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] 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
• [New] Conditions sea will be moderate to rough, especially with clouds in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea. Khaleej Times
• [New] 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
• [New] The sea will be slight to moderate, may become rough at times with clouds in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in Oman Sea. Khaleej Times
• [New] Marine conditions will generally be slight to moderate across both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, but seas may become rough at times in association with cloud activity and stronger winds. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] Wind speeds could reach 50 kilometers per hour, and seas are expected to be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf, with the Sea of Oman moderate and occasionally rough. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] The International Transport Workers' Federation has condemned recent attacks on vessels operating in the Black Sea following the third Ukrainian sea drone strike on a Russian shadow fleet tanker, warning that civilian seafarers must never be treated as targets in conflict. gCaptain
• [New] Ukraine's successful deployment of the Sub Sea Baby UUV against a Russian submarine in a protected naval base demonstrates that underwater autonomous drones can now bypass surface-focused harbour defences, fundamentally changing naval base vulnerability calculus worldwide. Drone Warfare
• [New] The U.S. Navy's first at-sea launch of a suicide drone from a warship represents a critical expansion of one-way attack capabilities into the maritime domain, directly countering Iranian asymmetric threats with reverse-engineered technology. Drone Warfare
• [New] The U.S. Navy's first sea-launched one-way attack drone from USS Santa Barbara represents a critical shift toward affordable, distributed maritime strike capabilities that could fundamentally alter naval deterrence dynamics in contested waters. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: By 2027-2028, expect Chinese integration of satellite-independent navigation into operational drone swarms and autonomous maritime systems deployed in South China Sea operations, with hybrid sensor fusion becoming standard across PLA precision strike platforms. Drone Warfare
• [New] Allied navies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, will pursue similar capabilities to counter Chinese maritime expansion, driving a secondary proliferation wave of sea-launched loitering munitions within 18-24 months. Drone Warfare
• [New] Increasing ocean acidity, caused by the planet's rising carbon dioxide levels, could weaken shark teeth and potentially impact their ability to hunt. Chemistry World
• [New] Global crude inventories at sea reached 1.3 billion barrels, 30% above August levels, posing greater price threats than geopolitics. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] Another significant threat to sea turtle populations around the world is plastic pollution. The Lance
• [New] Warning-level heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions are forecast in several parts of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kinki, and San'in regions, especially along the Sea of Japan coast and mountainous areas. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The Cameroon Beach Cleanup 2026, organized by ASCOA, is a nationwide initiative dedicated to reducing marine debris and promoting a cleaner, healthier coastline. Ocean Decade
• [New] AI integrated with quantum computing will revolutionize maritime operations, enabling ultra-complex ocean simulations, advanced weather modeling, and real-time optimization of global shipping networks. AI Vault - Discover & Compare AI Tools
• [New] Global sea levels are already higher because of global heating but a rise of 2.0-2.2 meters around the UK by 2100 could occur if glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica collapse rapidly, flooding coastal cities and towns. The Guardian
• [New] In the past month or so, sea ice extent has been the lowest on record, potentially heralding another reduced maximum for sea ice in 2026. The Guardian
• [New] Projected sea levels are expected to exceed critical thresholds in regions like the Pacific Islands by the end of the century. The Cool Down
• [New] In 2025 the world's largest MPA was established in French Polynesia's Tainui Atea - the MPA will aim to protect 1,100,000 sq km (425,000 sq miles) of ocean. BBC

Last updated: 28 December 2025