Our Scans · (LF.14) 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] Authorities plan to reinforce the protective dam and begin a new phase of the North Aral Sea conservation project by the end of the year. The Astana Times
• [New] The rise of outdoor swimming will not solve England's plastic problem on its own but as access to designated bathing waters expands, rivers and coastlines become shared spaces, protected by the people who use them. Positive News
• [New] A coalition of environmental and clean-shipping groups is urging the International Maritime Organization to block any move that would allow ammonia-fueled ships to discharge toxic waste at sea, warning that shipping's push toward zero-emission fuels must not come at the expense of ocean health. gCaptain
• [New] River flows across England are expected to be normal or higher for the time of year (and continue at normal levels through to September). Strutt & Parker - Rural Hub
• [New] Meta is partnering with Arable to provide irrigation technology to independent farmers in Indiana's Upper Wabash River Basin, a project it expects to restore 200 million gallons of water a year for 10 years and reduce costs for farmers. Verdict
• [New] A new UK-EU agreement will coordinate an historic scale-up of North Sea offshore wind power, with nations jointly committing to deliver up to 100 GW of capacity by 2050, as part of a new Clean Energy Security Pact. We Mean Business Coalition
• [New] Costa Rica's abundance of rare wildlife brings opportunity to get involved in exclusive conservation efforts accompanied by marine biologists and scientists. Pelorus Travel
• [New] Ocean Underwriting has launched a Complex Risks Liability facility for Australian brokers placing higher-hazard and non-standard liability risks, reflecting continued demand for capacity and tailored terms in the complex risks segment. Insurance Business
• [New] The snowpack crisis, which could mean a drier, more wildfire-prone summer, is coming as states are racing unsuccessfully against a deadline to agree on terms to share water in the Colorado River Basin, the source of water for 40 million people across seven states in the West. Wired
• [New] The healthiest societies in 2030 will most likely be on the sea. MIT Technology Review
• [New] The sea will be rough, becoming moderate to slight in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in the Oman Sea. Khaleej Times
• [New] The sea will be slight to moderate, becoming rough at times northward in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea. Khaleej Times
• [New] Earth Sciences NZ expects La Nina's lagged influence, which tends to favour warmer-than-average coastal SSTs, to re-emerge, with coupled ocean-atmosphere models indicating a tendency toward above-average SSTs across the February-April period. Insurance Business
• [New] Continuously inhabited for the last quarter-century, the ageing ISS is scheduled to be de-orbited and crashed into an isolated spot in the Pacific Ocean in 2030. Economic Times
• [New] Ukraine's Marichka underwater drone represents a strategic shift toward persistent subsurface denial capabilities, potentially enabling week-long ambush operations that could render Russian naval movements in the Black Sea prohibitively risky without comprehensive anti-submarine warfare investments. Drone Warfare
• [New] The heightened tensions could spark a broader conflict with Eritrea, which would risk becoming a regional conflict involving multiple Red Sea powers in a most dangerous scenario. Critical Threats
• [New] The European Union is moving to tighten sanctions on Russia by proposing a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil, a step that would significantly expand restrictions on marine insurance, reinsurance and related risk services if approved by member states. Insurance Business
• [New] Microplastics are a growing global concern, with documented effects on marine ecosystems and potential risks to human health. ScienceDaily
• [New] California's history is littered with examples of seaside infrastructure being slowly destroyed by the pitiless ocean, long before supposed human-caused global warming could be blamed. ClimateRealism
• [New] A report from researchers at the University of Johannesburg said that it poses risk to aquatic biodiversity due to ocean deoxygenation. SlashGear
• [New] Scientists are aiming to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, with more sustainable fishing practices that guarantee the future of marine life. Yahoo News
• [New] Scientists are working towards protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 and promoting sustainable fishing practices to mitigate the environmental impact of bottom trawling. Yahoo News
• [New] Some of the world's oxygen-deprived oceans could eventually regain higher oxygen levels in the centuries ahead, even as the planet continues to warm. SciTechDaily

Last updated: 16 February 2026