A push by Australia and France to create a massive ocean sanctuary in east Antarctica is in doubt as nations meet in Hobart to discuss the plans, with China and Russia opposing. The proposed East Antarctic marine park would protect one million square kilometres of ocean, but has repeatedly been struck down at meetings of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which began on Monday.

China and Russia have been key in blocking the proposal, which was first floated by Australia, France and the European Union in 2010 before being scaled down in 2017 in an attempt to win greater support.

All 26 members of the organisation must consent to the marine park's creation, and the proposal is now back before the CCAMLR as it convenes in Australia's southernmost city, Hobart, for two weeks of meetings on Antarctic conservation.

It has previously established other major ocean Antarctic sanctuaries - including the world's largest spanning 1.55 million square kilometres in the Ross Sea - but governments and environmental groups say more action is needed to protect the last pristine continent.

Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley said in a statement ahead of the meeting that the east Antarctic proposal would protect the area's "distinctive deep-water reefs and feeding areas for marine mammals".

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019