Response to Study Mapping Human Impacts on Oceans

Statement by Joshua Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group, in response to today's Science report, “A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems” by Benjamin S. Halpern, et al.

“Up until recently, the prevailing view was that despite the destructive impact of fishing and other human activities, many areas of the world's oceans remained unaffected by people. This study shows otherwise.

“In the space of the last century, particularly the past 50 years, human activity has impacted even the most remote areas of the world's oceans, threatening the balance of life in what has been viewed as Earth's last great bastion of nature.

“There is still time for ocean wildlife to recover. But the time to act is now.”

View coverage of the report on the Washington Post's site.