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] 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] Marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly at risk, acidifying faster than the global average. Defence Industry and Space
• [New] Tourism destinations around the world face increasing challenges from climate change, whether it's rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or disruptions to biodiversity. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Russia's ability to cross the Haichur River will likely be the determining factor in its ability to make operationally significant advances further westward. Critical Threats
• [New] The first commercially viable, small-scale autonomous container vessels will begin operating on fixed, short-sea routes, particularly in Europe and Asia, serving as proof-of-concept for larger-scale adoption. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Ocean productivity shifts could affect up to 40% of global protein sources that depend on marine ecosystems. ventrofy.com
• [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] There's a risk of triggering tipping points for irreversible changes, such as drying out the Amazon rainforest, melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica and maybe even shutting down the entire Atlantic ocean current system. Yahoo News Singapore
• [New] The Baltic Sea region is facing an increasing range of threats, including suspected hybrid attacks from drones, alleged sabotage of underwater infrastructure and a steady flow of ageing oil tankers in the form of shadow fleet ships carrying crude oil from Russia. The Guardian
• [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] Ammonia and hydrogen fuel cells will become the leading propulsion technologies for deep-sea shipping, supported by a global bunkering infrastructure. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Driven by the converging forces of climate imperatives, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical shifts, the coming decades will redefine what it means to move goods across the oceans. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Advanced open-ocean aquaculture and mariculture farms, managed by autonomous systems, will provide a significant portion of the world's seafood without damaging fragile coastal ecosystems. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• The research is important for predicting how reefs around the world will change as ocean acidification increases this century and beyond. New Atlas
• Environmental groups and some vessel operators have criticized the Executive Order, warning it could cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems and undermine international efforts to regulate DSM responsibly. Passle
• The UK has become the first major economy to call time on new fossil fuel exploration, confirming that no more licenses for oil and gas drilling will be issued in the North Sea. Positive News
• In addition to inland consumption, LNG use in the marine transport sector, which includes both LNG carriers and commercial vessels powered by LNG, is expected to increase by 15 bcm / yr to 2030. IEA

Last updated: 08 December 2025