Marine debris poses threats to the social, cultural, and economic benefits derived from the NSW marine estate, and was identified by the NSW community as one of the top three perceived threats to the environment.
The NSW community identified marine debris as one of the top three perceived threats to the environment, as well as posing threats to the social, cultural, and economic benefits derived from the marine estate. In response, the NSW Marine Debris Threat and Risk Assessment (MDTARA) was undertaken to identify priority marine debris items that impact significant fauna groups and social values in the marine estate. The MDTARA determined that items such as plastic bags, microplastics, and hard fragments were estimated to pose a high risk to some biological assemblages (e.g., cetaceans, turtles and seabirds). Spatial mapping, using debris databases, was used to scale risks levels identified from the assessment to highlight priority areas for management and knowledge gaps for further research. A framework for strategic research and management planning is suggested to enable efficient and effective application of the MDTARA. Further research will also value add to the NSW marine debris monitoring program (est. 2017), which has informed policy and provided insight into debris items trends and impacts of management initiatives. Recent land-based litter monitoring in the catchment of established urban estuary and remote beach sites is providing insight into debris sources and pathways by which litter and debris move through the catchment to the ocean.