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Green light hit our sea snakes (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

authorise

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'green light' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'hit our sea snakes' is the wordplay.
'hit our sea' can be anagrammed to 'AUTHORISE'.
Though, I'm not clear how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for authorise that I've seen before include "Sanction, empower" , "I share out (anag.)" , "warrant" , "Give power to or sanction" , "licence" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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