"China and Russia Thwart Plan for Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary"

"PERTH Australia – China and Russia have thwarted an international attempt to create the world’s largest ocean sanctuary in Antarctica as both nations eye the region’s rich reserves of fish and krill.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) wound up a 10-day meeting in Hobart, Australia on Friday without the consensus needed for a deal to conserve and manage the marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. While Russia blocked conservation proposals for a fourth consecutive time, China’s refusal to back the international plan came as a surprise to many delegates after previous statements of support for conservation and marine protection.

Ukraine, which previously took the same stance as Russia, this year voted in favor of the proposals."

Morag MacKinnon reports for Thomson Reuters October 31, 2014.