Authorities and commercial fishers say they are fed up with a Taiwanese shipping company's slow response to salvaging containers lost at sea last year, amid fears the delay could cause further pollution to the ocean.

Key points: Tonnes of debris washed ashore in the weeks after the YM Efficiency lost 81 containers

Tonnes of debris washed ashore in the weeks after the YM Efficiency lost 81 containers Some containers were salvaged but 64 others have been found, most of which are 100m deep

Some containers were salvaged but 64 others have been found, most of which are 100m deep The shipping company says it has fulfilled its legal obligations by recovering those close to shore

The YM Efficiency lost 81 containers overboard last June near Newcastle, causing a wave of debris to wash up on beaches throughout the region.

The Australian Maritime and Safety Authority (AMSA) said while the shipping company Yang Ming had been quick to clean up what washed ashore, it did not seem concerned by containers and debris below the surface.

"I think the behaviour of the insurers and the ship owners has been disgraceful," AMSA general manager of response Mark Morrow said.

"They should have taken responsibility for the rubbish in our ocean 12 months ago, it's as though we're on the bottom end of the planet and it doesn't really matter."

Yang Ming engaged contractors to search for the missing containers within three weeks of the incident, but AMSA said it was forced to take over control of the operation due to the slow progress.

It said 64 shipping containers had been identified using a combination of sonar and remote underwater controlled devices.

Shipping containers teeter on the edge of the YM Efficiency. ( ABC News )

Most are lying at a depth of more than 100 metres.

ASMA expects to confirm the locations of the remaining 17 containers within coming months.

The authority is also engaging international salvage experts to assess which containers can safely be removed, and is taking responsibility for the costly clean up.

"It could be anywhere up to $50 million and there are challenges in doing that because they've left it so long that the containers are starting to break down and could disintegrate if we lift them, so we could cause more pollution in the ocean," he said.

"That's certainly a concern in terms of how we go about this operation and we're getting the best advice we can from offshore consultants about how to do that."

Who will pay?

The shipping company helped to removed rubbish and some containers shortly after the spill. ( ABC News )

Mr Morrow said is was unclear whether Yang Ming was prepared to pay for the salvage operation, but that AMSA would pursue them for all costs through the court if necessary.

AMSA has met with Aus Ship, the Australian representative of Yang Ming and its insurer Britannia P&I, on only one occasion.

Mr Morrow said the company did not consider the containers constituted pollution.

In a statement, Aus Ship said Yang Ming had complied with all of its legal obligations by recovering all containers close to the shoreline, while the remaining containers were in "very, very deep water".

"Yang Ming values its relationship with the Australian Government and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, but we are disappointed at the non-specific allegations that have been made against it," it said.

Debris damages fishing nets

Newcastle's commercial fishermen said they were frustrated by the time it had taken to salvage the remaining containers — many of which fell in the middle of one of the area's best fishing grounds.

Fisherman Murray Ham says he can't see how the containers can be removed without causing pollution. ( ABC News )

Fisherman Murray Ham said his nets were constantly pulling in debris from the broken containers.

"I've caught enough push bikes to open many push bike shops," he said.

"We're having issues with them because they've been on the bottom 12 months now and all of the spokes are rusting out of the wheels and they're getting caught in the nets, which has been a real drama.

"You just don't know where all the rubbish is and if you're winching up 20 push bikes, then there's a day gone just getting push bikes out of the net."

Mr Ham said he had borne significant cost in lost and damaged nets, and reduced catch sizes due to the reduction in fishing grounds.

But he said he was pleased that Yang Ming had now provided commercial fishermen with state-of-the-art sonar equipment to help them better avoid getting "hooked up" on a container.

"We can locate the containers now, which has helped a lot, but it's also shown us how much ground we have lost and we have lost quite a bit," he said.

"It also showed us how deep into the mud the containers have sunk and I can't see any possible way they can get these containers now out without causing major pollution."