Aaaaaaaaaand Antarctic Preserve Plan Fails For Fourth Time; "FUCK The Earth", Says Russia [View all]

[hatrack]

A plan to protect a vast swath of ocean off Antarctica by creating the world’s largest marine reserve appeared headed for failure for the fourth time. The countries that make decisions about Antarctic fishing finish a 10-day meeting on Friday in Hobart, Australia.

Most favor a US-New Zealand proposal to ban most fishing in a sanctuary sprawling across 1.34m sq km (517,000 square miles) in the Ross Sea. But all countries must agree, which they have failed to do at three previous meetings. US delegation leader Evan Bloom said Thursday a consensus once again appeared unlikely.

“It’s very disappointing from the US perspective,” he said. He said a “small number of countries” opposed the proposal, but he declined to name them as the closed-door negotiations were continuing.

Russia was a key holdout in the past among the 24 nations and the European Union that comprise the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Political tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine have likely only added a further hurdle this time.

EDIT

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/30/plans-for-giant-antarctic-marine-reserve-falter-for-fourth-time