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Russia's military dominance over Arctic grows while US treads water, security experts tell Senate panel.

There is an increasing interest in developing innovative coatings and testing natural products with anti-fouling activity to substitute current highly toxic biocides that have a harmful impact on marine organisms. Bacillus licheniformis species have shown different anti-biofilm and anti-fouling activities in vitro, but so far, its efficacy in field trials has not been tested. For this purpose, the capacity of different extracts of B. licheniformis NCTC 10341T to prevent micro and macro-fouling was first tested in vitro. The methanol cell extract (MCE) inhibited bacterial biofilm formation without significantly affecting planktonic growth and displayed a significant efficacy to prevent larval settlement of the macro-fouler Bugula neritina in vitro without inducing lethality. Additionally, the MCE presented low toxicity against the non-target species Artemia salina. The B. licheniformis MCE was then incorporated in a self-polishing paint at 2 and 5% w/w and tested in a static immersion experiment in the Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red Sea) for 180 days. Fouling coverage decreased by 30% in the 5% MCE-treated panels in comparison with the control panels. Differences in the anti-biofilm activity of the extracts depending on the culture medium highlight the importance of the strict control of culture conditions for the production of biomass with stable bioactive activity. The results indicate the potential of B. licheniformis NCTC 10341T crude extracts for environmentally friendly anti-fouling applications, although a deeper characterization of the bioactive compounds present in the B. licheniformis MCE and its mode of action is required to allow strict control of the activity of the extracts to achieve large-scale industrial production.

Air pollution caused by shipping-related activities has adversely affected public health and environmental quality in port cities. However, applying digital technologies offers new pathways to mitigate such pollution. Based on panel data from 52 coastal port cities in China from 2016 to 2020, this study employs a two-way fixed effects model to analyze the impact of the digital economy on shipping-related PM2.5 pollution. Additionally, a panel threshold model is used to examine the threshold effect of port size in the relationship between the digital economy and shipping-related pollution. Heterogeneity analysis is further conducted from two dimensions-vessel types and PM2.5 components-to explore the variations in the digital economy's emission reduction effects. The results show that the development of the digital economy significantly reduces shipping-related PM2.5 pollution levels, and this emission reduction effect strengthens as port size expands. Furthermore, there are significant differences in the emission reduction effects across different vessel types and PM2.5 components. These findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms through which the digital economy mitigates shipping-related pollution and provide a scientific basis and policy support for promoting the green development of port cities and the shipping industry.

After a comprehensive review of current knowledge, a panel of scientists has published new recommendations regarding marine mammal noise exposure.

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The shipping sector has potential to gain profit by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Recent research shows that shipping companies and ports can achieve cost savings by, for example, investing in digital route planning or equipping vessels with solar panels.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices have become a crucial pathway for the sustainable development of enterprises, and so have shipping enterprises. Based on the unbalanced panel data of China's A-share listed shipping enterprises from 2009 to 2022, this study uses a multiple regression model to empirically test the impact of ESG performance on carbon emission reduction and its regional heterogeneity. The findings indicate that ESG performance significantly reduces the carbon emission intensity of shipping enterprises, a conclusion that remains robust across various robustness tests and endogenetic analyses. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the carbon emission reduction effect of ESG performance is more pronounced in the southern region. These results underscore the importance of strengthening ESG capabilities as a key strategy for promoting the low-carbon transition of shipping enterprises and achieving sustainable development.

Introduction: Blue economics research is a research field that is achieving more and more interest among international scientists. This study adds more knowledge as it aims to investigate the causal relationships between blue economic factors - living and non-living resources, ocean energy, port activities, shipbuilding and repair, maritime transport, coastal tourism, human development indicator, per capita income, fish capture, internal renewable water resources per capita, marine protected areas, greenhouse gas emissions and population density, all factors related to maritime activities - and the blue economy (BE) itself.