Lewis Pugh, the United Nation's Patron of the Oceans, plunged into the frigid waters of the Ross Sea during an awareness campaign to declare the area a marine sanctuary. On Friday, the United Nations announced a deal to create 600,000 square miles of protected space. Photo courtesy of United Nations Environment Program
HOBART, Australia, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The United Nations on Friday said an agreement to establish the world's largest marine sanctuary in Antarctica's Ross Sea has been reached after five years of negotiations.
The unanimous deal reached between 24 countries and the European Union during the annual meeting in Hobart, Australia, of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR, creates "the world's largest protected area on land or sea," measuring at 600,000 square miles.
The Ross Sea -- also known as the polar "Garden of Eden" -- is considered to be the last great wilderness area on Earth, the United Nations Environment Program said.
"We are thrilled that this very special part of our planet's oceans has been safeguarded for future generations," U.N. Environment head Erik Solheim said in a statement. "We are especially proud of our Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh, who shuttled between the nations to help find consensus. Today's result is a testament to his determined efforts."
For the past two years, Pugh campaigned to protect the region. He swam in the the Ross Sea's water several times in February 2015 to draw attention to the issue. Pugh also visited Moscow several times to endorse the deal to Russian diplomats after Russia rejected the agreement at least five times.
"I am overjoyed," Pugh said in a statement. "The Ross Sea is one of the most magnificent places on Earth. It is one of our last great wilderness areas. This is a dream come true."
The Ross Sea hosts 50 percent of the world's ecotype-C killer whales, known as the Ross Sea orcas, 40 percent of Adélie penguins and 25 percent of emperor penguins. The sanctuary was specifically protected to prevent overfishing.
"This is a crucial first step in what I hope will be a series of marine protected areas around Antarctica, and in other parts of the High Seas around the world," Pugh said. "In 1959 at the height of the Cold War, Antarctica was set aside as a place for peace and science. Today's announcement shows that Antarctica continues to be a place for peace and bridge building, a place where we can find common ground."
