The European Union and 24 countries signed an agreement on Friday. This document the scientists described as a historic milestone in global efforts to protect marine diversity. The European community has created the world’s largest marine park in the Ross Sea, this reserve in the Antarctic Ocean covers a massive 1.55 million square km.
The EU is helping to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to protect the marine biodiversity. During the recent meeting in Hobart, Australia, 24 countries and EU agreed that Antarctic Ocean will host the largest marine sanctuary in the Ross Sea.
The agreement meant that the Ross Sea marine park would be protected from commercial fishing for 35 years. This aquatic region is an extremely important for ecology, the marine park will cover more than 12 percent of the Southern Ocean. According to the marine biologists, at least 10,000 species lives in this territory.
John Kerry, the US State Secretary, reminds in a statement the importance of efforts on creation the world’s largest marine park:
“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.”
It worth to note, that during the recent voting, Russia agreed to the proposal, after blocking conservation proposals on five previous occasions.
The scientists agreed that success and signing of this historic deal will open world’s largest marine reserve. The negotiations between nations lead to good news for the creatures who call the Ross Sea in the Antarctic home.
