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] The additions to South Australia's park network align with the state and federal governments' 30 by 30 commitment, which aims to protect 30% of Australia's landmass and marine areas by 2030 in an effort to halt further biodiversity loss. Department for Environment and Water
• [New] Another significant threat to sea turtle populations around the world is plastic pollution. The Lance
• [New] Warmer seas as a result of climate change could see lionfish swarm the entire Mediterranean by the century's end. financialpost
• [New] If summer sea ice disappears entirely, scientists predict accelerated catastrophe-leaps in temperature, more frequent and stronger storms, global sea-level rise - which will threaten the planet's general livability. The Atlantic
• [New] In 2025, luxury cruise brands will push even further, offering carbon-neutral voyages and partnering with conservation groups to support ocean preservation. Geeks
• [New] The INSTC is a trade route that, when completed, will connect India, Iran, Russia, and Central Asia via road, rail, and sea to reduce transit time and costs between South Asia and Europe. Critical Threats
• [New] Protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 is not only a conservation goal but a commitment to sustaining the planet's life-support systems. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] Built at Rosneft's Zvezda shipyard, the long-delayed tanker is expected to allow year-round LNG shipments along the Northern Sea Route despite Western sanctions. gCaptain
• [New] The € 10-plus-billion programme will involve hundreds of French firms and is pitched as both a symbol of national power and a pillar of European strategic autonomy at sea. The Rio Times
• [New] Marine conditions will generally be slight to moderate across both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, but seas may become rough at times in association with cloud activity and stronger winds. Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, trave
• [New] Rising sea levels will flood both Chinese and American coastal cities. Medium
• [New] Global crude inventories at sea reached 1.3 billion barrels, 30% above August levels, posing greater price threats than geopolitics. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] Japanese firms and multinationals are now reassessing supply chains - particularly for sectors where disruption risk is high (marine products, certain manufactured inputs, tourism-linked goods). OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION ( ORF )
• [New] The North Sea has seen threats increase due to Russian espionage and drone terror. SWZ|Maritime | For technical professionals in the marit
• [New] Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including disruptions at the critical CPC Black Sea export terminal that also handles Kazakh shipments, continue to pose near-term risks to supply, offsetting concerns about longer term oversupply. MUFG Research
• [New] Russia last week threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea as retaliation for Kiev's attacks with sea drones on unlicensed tankers heading to Russia to export its oil. MarineLink
• [New] The North Sea Transition Authority currently projects an annual decline of domestic offshore gas production to continue at a rate of 12% per year. GOV.UK
• [New] Up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050, seeking better living conditions as water becomes scarce, agricultural productivity declines, and sea levels rise. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] Rising sea levels and salinity could cause the Indian Sundarbans mangroves to lose between 42 to 80% of their current area by the end of this century. Reasons to be Cheerful
• [New] In 2025 the world's largest MPA was established in French Polynesia's Tainui Atea - the MPA will aim to protect 1,100,000 sq km (425,000 sq miles) of ocean. BBC
• [New] Global sea levels are already higher because of global heating but a rise of 2.0-2.2 meters around the UK by 2100 could occur if glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica collapse rapidly, flooding coastal cities and towns. The Guardian
• [New] Increasing ocean acidity, caused by the planet's rising carbon dioxide levels, could weaken shark teeth and potentially impact their ability to hunt. Chemistry World
• [New] Long-term warming in the Southern Ocean could continue to worsen heatwaves even after net zero has been achieved. SciTechDaily

Last updated: 29 December 2025