Researchers warn "we need to act quickly" as less than 16% of the world's coastal regions remain intact

Coastal regions around the world are experiencing high levels of "human pressure," with only about 15.5% of them remaining intact as of 2013, a recent study from Australian researchers concluded. 

The study, by the University of Queensland, focused on quantifying "industrialized" pressures that are known to damage the environment, such as roadways, nutrient pollution from agriculture activities and even intense fishing. 

Calling on urgent conservation efforts, researchers identified regions that are highly degraded and ones that have remained unharmed.