Five years of ReefClean samples in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Area have helped to show regional differences in microplastic loads across Queensland. The highest result was found in 2021 at Fly Point in the Cape York Region with 1,489 mp/m2. This marked a new record high for Queensland, and was the first sample to reach the threshold denoting Very High microplastic loads (1,000-10,000 mp/m2). Continued monitoring has revealed several other sites recording a High microplastics rating including Half Tide Beach (331 mp/m2, 2021), Double Island Point (551 mp/m2, 2022), and Farnborough Beach (375 mp/m2, 2024). Results of Very Low to Low are considered to be common across most other sampling locations. 

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These sites provide a glimpse into the pollution that is entering the Great Barrier Reef, and placing additional pressure on marine ecosystems that are already under threat from climate change and human activity. 

 

Changes for each region since 2019 can be found in the annual ReefClean reports here.

We have also conducted rubber crumb research in collaboration with ReefClean to document rubber crumb loss from play areas in the GBR catchment. 

 

The relatively low levels of Queensland are a promising result but more data, particularly around the southeast, is needed to give a more definitive idea of microplastic loads in the state.