The largest marine reserve in Antarctica is about to be born

(Baonghean.vn) - The world's largest marine reserve, with the goal of protecting the wild and pristine Antarctic region, will officially be established. This is the decision made after the final agreement reached on October 28 thanks to Russia's "nod" after a long period of opposition.

The agreement, approved by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) at its annual meeting in Hobart, Australia, will see the world witness a major marine reserve proposed by the United States and New Zealand in the Ross Sea.

Adelie penguins are among the wildlife living in the Ross Sea (Source: Reuters)

The reserve will cover more than 600,000 square miles (about 1,553,993 square kilometers), of which three-quarters will be a no-fishing zone, said New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

“This proposal requires some changes to gain unanimous support from all 25 CCAMLR member states; at the same time, the final agreement also balances marine protection, sustainable fishing and scientific concerns,” he said.

Russia was the last country to oppose the deal, citing concerns over fishing rights after China raised it last year.

However, the meeting ran out of time to reach a second agreement on another protected area proposed by Australia and France in East Antarctica.

Both proposals for protected areas have been on the agenda of CCAMLR since 2012. These are treaties that task all countries with overseeing the conservation and sustainable use of Antarctic waters.

Consensus requires the unanimous agreement of all 24 CCAMLR member states and the European Union. CCAMLR was established by an international treaty in 1982, with the goal of conserving Antarctic marine life. The European Union and 24 countries are members of CCAMLR by consensus, and a further 11 countries have signed the convention.

“For the first time, countries have put aside their differences to work together to protect a large area of ​​the Antarctic Ocean and international waters,” said Mike Walker, project director of the Antarctic Ocean Protection Coalition.

The Ross Sea is one of the last intact marine ecosystems on Earth, home to penguins, seals, Antarctic toothfish and whales. It covers about 10% of the Earth's surface.

Khang Duy

(According to Telegraph)