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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - The nations that make decisions about Antarctic fishing have failed for a third time to agree on a plan to create the world's largest marine sanctuary.
The U.S. and New Zealand had proposed creating a reserve in the pristine waters of the Ross Sea. At 1.34 million square kilometers (517,000 square miles), it would have been twice the size of Texas.
But the 24 nations and the European Union failed to reach a required consensus as time ran out Friday on a 10-day gathering of national delegations in Hobart, Australia.
The Pew Charitable Trusts says that Russia and Ukraine essentially ran out on the clock filibuster-style after earlier expressing positive sentiments about the proposal. Those countries have fishing interests in the region.
The nations will meet again next October.
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