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] Sea level rise and coastal erosion will accelerate with warming. youth4planet
• [New] Rail Baltica, designed to connect the Baltic States with the rest of Europe, will become a key component of the North Sea-Baltic Corridor once operational around 2030, opening new intermodal opportunities and improving north-south freight flow. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Following the NREL Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities, the NHA MEC developed a U.S. Marine Energy Commercialization Strategy calling for domestic marine energy deployment targets of at least 50 MW by 2025, 500 MW by 2030, and 1 GW by 2035. National Hydropower Association
• [New] The Ocean Climate Action Coalition supports (and we believe influenced) the Biden executive action to allow 30 GW of offshore wind leasing by 2030. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
• [New] A UN target to protect and restore 30% of nature by 2030 will not be achieved in ocean environments until 2107 on current trends. Morning Star
• [New] Plastic waste in marine ecosystems is expected to increase by 65% in 2030, even under the current ambitious commitments set by governments. Siemens
• [New] Scientists warn of a likely El Nino event in 2026, raising concerns over rising temperatures, extreme weather, and impacts on both land and marine environments. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] Long-term surface warming of the ocean around Antarctica, projected by climate models over the coming century, leads to Antarctic amplification. Live Science
• [New] Antarctica could heat up 1.4 times faster than the rest of the Southern Hemisphere over the coming decades, which would lock in extreme sea-level rise and ravage polar ecosystems, a new modeling study shows. Live Science
• [New] Iran has reportedly threatened to damage undersea internet cables in the Red Sea, a move that will have a significant impact on internet speed across multiple countries in the world. The Times Of India
• [New] Ocean temperatures are closer to normal, which suggests we could see a more suppressed hurricane season in 2026. FOX 8 Local First
• [New] Oxygen-depleted ocean zones are increasing rapidly, threatening marine ecosystems and global seafood supply chains. Informosio
• [New] By 2040, without intervention, annual ocean plastic leakage will reach 37 million tonnes. Gray Group International
• [New] Emerging markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East are expected to offer significant growth opportunities, supported by infrastructure development and government initiatives to promote marine tourism. openpr
• Russian electronic warfare systems are systematically disrupting satellite navigation in the Baltic Sea, creating risks for shipping and aviation. RBC-Ukraine
• This month, the Australian government quadrupled the size of its Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, a move that will help protect Antarctic marine life. Conservation International
• At current rates, just under 10% of the world's oceans will be protected by 2030 - a far cry from what scientists say is needed to stop the loss of marine biodiversity, stem the climate crisis, and protect communities that rely on oceans for food and livelihoods. Conservation International
• The naval end-user segment is expected to exhibit a noteworthy CAGR of 9.6% from 2026 to 2034 due to heightened maritime tensions in the Baltic, Black Sea, and North Atlantic, where surface vessels face sophisticated anti-ship missile threats and electronic surveillance. Market Data Forecast
• Marine pollution is a threat to the livelihoods of more than 3 billion people all over the world. Greenpeace Africa
• A likely El Nino return in late 2026, layered on record-warm oceans, is raising concerns over flight disruption, coastal tourism risks, and fragile travel hotspots. The Traveler
• The Royal Netherlands Navy's fleet-wide integration of 12 AI-enabled V-BAT systems across eight warships suggests a deliberate NATO-aligned shift toward autonomous maritime ISR that could complicate adversary surface and subsurface operations in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea corridors. Drone Warfare
• 2026's seasonal Sargassum blooms will grow to record-breaking proportions as they drift across the Atlantic Ocean. Popular Science
• The melting of the Arctic's glaciers and ice sheets can contribute to rising sea levels, putting coastal communities around the globe at risk. GSAP News

Last updated: 05 April 2026