After the exploration phase is the potential for mining, or as the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) calls it "harvesting", but mining can only happen if companies can prove to the government it can take place without causing serious environmental harm.
SBMA partnerships and cooperation director Edward Herman said an extension of the exploration phase is being looked at. "There is a likelihood of [the exploration license] being extended because if we cannot get the data within the next year and a half it's very likely that we'll need to extend it," Herman said.
Original Article: Cook Islands considers extending deep sea mining exploration licences
