Global Scans · Life Below Water · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

• [New] NOAA can use data from the drones for mineral location, as well as energy development, conservation, or ocean modeling to better predict storm surge. Politico
• [New] Deep-sea mining could help the U.S. and its allies reduce dependence on China, which produces 90% of the world's rare earths. Politico
• [New] Without rapid scaling, marine electrification will not meaningfully reduce the 3% of global emissions from shipping in time to meet IMO's 2050 target. youth4planet
• [New] A third threat is that the concentration of marine battery manufacturing in China creates new dependencies. youth4planet
• [New] California's commercial ocean salmon fishery will reopen in 2026 after a three-year closure, while recreational anglers will see significantly expanded opportunities following dramatic improvements in key Chinook salmon populations. SeafoodNews
• [New] The USGS is working with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners to develop tools that forecast whether Chinook salmon in the lower Yukon River will be healthy enough to complete the 1,700-mile migration and successfully spawn. USGS
• [New] Reclamation poses a risk to nearby habitats such as the reefs around Sentosa as well as the marine life-rich Southern Islands. ST
• [New] Sea surface temperatures for April to June are forecast to be warmer than average across much of the globe, including around parts of Australia. Mirage News
• [New] Unregulated dredging harms more than fish, endangering sea turtle nesting sites and migratory bird habitats, pushing regional species to extinction. The Guardian
• [New] Many different marine forces across the globe are already utilising or testing the Flexrotor for Naval ISR to detect maritime surface and submarine threats. Airbus
• [New] By 2040, Australia's optimal force structure reflects a deliberate shift towards sovereign resilience, maritime power and coalition leadership, built on a balanced mix of denial, sea control, integration with partners and national mobilization depth. Defence Connect
• [New] In Miami-Dade County, where sea-level rise is expected to increase dramatically over the next century, residents chronically slog through days of heavy flooding and extreme heat. Politico
• [New] Now MIT scientists are finding that phytoplankton's composition, and the basic diet of the ocean, will shift significantly with climate change. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] In addition to MPAs other conservation management tools will be required such as Other area based Effective Conservation Means to contribute to the health of Qatar's marine ecosystems. Springer Nature Switzerland
• [New] The International Atomic Energy Agency is in the process of launching its Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative, which will provide a critical pathway to harmonize maritime and nuclear standards. Atlantic Council
• [New] Any disruption in the Red Sea could thus increase risks to growth and inflation in Asia, including Singapore, and is something to watch closely. ST
• [New] Should the situation in the Red Sea escalate, it could raise the risk of a double chokehold on global trade and energy supply. ST
• [New] Red Sea disruptions driven by Houthi activity, which began in late 2023, were still constraining service patterns in early 2026. Automotive Manufacturing Solutions
• [New] Ships avoiding the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea must reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Dawn
• [New] Gulf disruptions are moving beyond short-term responses to structural changes, as cargo flows shift east into new routing structures across the Indian Ocean and Asia. Yahoo Finance
• [New] The recent events indicate a surge in conflict-related maritime attacks, including drone and missile strikes in high-risk areas like the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and parts of the Black Sea, which add to the risks of the activities of criminals. All About Shipping
• [New] The coverage of protected and conserved areas at sea still needs to triple by 2030 and it is critical that both new and existing areas are managed effectively to deliver positive outcomes for people and nature. IUCN
• [New] Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, has issued Nature Expectations - guidance for portfolio companies as they assess, disclose, and manage risks arising from impacts on land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems. JD Supra

Last updated: 19 April 2026