The marine park covers an area of 989,836 km2 (382,178 sq mi) and is assigned IUCN category IV.

It is Australia's largest single marine park and together with the French Natural Park of the Coral Sea (French: Parc Naturel de la Mer de Corail) form the largest protected area in the World.

The Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve was proclaimed in December 2013, and renamed as a 'Marine Park' in October 2017.

[3] The original management plan for the Coral Sea Marine Park was suspended before it came into effect on 1 July 2014.

[4] The Coral Sea Marine Park has been assigned IUCN protected area category IV.