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] Two more cable systems will extend westwards to Africa and Asia, to deepen the resilience of Indian Ocean internet infrastructure. gCaptain
• [New] A fast-spreading marine pandemic is wiping out vital reef-grazing sea urchins, threatening ecosystems worldwide. ScienceDaily
• [New] Rising sea levels and increased cyclonic activity further endanger coastal populations, while escalating tensions over water sharing, public health crises, and climate-induced migration underscore Pakistan's profound vulnerability. MorungExpress
• [New] Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Black Sea has been transformed into an active danger zone for merchant shipping, where civilian seafarers face the real and ongoing threat of mines, drones, and missile strikes. gCaptain
• [New] The International Transport Workers' Federation has condemned recent attacks on vessels operating in the Black Sea following the third Ukrainian sea drone strike on a Russian shadow fleet tanker, warning that civilian seafarers must never be treated as targets in conflict. gCaptain
• [New] In the Black Sea, Vodafone Group and Vodafone Ukraine have partnered with Xtera on the Kardesa, a €116m ($136m) cable system that will connect Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, and Ukraine with the first cable landing planned in Bulgaria in 2027. Verdict
• [New] Forecasters have warned of a danger to life from fast-flowing rivers as heavy rain and flooding are predicted to hit parts of the UK this weekend. SKY
• [New] CPC Black Sea Loading Disruptions: A Ukrainian drone assault on the Novorossiysk terminal has prompted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to suspend operations at one of its three single-point moorings, slashing expected throughput from 1.6 million barrels per day to approximately 800,000 b/d. Shipley Energy
• [New] Sea-level rise threatens coastal terminals across North America and South America. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Extreme weather events such as storm surges, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion, along with rising water-related disasters, threaten the region, which already accounts for more than 40% of the world's floods. Al Jazeera
• [New] Asia accounts for 41% of global flooding and its coastal megacities and Pacific islands face mounting threats from storm surges, rising sea levels and salty water pushing inland. Boston Herald
• [New] If creatures in the Southern Ocean absorb less of humanity's carbon emissions as the planet heats up, that will further accelerate heating. Chemistry World
• [New] Vessels calling at terminals in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are required to purchase additional war-risk insurance, issued on seven-day terms. Insurance Business
• [New] Starlink's super-smart low-Earth-orbit satellites mean we will have strong, reliable connectivity even over oceans and empty wastelands. Meon Travel
• [New] Deep-sea mining regulatory frameworks under development by the International Seabed Authority could unlock polymetallic nodule deposits containing 21 billion tonnes of manganese, 5.7 billion tonnes of iron, and substantial quantities of nickel and cobalt. Discovery Alert
• 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 |
• Marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly at risk, acidifying faster than the global average. Defence Industry and Space
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Ocean productivity shifts could affect up to 40% of global protein sources that depend on marine ecosystems. ventrofy.com
• 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

Last updated: 15 December 2025