New South Wales Prohibits Offshore Seabed Mining for Petroleum and Minerals

New South Wales will become the first state in Australia to ban deep-sea petroleum and mineral mining off the coast after the government amended the state’s Environmental Act. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Seabed Mining and Exploration) Bill 2024 prohibits mining for seabed petroleum and mineral exploration and was implemented to address growing concerns about disruption to marine ecosystems.

A statement attributed to the NSW Labor Minister for Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe, said the government tried to deal with the “ongoing debate” between opponents and proponents of offshore exploration and balancing economic development and environmental conservation.

She said technology was also improving to lessen the impact of mining activities.

The minister said the latest bill would “stop severe environmental damage that can result from offshore exploration and drilling including oil spills and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Effects on wildlife

The exploration itself does not involve drilling, but the discovery of oil or gas deposits can lead to subsequent drilling operations, which carry the risk of oil spills.

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Seismic surveys are also utilised, which involve sending sound waves into the seabed to detect oil or gas deposits. This can disturb marine life such as whales, dolphins, and fish, leading to the loss of biodiversity.

Another noted concern is ocean acidification, which is caused by the extraction of minerals including manganese and nickel which release sulfuric acid into the water decreasing pH levels. “This can have detrimental effects on marine organisms such as shellfish and corals, which rely on calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons,” read the government’s statement.