Russia, China block plans for Antarctic marine protectionsWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Russia and China have again blocked plans supported by the European Union, the United States and 23 other nations to protect three vast stretches of ocean around Antarctica from most fishing.Those included an agreement on new protections for krill fishing and a commitment to meet in Chile next year to further discuss the proposal for the new marine protected areas, which combined would cover a swath of ocean larger than India.Kyiv region still struggles 6 months after Russian retreat'Putin's chef' admits to interfering in U.S. electionsPower being partially restored in Russian-occupied KhersonDrought tests resilience of Spain's olive groves and farmersThe Russian delegation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.“While the krill conservation measure is a good first step, new evidence underscores that the best precautionary approach to Southern Ocean conservation couples ecosystem-based fishery management and marine protected areas,” said Andrea Kavanagh, director of the Project’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean work.Finding consensus among the group called the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources has always been hard but has been exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine — which is also a member of the group."