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] Russian business outlet RBK stated, citing sources in the Russian shipping and insurance industries, that Russian insurance companies have effectively stopped insuring cargo ships travelling in the Black and Azov seas for protective coverage concerning military and terrorist risks. Critical Threats
• [New] Russia and Ukraine are targeting each other's commercial ships and ports in the Black Sea area, raising fears about the impact on grain supplies to world markets. Farm Progress
• [New] Russia-Ukraine war escalation threatens global grain supplies as attacks target Black Sea ports during harvest season, risking wheat exports. Farm Progress
• [New] Over time, thermal expansion contributes to global sea level rise, increasing risks for coastal communities and low-lying islands. earth.com
• [New] Copernicus warns of 'unprecedented strain' on world's oceans as El Nino and climate change drive up sea surface temperatures. Al Jazeera
• [New] Weather risk is compounding, as El Nino, heat, drought and low water on European rivers and the Panama Canal threaten feedstock and agricultural supply and costs. Kemiex AG
• [New] El Nino is putting pressure on global marine ingredient production, with reduced raw material availability in Peru and Chile expected to drive much of the decline in 2026. SeafoodNews
• [New] The PRC may be planning to significantly automate marine detection and law enforcement in the South China Sea by 2030. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The PRC will likely use environmental monitoring as a pretext to enhance and automate maritime domain awareness and enforcement of PRC territorial claims in the South China Sea. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Met Office predicts unprecedented sea surface temperature rise of 3 C plus will heighten extreme weather risks. Al Jazeera
• [New] Set for delivery in 2027, a new 48-meter-long, 11.5-meter-wide DLR seagoing technology platform will serve as an ocean-going, floating platform to validate next-generation climate-neutral propulsion systems, including hydrogen, hybrid, and fully electric setups, under real-world maritime conditions. MarineLink
• [New] Around 120,000 tonnes could remain in the marine environment after decommissioning, with degradation potentially releasing between 4.5 and 500 tonnes of microplastics into the UK North Sea each year. Sustainability Online - A business news platform with a
• [New] Experts fear global grain shortages as Ukraine and Russia continue to target major crop export ports on the drying Danube River and Black Sea. Circle of Blue
• [New] Under threat is the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and ships more than 10% of the global oil trade. Al Jazeera
• [New] China has announced a new shipping route through the Arctic Ocean, which could ease the way for global trade amid the Middle East crisis that has paralysed critical waterways, including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on the edge of the Red Sea. Al Jazeera
• [New] Among the benefits of ammonia as a marine fuel are its carbon-neutral potential, global availability and existing infrastructure. WIPO Technology Trends: Future of Transportation

Last updated: 30 August 2026