Antarctic marine reserves deal within reach as Russia thaws environmental stance

Antartica is home to most of the world’s penguins
and whales. The Commission for the Conservation
  of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which has
been meeting annually since 2011, on Monday
commenced two weeks of talks to discuss
 creating marine reserves in the Antarctic.

An international agreement to protect some of Antarctica’s unique and pristine marine ecosystems could be reached within a fortnight, with scientists and conservationists hopeful of a breakthrough after five years of pristine marine ecosystems.

Delegates from 24 nations and the European Union gathered in Hobart on Monday to commence two weeks of talks at the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

The commission has been working since 2011 towards protecting a range of areas in the Southern Ocean.

Read Michael Slezak’s story in The Guardian - “Antarctic marine reserves deal within reach as Russia thaws environmental stance.”