But despite the scale of species extinction and exhausted fisheries that HMAP has highlighted, the project has also found cause for hope.

CNN: Future protection of the oceans could lie in the past

"I was surprised by the magnitude of the depletion of species and its universality around the globe, " Dr. Andrew Rosenberg, an HMAP project leader told CNN.

CNN: Future protection of the oceans could lie in the past

Members of the History of Marine Animals Project (HMAP) believe that scrutinizing the minutiae of historical documents is the key to protecting our oceans for generations to come.

CNN: Future protection of the oceans could lie in the past

But the HMAP is using the evidence of documents such as centuries old tax records and sailor's logs to explore how they have changed - and find the information that will help us understand and protect our oceans for the future.

CNN: Future protection of the oceans could lie in the past