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] Over 3 billion people rely on the oceans for their livelihoods, and further showed the sustainability of the oceans to be under serious threat due to plastic and marine pollution, among other factors (ocean warming, eutrophication, acidification, and fishery collapse). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Nearly 10% of marine species are at risk of extinction, and at least 40% are feeling the impacts of climate change. Earth Island Journal
• [New] By 2030, a third of the ocean is genuinely off-limits to destruction. Ocean Rising
• [New] The World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force, prohibiting subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities, which have long undermined sustainable fisheries management and threatened marine ecosystems. Project Syndicate
• [New] If summer sea ice disappears entirely, scientists predict accelerated catastrophe-leaps in temperature, more frequent and stronger storms, global sea-level rise - which will threaten the planet's general livability. The Atlantic
• [New] BIMCO advises operators to expect highly variable ice conditions driven by short-term winds and ocean heat transport, prioritize real-time ice data, and ensure compliance with the updated Polar Code as polar shipping activity continues to grow. Merchants Exchange
• [New] The UN High Seas Treaty, the world's first treaty to protect and conserve marine biodiversity in international waters adopted in 2022, will enter into force in 2026 after clearing the ratification threshold in September. Earth.Org
• [New] The additions to South Australia's park network align with the state and federal governments' 30 by 30 commitment, which aims to protect 30% of Australia's landmass and marine areas by 2030 in an effort to halt further biodiversity loss. Department for Environment and Water
• [New] Globally, there's consensus that the life-support systems of our planet rely on healthy oceans, and there are expectations that ocean issues will continue to rise on the multilateral agenda. Yahoo News Canada
• [New] Warmer seas as a result of climate change could see lionfish swarm the entire Mediterranean by the century's end. financialpost
• [New] Using a combination of satellite imagery, weather and ground-level environmental datasets, challenge registrants - who can form teams of up to three members - will develop AI models to forecast water quality based on key parameters (alkalinity, salinity and phosphorous) for rivers in South Africa. Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach
• [New] Despite the risks, China and India will try to carve an economic space for themselves in the Black Sea region due to the diminishing US strategic presence. Turkey recap
• [New] Better, more expansive visual imaging could have a side benefit: reminding people around the world - in a way not captured by dry statistics-why they should care about endangered, fragile ocean environments in the first place. Optics & Photonics News
• [New] China's new ocean-drilling vessel, Meng Xiang, is expected to begin its first expedition, aiming to drill up to 11 kms into the oceanic crust and reach Earth's mantle. tovima.com
• [New] The potential reopening of Red Sea shipping routes in 2026 represents both significant opportunity and considerable risk for Singapore's maritime sector. Maxthon | Privacy Private Browser
• [New] Vessel Traffic Density: Increased shipping raises collision risks, marine pollution potential, and ecosystem disruption in Singapore Strait, one of the world's busiest waterways. Maxthon | Privacy Private Browser
• [New] In South Africa, water pollution is threatening the people and ecology surrounding the UmBilo river in KwaZulu Natal. Greenpeace Africa
• [New] By embracing the potential of uncrewed helicopters like Proteus, the Royal Navy aims to search wider stretches of ocean for longer periods without putting a strain on aircrew, who could be deployed on other critical missions. NationalWorld
• [New] More than 20 million Americans will take an ocean cruise in 2027, with 72% sailing to the Caribbean. Odessa American
• [New] Number could reach 100 million tons by 2030, which eerily aligns with what some scientists now say will be the first-ever days with no summer sea ice. Climate TRACE
• Protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 is not only a conservation goal but a commitment to sustaining the planet's life-support systems. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• Conditions sea will be moderate to rough, especially with clouds in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea. Khaleej Times
• Conditions at sea will be slight to moderate, may become rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in Oman Sea. Khaleej Times

Last updated: 04 January 2026