Russia and China drag heels on Antarctica protection

An annual summit on Antarctica has failed to reach an agreement on extra marine protected areas, with Russia and China accused of stymieing progress.

During almost two weeks of talks in Hobart member states in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources couldn't agree on designating protection areas in the continent's east, Weddell Sea and the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula.

The region is home to many penguins, seals and whales, which are increasingly threatened by climate change and overfishing.

Several countries including Australia have long been calling for the establishment of protected areas, which are considered one of the best methods of protecting marine ecosystems and safeguarding biodiversity.

In order to make progress, the approval of all 27 governments responsible for the protection of Antarctic marine life is needed.

German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said the continued resistance of Russia and China was the main sticking point.

"Russia's interest in constructive global cooperation is zero, and China unfortunately also prioritises the short-term exploitation of marine resources, such as krill, over their long-term conservation," he said.

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition - a grouping of environmental protection organisations from around the world - points out that Antarctica is experiencing unprecedented temperature anomalies, with marine heatwaves becoming more frequent and sea ice gradually declining.

The pressure on species there is being intensified by overfishing, the presence of microplastics in the environment, and tourism.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was established in 1980 and includes 26 states and the European Union.

The commission agreed in 2009 to establish a system of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.

However, since then only two of the six have actually been created.