – 물고기가 알을 낳는 시기나 과정 – Gold panning can risk disturbing spawning fish.
- gravel – 자갈, 작은 돌 – Very small specks of gold could be found among a lot of gravel.
🔗 원문 링크
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620lz12d1l7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss