In mid-2021, almost 2 tonnes of marine debris was removed from 25 small islets and cays in the central region of the Coral Sea Marine Park. Over 16 thousand items were removed, mostly made of plastic. Most of this was degrading hard pieces of plastic, plastic bottles and lids, thongs, synthetic rope, nets and pipes from fish aggregating devices, plastic fishing floats, and glass wine and spirit bottles and jars. Given the country-of-origin label types found on many items, and the South Equatorial Current originating from east of the Marine Park, most of marine debris has come from the Asia-Pacific region. Also, some of the debris found had not been in the environment long, indicating the sources are likely from foreign fishing vessels operating to the east of the Marine Park, or commercial shipping transiting near or through the Marine Park.
Marine debris in the Coral Sea Marine Park poses a threat to globally significant populations of breeding seabirds and turtles, as well as flow on effects to marine life from micro-plastic ingestion. Parks Australia is undertaking clean-up voyages to reduce the debris load, and assessments to determine where the debris is coming from.