Global Scans · 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 Cameroon Beach Cleanup 2026, organized by ASCOA, is a nationwide initiative dedicated to reducing marine debris and promoting a cleaner, healthier coastline. Ocean Decade
• [New] AI integrated with quantum computing will revolutionize maritime operations, enabling ultra-complex ocean simulations, advanced weather modeling, and real-time optimization of global shipping networks. AI Vault - Discover & Compare AI Tools
• [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] In the past month or so, sea ice extent has been the lowest on record, potentially heralding another reduced maximum for sea ice in 2026. The Guardian
• [New] Projected sea levels are expected to exceed critical thresholds in regions like the Pacific Islands by the end of the century. The Cool Down
• [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] A fast-spreading marine pandemic is wiping out vital reef-grazing sea urchins, threatening ecosystems worldwide. ScienceDaily
• [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] 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] The North Sea has seen threats increase due to Russian espionage and drone terror. SWZ|Maritime | For technical professionals in the marit
• [New] By 2050, rising sea levels will threaten over 800 billion people in 570 cities around the world, and rising average summer temperatures of over 95 F (35 C) will threaten 1.2 billion people. The Dirt
• [New] In South Asia, Bangladesh's vulnerability to cyclones, flooding, and sea-level rise has created largescale displacement. The Nation
• [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] Firstly, the active development of the Russian Arctic Zone and the Northern Sea Route will lead to an exponential increase in freight traffic across all modes of transport. Arctic Portal - The Arctic Gateway
• [New] Two successive atmospheric river pulses are affecting the Pacific Northwest this week, delivering multi-day heavy rainfall and flooding risk across western Washington and northwestern Oregon. The Watchers
• [New] The 13th annual World Ocean Summit comes at a turning point: the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty has been ratified, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is going to reshape seafood supply chains, and new science warns we have breached the planetary boundary on ocean acidification. World Ocean Summit & Expo |
• [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] Ocean productivity shifts could affect up to 40% of global protein sources that depend on marine ecosystems. ventrofy.com
• [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] There is a 55% probability that the existing cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific will be consistent with La Nina thresholds, and a 45% likelihood of a transition back to ENSO-neutral conditions during the December-February 2025-2026 period. World Meteorological Organization
• [New] The partnership with USNC centered on the EPC plan for the first-of-a-kind MMR demonstration plant at Canada's Chalk River Laboratories, targeted for a 2026 launch. EnkiAI - Find the right insight

Last updated: 21 December 2025