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] The 13th annual World Ocean Summit comes at a turning point: the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty has been ratified, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is going to reshape seafood supply chains, and new science warns we have breached the planetary boundary on ocean acidification. World Ocean Summit & Expo |
• [New] Asia accounts for 41% of global flooding and its coastal megacities and Pacific islands face mounting threats from storm surges, rising sea levels and salty water pushing inland. Boston Herald
• [New] Ocean productivity shifts could affect up to 40% of global protein sources that depend on marine ecosystems. ventrofy.com
• [New] With the United Nations' target of protecting 30% of the seas by 2030, marine protected areas are being established at a record pace. The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News |
• [New] There is a 55% probability that the existing cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific will be consistent with La Nina thresholds, and a 45% likelihood of a transition back to ENSO-neutral conditions during the December-February 2025-2026 period. World Meteorological Organization
• [New] The partnership with USNC centered on the EPC plan for the first-of-a-kind MMR demonstration plant at Canada's Chalk River Laboratories, targeted for a 2026 launch. EnkiAI - Find the right insight
• [New] Marine SMR Commercialization (2030 Goal): While the 2030 target for a marine nuclear business model is ambitious, the next critical step will be an announcement of a firm order or a funded pilot project for either the SMR-powered containership or the floating power barge. EnkiAI - Find the right insight
• [New] Sea conditions will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf, and slight in the Sea of Oman. Big News Network.com
• [New] Sea-level rise threatens coastal terminals across North America and South America. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Even the U.S. capitol in Washington D.C. will be heavily impacted by sea level rise. The Systems Perspective
• [New] Sea levels are rising at alarming rates off the coast of New Jersey, putting communities at risk of disaster. Yahoo News
• [New] Sea levels could rise by more than seven feet by 2100, putting many coastal communities at risk. Yahoo News
• [New] Projected increases in sea level rise could lead to more coastal flooding events and 10 times the number of damaging flooding events over the next 30 years. / USA Center for American Progress
• [New] Sea level rise caused by climate change could cause thousands of toxic sites in the U.S. to flood in the coming decades. Yahoo News
• [New] The Black Sea has become a flashpoint for energy transport risks, with both attacks on vessels and pipeline disruptions threatening global oil supply. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] Marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly at risk, acidifying faster than the global average. Defence Industry and Space
• [New] Ukraine bit back asymmetrically: SBU's Sea Baby drones torched Tambov depot, flames leaping 50 meters, halting Druzhba flows-50% 2026 revenue hit, Moscow estimates. Tension and War Index (TWI)
• [New] A marine heatwave known as a blob was especially severe this year in the north-western and central Pacific Ocean, which could lead in the coming months to increased flooding in the US Pacific north-west and especially wintery weather in eastern North America. Climate Impacts Group
• [New] The waters bordering North America could soon be inhospitable to critical marine creatures if the Northeastern Pacific Ocean continues to acidify at the current rate, a new study shows. UW News
• [New] A gradual return to the Red Sea route after long detours around the Cape of Good Hope is the key thing to watch for in container shipping in 2026. Seeking Alpha
• [New] The Red Sea crisis, necessitating prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, is projected to persist well into 2026, adding significant transit times and costs to international shipping. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] The research is important for predicting how reefs around the world will change as ocean acidification increases this century and beyond. New Atlas
• [New] A potential attack from the sea could result in a crisis, affecting maritime trade, which accounts for about 7% of Singapore's gross domestic product. ST

Last updated: 14 December 2025