Proposed Antarctic marine reserve gets big boost
A free-swimming robot submarine, manoeuvres beneath sea ice in Eastern Antarctica in this undated handout picture. Scientists have produced the first three dimensional map of the surface beneath Antarctic sea ice, helping them better understand the impact of climate change on Antarctica. The team of scientists from eight countries have used a robot submarine to chart a frozen and inverted world of mountains and valleys, allowing accurate measurements of the crucial thickness of Antarctic sea ice.
Image by: HANDOUT / REUTERS
Image by: HANDOUT / REUTERS
An international push to create a giant marine sanctuary in Antarctica has gotten a big boost after the United States and New Zealand resolved their dispute over fishing.
The two countries on Monday submitted a joint proposal for a Ross Sea reserve to the international organization that regulates fishing in Antarctica. They'd earlier submitted competing proposals which stood little chance of success.
Both countries have touted an Alaska-sized sanctuary but previously couldn't agree on fishing rules and boundaries. New Zealand boats catch toothfish in the region, which are marketed as Chilean sea bass.
The 24 nations and the European Union are currently meeting in Australia and will likely decide on the proposal later this week. The details of the compromise won't be made public before then.
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