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 50-50 crew rule in The Ocean Race Atlantic will give equal opportunities to the best female and male offshore sailors in the world in a new point to point race format. World Sailing
• [New] Winds are forecast to ease and shift direction, while sea conditions in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea are expected to moderate. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] Strong winds have affected sea conditions, with the Arabian Gulf turning very rough, while the Oman Sea is expected to remain rough. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] The UAE is set to experience a spell of unsettled winter weather, with cooler temperatures, strong winds and rough sea conditions expected over the coming days. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] Antarctica experienced its warmest year on record, while the Arctic had its second-warmest year, a pattern scientists attribute to feedback loops associated with sea-ice loss and, in Antarctica's case, a rare atmospheric disruption that spiked surface temperatures. Coyote Gulch
• [New] Sea conditions are forecast to remain slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in the Oman Sea, providing relatively stable maritime conditions despite shifting wind patterns. Gulf Business
• [New] Sea conditions are expected to remain slight to moderate in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea, easing periodically. Gulf Business
• [New] In 2026, higher baseline sea levels are likely to worsen coastal flooding during storms and high tides, eroding shorelines and threatening homes, infrastructure, and freshwater supplies. Voices.earth
• [New] In 2026, rapidly intensifying hurricanes in the Atlantic and Western Pacific oceans could leave coastal communities with little time to prepare, increasing damage from wind, flooding, and storm surge. Voices.earth
• [New] By 2050 the total weight of plastics in the oceans will be greater than the total weight of fish (Naftika Chronika 2018). SpringerLink
• [New] Rising sea levels will flood facilities handling sewage, toxic waste, oil and gas, and other industrial pollutants if heat-trapping pollution continues unchecked. UCLA
• [New] Current climate projections suggest proper northern sea routes by 2065, and they could shave 3,000 nautical miles off the traditional route through the Suez Canal. ABN AMRO Bank
• [New] The Northern Sea Route and Transpolar route could cut Asia-Europe shipping time by 30-40 percent. The News International
• [New] Considering that the Greenland Ice Sheet contains an estimated 24 ft (7.4m) of global sea level equivalent, it could have a serious impact on coastal communities if it melts. New Atlas
• [New] Recent escalation between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in southern Yemen reflects a more profound strategic rupture rooted in diverging threat perceptions, regional ambitions, and competing visions for the Red Sea and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The Soufan Center
• [New] The One Ocean Partnership, which launched at COP 30, aims to mobilize $20 billion for coastal resilience, blue-carbon ecosystems, and ocean protection; create 20 million blue jobs worldwide; and restore 20 million hectares of marine ecosystems by 2030. Countercurrents
• [New] Microplastics could be impacting the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) which is critical for regulating Earth's temperature. The Times Of India
• [New] Water-walking robots might collect a million tons of ocean plastic by 2040. International Defense Security & Technology

Last updated: 18 January 2026