Antarctic’s future in doubt after plan for world's biggest marine reserve is blocked

A plan to turn a huge tract of pristine Antarctic ocean into the world’s biggest sanctuary has been rejected, throwing the future of one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems into doubt.

 A humpback whale shows its flukes while feeding in Antarctic waters.

Environmental groups said Russia, China and Norway had played a part in blocking the proposal, with the other 22 members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the organisation set up to protect Antarctic waters, backing the proposal.

The 1.8m sq km reserve – five times the size of Germany – would have banned all fishing in a vast area of the Weddell Sea and parts of the Antarctic peninsula, safeguarding species including penguins, killer whales, leopard seals and blue whales.

Read the story from The Guardian by environmental reporter, Matthew Taylor - “Antarctic’s future in doubt after plan for world's biggest marine reserve is blocked.”