An international team of scientists has published the first detailed global map of mankind's impact on the oceans, showing that less than five per cent of the world's seas remain undamaged by human activity.
Headed by Dr Benjamin Halpern of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara, USA, the American, Canadian and British scientists built a complex model to analyse the impact from 17 different human activities. They divided the oceans into 1km square sections and drew on all real data on how humans were affecting the marine environment. They then calculated "human impact scores" for each location. Climate change and over-fishing were the strongest influences, with almost half of marine waters heavily affected. Virtually nowhere was exempt from some impact. Although remote icy areas near the poles were relatively unscathed, the team warned these waters would face threats as ice sheets melted.
The scientists want their map to be used to prioritise marine conservation efforts and hope that policymakers will accept the need for urgent action.
The study's findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston and published in the February 15 edition of the association's weekly journal Science.
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