Our Scans · (LF.14) Life Below Water · Weekly Summary

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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] Prolonged disruptions to trade in the Red Sea would further impact trade volumes and shipping costs, with a particular impact on Egypt due to lower Suez Canal receipts. Unofficial Networks LLC
• [New] The introduction of harmful aquatic organisms to new environments by ships has been identified as a major threat to the world's oceans and to the conservation of biodiversity. Witherbys
• [New] Maldives has a total land area of 20,130 square km (formed by 1190 islands) situated in 974,000 square km of the Indian Ocean that needs constant watch against internal and external threats. The Diplomat
• [New] At 2024's Munich Security Conference, the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping ranked alongside Ukraine and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict among major threats to global economic security. youTalk-insurance.com
• [New] NOAA scientists are studying the nitrogen removal that shellfish aquaculture can provide to coastal communities and seaweed's potential to decrease carbonic acid - the main perpetrator of ocean acidification. NOAA
• [New] Scientists expect environmental changes such as warming oceans, rising sea levels, frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, and ocean acidification to increase with continued shifts in the planet's climate system. NOAA
• [New] Global insurance group Howden has announced the introduction of a new cargo war risk facility aimed at providing coverage for vessels against drone and missile attacks by Yemeni militia groups in the Red Sea. Insurance Business
• [New] The proposed Ionian marine national park will cover almost 12% of Greek territorial waters, safeguarding sea mammals like sperm whales, striped dolphins and the vulnerable Mediterranean monk seal and the South Aegean MPA, which covers 6.61% of Greek territorial waters. The Guardian
• [New] NASA scientists hope to use EELS to search for signs of life in the ocean beneath the icy crust of Saturn's Enceladus moon. The Robot Report
• [New] Iran may be trying to play on fears that it could obstruct shipping through the strait, a passageway of greater significance to global oil and gas supplies than the Red Sea. Unofficial Networks LLC
• [New] If the United States goes to war with Russia or China before 2029, it will not have any frigates to escort ships across the two oceans. The Telegraph
• [New] Last month, the IEA made a 110,000 barrels per day upward revision of its global oil demand from its previous forecast saying shipping disruptions on the Red Sea caused by Hamas attacks would lead to higher fuel consumption as ships take the 4,000-mile detour around the African continent. oilprice.com
• [New] Ocean acidification and hypoxia present serious threats to California's coastal and marine ecosystems and the coastal communities and economies that rely on them. Los Angeles Times
• [New] American and British airstrikes in retaliation to Houthi attacks on tankers in the Red Sea sparked fears of conflict escalation and potential disruptions to essential oil trade routes. Gilmore
• [New] On induction, the Fleet Support Ships will bolster the 'Blue Water' capabilities of the Indian Navy through replenishment of fleet ships at sea. SSBCrackExams
• Sea-based drone warfare in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine and the Houthi rebels' disruption of commercial shipping in the Red Sea have become conflict hot spots. Insider
• Climate science can provide indications of potential tipping points and what their consequences might be, like the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the impact it would have on global sea levels. European Central Bank - Banking Supervision
• President Biden has vowed that the United States will defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea, calling its support for Manila ironclad. Just Security
• Climate change, rising sea levels, and the El Nino phenomenon are expected to intensify saltwater intrusion, with an estimated $3 billion in crop losses anticipated for 2024, international media reports. ReliefWeb
• 675,000 people and $250 billion in property are at risk of flooding in a scenario with 2m of sea level rise combined with a 100-year storm. UC Santa Cruz News
• Disruptions have been rife, with the chain of events starting with the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing with the blockage of the Suez Canal and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and leading to the impacts of the Red Sea attacks in 2024. TechHQ
• The conflict in the Middle East has caused disruptions in sea shipments between Europe and Asia, and similar tensions elsewhere could lead to further trade fragmentation. Mint

Last updated: 22 April 2024