The Australian government has described an international summit's failure to reach agreement on strengthened conservation measures in Antarctica as a "lost opportunity".

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) wrapped up its annual meeting in Hobart on Friday after two weeks of high-level negotiations.

But the 27 member states were unable to reach consensus on proposed marine protected areas and updated rules for krill fishing — with China and Russia again vetoing the measures.

"Australia is disappointed that once again, despite two weeks of intensive negotiations, agreement could not be reached on new marine protected areas or spatial distribution of the krill fishery," the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) said in a statement.

"This is a lo

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