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] Woodside Energy and Recfishwest have collaborated to install the Dampier Artificial Reef off the Western Australian coast; a purpose-built reef designed to enhance marine biodiversity and create new recreational fishing opportunities in the Pilbara region. Ipieca
• [New] If agreed, a Global Ocean Treaty would be a crucial step towards covering international waters in a network of ocean sanctuaries - areas off-limits to destructive human activities like industrial fishing and the emerging threat of deep sea mining. Greenpeace International
• [New] Historic negotiations at the UN towards a Global Ocean Treaty could face unprecedented restrictions on civil society participation. Greenpeace International
• [New] Across California, SB 1-funded efforts are supporting vulnerability assessments, sea level rise adaptation plans, and regional resilience strategies. California Ocean Protection Council
• [New] Rising temperatures are causing sea levels to rise around the world, putting millions at risk of severe flooding and coastal erosion. Euronews
• [New] CCKA is working with state decision-makers to develop an Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Policy that will set water quality standards that stop nutrient pollution and hot spots along the California coast. California Coastkeeper Alliance
• [New] 41% of England's rivers, lakes and streams are currently affected by agricultural pollution, and they will get stronger protection under new proposals to increase oversight on sewage sludge spreading. Water Magazine
• [New] Southeast Asia is among the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change: rising seas threaten coastal populations and infrastructure; changing rainfall patterns affect agriculture; extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity. The Economy
• [New] Fourteen European countries said they were tightening maritime safety and enforcement measures in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and warned that certain shadow fleet tankers could be treated as vessels without nationality. UNITED24 Media
• [New] The Coast Guard's duties patrolling the northern Atlantic Ocean for iceberg dangers could be entirely replaced by long-range drones. Roll Call
• [New] In recent years, accelerated ice melting due to climate change has provided longer and broader navigation opportunities in the Arctic Ocean, while new maritime routes that could shorten the distance between Asia and Europe are increasingly being discussed. SeaNews
• [New] Risks and Considerations for Shippers If there is a largescale return of container ships to the Red Sea, there could be an interim period of disruption and port congestion as global supply chains adjust to new schedules. Global Trade Magazine
• [New] Threat levels remain high across the Black Sea and Europe and are increasing across other regions, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Guinea, with incidents involving drone warfare, piracy and robbery, geopolitical tensions and operational oversights. Palaemon Maritime
• [New] Under a scenario in which global greenhouse gas emissions are kept low, sea levels around Greenland will be between 0.73 meters and 1.1 meters (2.4 to 3.6 feet) lower by the end of the 21st century, with a middle-range estimate of 0.9 meters. State of the Planet
• [New] Even as global warming causes sea levels to rise worldwide, sea levels around Greenland will likely drop. State of the Planet
• [New] The strategic interests among India, South Korea, and ASEAN overlap primarily in ocean governance, trade, and infrastructure, especially given the rising influence of China in the South China Sea, which poses significant geopolitical and environmental threats. Maritime Fairtrade
• [New] Melting sea ice is creating economic opportunities for Russia from resource extraction to shipping. NPR
• [New] Sea fog and reduced visibility are expected to impact ports across the central and western US Gulf Coast, including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Galveston and Port Arthur. ENGINE
• [New] The High Seas Treaty or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions Agreement, will govern about two-thirds of the planet's oceans including vast areas beyond any country's borders. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Norway has approved regulatory frameworks for deep-sea mining and is targeting polymetallic nodule extraction by 2025-2028. Discovery Alert
• Under optimistic conditions, 3-5 commercial deep-sea mining operations could achieve production by 2029, generating combined annual output of 50,000-75,000 tonnes of nickel equivalent. Discovery Alert
• Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada possess complementary expertise in offshore operations, marine engineering, and mineral processing that could enhance American deep-sea mining capabilities. Discovery Alert

Last updated: 01 February 2026