English: Locator map of the Southern Ocean. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The idea of creating extensive marine reserves in the Southern Ocean, around Antarctica, seems like a no-brainer.
The reserves would protect what is still the most pristine aquatic ecosystem in existence, and they would extend to the ocean some of the international protection that the continent enjoys: the recognition that the south polar region is a world treasure, off limits to the frenzy of resource extraction playing out across the rest of the planet.
In July, at the most recent meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in Bremerhaven, Germany, there was a nearly giddy sense of optimism that, after repeated failures, the proposal would finally pass. But it failed again, thanks largely to Russia and Ukraine, who raised unfounded legal objections. And while not completely caving in, fishing nations like China, Norway and Japan called for smaller reserves and a “sunset clause” that would allow for future exploitation and essentially render the whole idea of a permanent reserve meaningless.
All this has led the staunchest supporters of the original 875,000-square-mile proposal — chiefly the United States and New Zealand — to do exactly the wrong thing. Instead of going into the next month’s meeting in Hobart, Australia, with renewed determination, the two countries announced last week that they would agree to shrink the proposed reserves by 40 percent, in the belief that something is better than nothing.
The Latest Bing News on:
Antarctica
- Antarctica is about to get its first submarine internet cableon August 1, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Two infrastructure companies from Chile and Singapore are preparing to build the first submarine internet cable to dock on the shores of Antarctica.The product of a partnership between Desarrollo País ...
- Desarrollo País & H2 Cable issue RFP for Chile-Australia Humboldt Cable, with possible spur to Antarcticaon August 1, 2022 at 8:43 am
A request to help build the first cable to the first cable between Australasia and South America has been issued. It could also become the first cable to land in Antarctica Chilean state-run ...
- Two-month Viking cruise travels between Milwaukee & Antarcticaon August 1, 2022 at 7:04 am
While you still can't take a train directly to Madison from Milwaukee, next year you'll be able to sail between Brew City and Antarctica, as Viking offers three "Longitudinal Cruises," that last more ...
- Increasing levels of ‘forever chemicals’ seen in Antarcticaon July 29, 2022 at 11:31 am
Story at a glance Despite the widespread proliferation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in populated areas, new research documents rising levels of these “forever chemicals” in remote ...
- This insane new cruise ship has 2 submarines, a 26-person expedition team and sails to Antarcticaon July 29, 2022 at 11:26 am
Antarctica is literally the end of the earth, both in the popular imagination and on the map, but there’s a new decked-out Seabourn ship setting sail that takes expeditions to the icy continent to the ...
- People stationed in Antarctica menstruate too, and it's a struggle. How we can support themon July 29, 2022 at 7:30 am
Women have been doing fieldwork in Antarctica for more than 40 years. Yet they comprise just 25% of expeditioners in the Australian Antarctic Program. Despite decades of progress, historical issues ...
- "Forever Chemicals" Reaching Antarctica Have Been Increasingon July 29, 2022 at 12:49 am
New evidence from Antarctica shows that toxic ‘fluorinated forever chemicals’ have increased markedly in the remote environment in recent decades and scientists believe CFC-replacements could be among ...
- People stationed in Antarctica menstruate too – and it’s a struggle. Here’s how we can support themon July 28, 2022 at 1:03 pm
We’ve come a long time since women were deemed too “hormonal” to be sent into space. Yet gender bias is an issue women in the field still reckon with every day.
- Levels of 'forever chemicals' reaching Antarctica have been increasingon July 28, 2022 at 8:34 am
New evidence from Antarctica shows that toxic 'fluorinated forever chemicals' have increased markedly in the remote environment in recent decades and scientists believe CFC-replacements could be ...
- Scientists measure how quickly crucial Antarctica glacier is meltingon July 25, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Climate change's connections with the extreme heat and weather events in the U.S. and around the globe have been well established. But climate change is also having a measurable impact on a much ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Antarctica
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Marine reserves
- Marine Mining Market to Advance at CAGR of 34.43% During 2022-2031: TMR Studyon August 1, 2022 at 7:30 pm
A scrutiny of marine mining market trends underscores the growing investment of mining companies for retrieving deep-sea ore deposits, notably for extracting base and precious metals. An in-depth ...
- Three new marine parks announced for Buccaneer Archipelago in WA's Kimberley regionon July 31, 2022 at 6:36 am
The three new marine parks will cover more than 600,000 hectares of Kimberley coastline throughout the Buccaneer Archipelago.
- Khanh Hoa exerts efforts to preserve marine ecosystemson July 31, 2022 at 1:01 am
The south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been working hard to protect marine ecosystems through various measures.
- DOC ranger to study marine protection in Indonesiaon July 30, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Motueka DOC ranger Stew Robertson will travel to Indonesia to study local communities’ involvement in marine protected areas as the 2022 winner of DOC’s Stephen O’Dea Development Award.
- Marine veteran’s book tells his story of being held hostage in Yemenon July 30, 2022 at 4:43 pm
The Lebanese-born, U.S.-raised Marine later transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves, but his Arabic-speaking background led to an assignment helping translate during the Persian Gulf War and later a ...
- Saving coastal, marine environment through Marine Protected Areason July 30, 2022 at 9:07 am
As part of the Plastic Free July, a global movement that amplifies the call for strengthened efforts to solve the global plastic crisis, ocean conservation advocate nongovernment organization, Oceana ...
- Nelson's first marine reserves ranger heads to Indonesia to upskillon July 29, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Nelson's first marine reserves ranger is heading to Indonesia to study community involvement in managing large marine protected areas.
- Veteran tells of leading Marines in Afghanistan at fair eventon July 28, 2022 at 6:00 am
Wes Barnes, who led a U.S. Marine Corps, mobile assault platoon in Afghanistan, told a Porter County Fair crowd of his experiences there and training to become an officer.
- BP Reserves Yinson FPSO for Angolaon July 28, 2022 at 1:31 am
BP has reserved Yinson's Nganhurra floating, production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for use on its proposed 10-well subsea ...
- Humboldt Hero | Veteran of the Marines to be honored before Crabs gameon July 25, 2022 at 2:13 pm
DeSoto is being honored as the July Humboldt Hero in a special ceremony at Arcata Ball Park ahead of the Crabs game on Tuesday. Tickets to the game are required to attend. DeSoto was born on Oct. 5, ...
