According to the BBC, 20 scientists have created the very first global map showing human impacts on the seas. Prior to this, only individual impacts had been studied.

Remote icy areas near the poles are the most undisturbed waters, but these too are threatened as ice sheets melt. Climate change and over-fishing had the harshest affects on marine destruction.

The scientists say they hope their findings will send a message to policy makers to priorities conservation efforts. This study appears in "Science" journal.