Land tenure and availability

Exploration and mining on the sea floor in NT coastal waters is prohibited under a moratorium until 2018.

The extension of the moratorium allows for reviews currently being undertaken by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) to be completed.

This will enable an understanding of the actual or potential impacts of exploration and mining on:

•  our marine environment
•  sacred sites as a part of any exploration or mining of seabed mineral resources.

The moratorium does not apply to petroleum and geothermal exploration and production, port dredging or fishing.