The Northern Territory Government has decided not to lift a ban on seabed mining in its waters following a public consultation last October.
The territory has kept a moratorium on seabed mining activities since 2012, which was due to expire on March 5, but will now be extended for up to another six months.
There are very few seabed mining projects globally and the mining activity has never been undertaken in the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory Government said that due to the limited activity, there was not enough information available to identify the best practice environmental management and rehabilitation for the marine environment.
After the public consultation period, considerations by the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA), the government has not been swayed to lift the ban.
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