Photo : Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP
Photo : Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP
AWARENESS
Endurance swim spotlights Mediterranean pollution amid global plastics talks
On 09 August, Endurance swimmer Noam Yaron attempted a 180 kilometres non-stop swim from Calvi to Monaco, using a wetsuit. This happened after him successfully campaigning to revise open-water rules to avoid sunscreen-related marine harm. The mission coincided with global plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva and aimed to highlight pollution in the Mediterranean. Accompanied by marine scientists, Yaron’s team collected water and habitat samples throughout the challenge. The campaign underlined the pressing state of marine ecosystems, including plastic pollution, habitat degradation, and gaps in protected area enforcement. Tracking the emotional impact of confronting visible litter in waters, Yaron sought to engage public, business, and decision-maker awareness through sport as a platform for sustainability. (Rob Hutchins, "Health check: An endurance mission for the Mediterranean," Oceanographic, 09 August 2025)
BIODIVERSITY
Bottom trawling devastates seafloor ecosystems, releasing carbon and disrupting marine life
On 08 August, Earth.org reported that bottom trawling, a prevalent fishing method, was causing irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. The practice involved dragging heavy nets across the seafloor, destroying structures formed over centuries, such as coral reefs and sponge fields. This destruction led to the transformation of once biodiverse areas into barren wastelands. Additionally, the disturbance of seafloor sediments released significant amounts of carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change. The article highlighted the urgent need for stricter regulations and alternative fishing methods to protect marine habitats and mitigate environmental impacts. Despite its detrimental effects, bottom trawling continued largely unchecked, posing a silent crisis beneath the ocean's surface. (Mitota P. Omolere, "The Deep Scars of Bottom Trawling: A Silent Crisis on the Ocean Floor," Earth.org, 08 August 2025)
DIALOGUE & SUMMITS
Countries begin negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty
On 07 August, Sea Shepherd Global highlighted that plastic fishing gear including nets, lines, and buoys accounted for up to 86 per cent of pollution in the Pacific Garbage Patch, posing deadly threats to marine wildlife and habitats. The organisation urged world leaders in Geneva to adopt a robust Global Plastics Treaty by 14 August. The urgency was to address pollution throughout the plastics lifecycle, from manufacturing and usage to disposal. Although the draft treaty included measures for phasing out harmful plastics, improving product design, tracking production, and cleaning up existing pollution, critics noted vague language and lack of legally binding commitments. Sea Shepherd warned that without strict regulations, especially regarding fishing gear, the treaty risked becoming ineffective. Meanwhile, its crews continued frontline cleanup efforts worldwide. ("Can a Treaty Stop the Ocean from Drowning in Plastic?," Sea Shepherd, 07 August 2025)
Roundtable discussion calls for urgent action to restore the Baltic Sea
On 07 August, ahead of The Ocean Race Europe start in Kiel, leaders from science, politics, and civil society convened for the "Making Waves-the Baltic Edition" roundtable. Participants warned that the Baltic Sea was suffering from decades of neglect and extensive pollution, citing dead zones the size of Denmark on the seabed. They called for a holistic, cross-border strategy to rehabilitate the ecosystem, urging reduced fishing pressure, better governance among the nine surrounding nations, and stronger public engagement. Delegates called for ecosystem-based fisheries management, increased funding for science, and improved communication of data and narratives to restore trust and spur policy change. Speakers emphasised that it was a moment of crisis and of opportunity to act with shared urgency. ("Making waves in Kiel: high-level roundtable calls for urgent action to restore the Baltic Sea," The Ocean Race, 07 August 2025)
ECOSYSTEMS
Greenland’s melting ice fuels ocean life with nutrient surge
On 07 August, Interesting Engineering reported the NASA-supported study used supercomputers and the ECCO-Darwin Ocean model to reveal that glacial meltwater from Greenland lifted deep-sea nutrients to the surface. This spurred a 15-40 per cent boost in summertime phytoplankton growth in fjord regions. The simulations focused on Jakobshavn Glacier’s runoff, which delivered crisp freshwater plumes into heavier saltwater, effectively acting as an elevator for iron and nitrate. Researchers credited this mechanism for helping explain a 57 per cent rise in Arctic phytoplankton observed between 1998 and 2018. Phytoplankton were revealed as critical drivers of marine food webs and carbon capture. The study provided a clearer picture of how melting ice reshaped marine ecosystems, expressing links between glacial processes and ocean productivity. (Mrigakshi Dixit, "Greenland’s melting ice is causing a surge in ocean life, NASA study finds," Interesting Engineering, 07 August 2025)
GEOPOLITICS
Podcast examines Trump’s Greenland fixation amid China-Russia Arctic push
On 07 August, in the World Unpacked podcast, host Isaac Kardon and expert Alexander Gabuev unpacked rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic. They highlighted US distraction from the region. They discussed how President Trump’s preoccupation with acquiring Greenland reflected broader anxiety over expanding China–Russia cooperation in the High North. The episode explored deepening Sino-Russian strategic alignment, warming-driven maritime access, and emerging alliances that could reshape Arctic balance of power. Speakers noted that Washington overlooked this evolving theatre, risking strategic disadvantage amid growing power alignment. The discussion emphasised Arctic importance to US security. It also emphasised the need for renewed policy focus and regional alliances to counterbalance the shifting geopolitical dynamics. (Isaac B Kardon and Alexander Gabuev, "Trump’s Greenland Fixation and the China-Russia Strategic Opportunity in the Arctic," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 07 August 2025)
Arctic exceptionalism faces strain under growing geopolitical and environmental pressure
On 07 August, Australian Institute of International Affairs reported that the Arctic Council ceased multilateral operations following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Following to that it halted 128 cooperative projects and marking a critical rupture in regional governance. Meanwhile, 2024 recorded the warmest year on record, triggering accelerated sea-ice decline. It revealed previously inaccessible Arctic routes with high economic potential. Notably, China declared itself a “Near-Arctic State” in 2018, signaling ambitions in shipping, tourism, and resource extraction-challenging traditional notions of Arctic isolation. The Council managed to transfer its chairship to Denmark, led by Greenland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, with a focus on climate, biodiversity, and marine conservation. The article warned that the Arctic Council must now rely on science diplomacy to restore consensus. It also emphasised to uphold its role as the Arctic’s cornerstone forum. (Carol Dyck, "“Arctic Exceptionalism” in the Balance: Navigating new Geopolitical and Ecological Realities in the North," Australian Institute of International Affairs, 07 August 2025)
OCEAN MONITORING
New SASCWATCH program boosts hurricane forecasts with ocean data
On 07 August, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution launched the SASCWATCH program. This was to study on air-sea coupling with waves, turbulence, and clouds at high winds. This program was funded by the US Office of Naval Research, to enhance hurricane prediction. Over the next three years, researchers deployed a network of ocean sensors, coordinated with satellite systems and high-resolution models. This was to capture real-time air-sea interactions during storms. The project utilised both Argo floats, which monitored temperature and salinity down to 2,000 metres every 10 days and ALAMO floats capable of rapid deployment from aircraft to collect near-instant data. The initiative aimed to fill knowledge gaps in how surface waves, currents, and atmospheric turbulence affect momentum, heat, and moisture transfers during high-wind events, enabling more accurate hurricane forecasts. ("New Program Aims to Improve Hurricane Predictions with Ocean Data," Ocean News & Technology, 07 August 2025)