WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The countries that decide the fate of Antarctica reached a historic agreement Friday to create the world’s largest marine protected area in the ocean next to the frozen continent.

The agreement comes after years of diplomatic wrangling and high-level talks between the United States and Russia, which has rejected the idea in the past.

Proponents of the reserve say it sets a precedent for multiple countries working together to protect a large swath of ocean that falls outside any single nation’s jurisdiction.

The agreement covers an area about twice the size of Texas in the Ross Sea.

The deal was clinched after 24 countries and the European Union met in Hobart, Australia, this week. Decisions on Antarctica require a consensus among the 25 members, which has confounded past efforts.

The United States and New Zealand have been pushing for a marine reserve for years. They first submitted a joint proposal in 2012, but it was rejected five times before Friday’s agreement.

The marine protected area covers 1.6 million square kilometers. There will be a blanket ban on commercial fishing across about three-quarters of that area.

In the remaining ocean, some monitored commercial fishing would be allowed.

A small amount of fishing for research purposes would be allowed throughout the protected zone.

Several countries fish in the waters surrounding Antarctica for lucrative toothfish, which are often marketed in North America as Chilean sea bass.

Associated Press