Fishery threatensprotected ocean

摘要

The Ross Sea in the Antarctic is the planet's last pristine ocean area, but it could soon become a victim of the race for natural resources at the poles (Nature 478,174-177; 2011). The region's absolute protection against fishing is being reconsidered by the New Zealand government.One reason is the demand for a luxury seafood item, the Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni - a fishery worth NZ$18 million (US$14 million) a year. However, this fish grows slowly and may not spawn every year, so harvesting would be unsustainable.