Finally, Russia has dropped resistance to marine reserves proposed for the Antarctic. But lifting the opposition does not come quite easy as Moscow has laid certain demands which need to be agreed.

The disagreement was not only from Russia's side but from some other countries as well. Their opposition acted as hindrance for the two reserve proposals.

First one is a 1.6 million square kilometer reserve off East Antarctica and was backed by Australia, France and the European Union. Another one was a 1.25 million square kilometre proposal in the Ross Sea and was put forth by New Zealand and the United States.

At the annual Antarctic Treaty meeting, Russia said it might be considered as in 'open opposition' to the marine reserves, but in reality such is not the case. Russia is not against the two reserve proposals.

Moscow has laid its conditions including, each marine reserve should have guaranteed transparent international management. It also demanded for the inclusion of sunset clauses on each reserve and also to give fishing access inside the reserves.

The Antarctic Ocean Alliance said many concerns of Russia with regard to the reserves were cleared in the treaty meeting. "Outstanding issues include size and duration of reserves, and we will be campaigning strongly in the second half of 2014 for the areas to be permanently designated as they are proposed", said alliance campaign director Steve Campbell.

Except Russia, other countries that expressed concerns about the reserves include China and Ukraine. China has also now agreed, but Ukraine was absent from the treaty meeting.

In the meeting, it has been decided that only those protected areas will be established that have best available scientific evidence and have effective monitoring and subjected to periodic review.