Very bad precedent: China and Russia team up to undermine krill fishing restrictions in Antarctica [Video]

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

China and Russia are working together to block new Antarctic marine parks and loosen krill fishing restrictions, undermining a major international convention designed to protect the region from overexploitation, according to analysts and conservationists.

With the support of Russia, China reportedly used its veto rights at a meeting of the 26-nation Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Tasmania to prevent the renewal of an agreement restricting krill fishing.

The two countries also blocked the declaration of four marine parks around the southern continent.

Experts said it reflected a push to resist and reverse environmental protections in Antarctica. Krill is an important food source for keystone species including penguins, seals and whales, and fishing restrictions have previously been backed by scientists and member countries to ease pressures on wildlife as the region is affected by …