Huge news from greenpeacenz! The Seabed Minerals Authority, the government agency in charge of seabed mining in the Cook Islands, has announced that companies wanting to mine in Cook Island waters must now apply for a five year extension to their exploration licences. Current exploration licences expire in 2027, so seabed miners will not be able to start mining in the region until at least 2032. Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee is calling this "a win for the moana and the Pacific Peoples and communities fighting this emerging threat that will risk their way of life”. This major win also shows the growing opposition to this destructive industry. Resistance to seabed mining in the Cook Islands is strong and persistent and Greenpeace and our allies are calling for a ban on seabed mining. #ActOnClimate