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] By 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean's fish. Conservation International
• [New] The world's ocean plastic crisis could be dramatically reduced in just 15 years - and for less than $1bn (£750m). Positive News
• [New] The longer-term goal is to stop 90% of floating plastic pollution from reaching the sea by 2040, while also clearing existing accumulation zones such as the great Pacific garbage patch. Positive News
• [New] Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reduced sharply, and wider Red Sea disruption continues to reshape global routes. Kennedys Law
• [New] Repeated attacks, particularly on Baltic Sea oil export infrastructure, are projected to reduce the daily volume of Russian oil and petroleum products shipped from Russian ports in the short to medium term. Crisis24
• [New] The Marine Corps is advancing toward fielding a certified autonomous rotary-wing logistics platform capable of reducing human exposure in high-threat expeditionary resupply missions, likely correlating with broader USMC distributed maritime operations doctrine in contested Pacific environments. Drone Warfare
• [New] Faced with the threat of attacks around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, major shipping firms opted instead for the long detour around southern Africa. Hiiraan Online
• [New] The QBE Marine Insurance Risk Outlook for Asia 2026 sets out the risks we expect to be most relevant in the year ahead. (Re)in Asia - Emerging risks - Growth opportunities - A
• [New] The North Sea has become the global epicenter of offshore wind, hosting more than 80% of Europe's installed offshore capacity, with regional plans to reach at least 300 GW by 2050 through the North Seas Energy Cooperation. Tony Blair Institute
• [New] Rapid expansion of the salmon farming industry in Chile has been linked to ecological damage and concerns about worker safety, while Norway's wild salmon face an existential threat, with sea lice linked to salmon farms a contributing cause. The Tyee
• [New] Emerging pathways, such as Red Sea terminals or potential India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) linkages, floating LNG units and pipelines could create further options. Adipec
• [New] Emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Africa will become critical growth nodes, driven by rapid urbanization and increasing marine pollution challenges. Verified Market Reports
• [New] The PRC could leverage Pakistan's reliance on its arms industry to exact concessions from Pakistan to aid its regional posture in the Indian Ocean. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The PRC could use Pakistan's reliance on its military relationship with the PRC to support power projection efforts in the Indian Ocean. American Enterprise Institute - AEI

Last updated: 17 May 2026