Conservation Heaven: EU Greenlights World's Largest Marine Reserve in Antarctic Ocean

Twenty-four countries and the European Union made a milestone in sealing the deal of creating the largest marine protected area in the world in the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart. Roughly 1.5 million square kilometers of water is now under the protection of an international agreement.

A portion of the Sothern Ocean, more known as the Ross Sea located around the Antarctica, was declared as the world's largest marine reserve and first-ever protected marine waters, which is outside the jurisdiction of any country. Out of the total area, 1.1 million square kilometers was designated as the "general protection zone," a no-take area. Fishing will not be allowed within these waters. Meanwhile, for research purposes, the agreement also established 322,000 square kilometers for krill research. Experts may take krill, but not toothfish or any other marine life. Meanwhile, a "special research zone" with around 110,000 square kilometers plotted adjacent of the no-take zones will be provided for research purposes only and is limited only to catching krill and toothfish as specimens.

The agreement was rigorously discussed for almost two weeks, and after a five-year attempt of having the Ross Sea declared as protected, this year has officially made their dreams come true.

"Today’s agreement is a turning point for the protection of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean," WWF-Australia Ocean Science Manager Chris Johnson said in a news article. “This is important not just for the incredible diversity of life that it will protect, but also for the contribution it makes to building the resilience of the world’s ocean in the face of climate change.”

After 35 years, the agreement will expire, but the delegates were positive that by that time, the world will be a lot different than having Ross Sea unprotected. "The Ross Sea Region MPA will safeguard one of the last unspoiled ocean wilderness areas on the planet -- home to unparalleled marine biodiversity and thriving communities of penguins, seals, whales, seabirds, and fish," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Reuters.