Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection and Governance

The protection and governance of underwater cultural heritage encompasses diverse archaeological remains, shipwrecks, submerged settlements and intangible traditions beyond the low-tide mark. This field integrates multidisciplinary research methods, legal instruments and stakeholder engagement to safeguard heritage under threat from climate change, coastal development, commercial exploitation and looting. International legal regimes establish obligations for flag, port and coastal states, while guidelines promote non-intrusive survey techniques, risk assessment and conservation best practice. Emerging governance frameworks emphasise inclusive approaches that integrate local communities, Indigenous groups and scientific practitioners, supporting sustainable management and enhancing cultural awareness. Central to these efforts is the recognition of heritage as a non-renewable resource that contributes to collective memory, identity and economic development through responsible tourism and education. Adaptive governance models, underpinned by digital technologies for mapping, remote monitoring and data sharing, are reshaping global strategies for underwater heritage stewardship.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection and Governance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in underwater cultural heritage protection and governance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH): Archaeological sites, shipwrecks, submerged settlements and associated artefacts or traditions located below the low-tide line.

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP): A participatory process for allocating marine space to competing activities and uses, balancing conservation, heritage protection and economic development.

Intangible Cultural Heritage: Practices, expressions, knowledge and skills transmitted within communities, including maritime traditions and oral histories linked to underwater sites.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): A United Nations target aimed at conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

References

1. The Ocean Decade Heritage Network: Integrating Cultural Heritage Within the UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021–2030. Journal of Maritime Archaeology (2019).
2. Stakes and Challenges for Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Era of Blue Growth and the Role of Spatial Planning: Implications and Prospects in Greece. Heritage (2019).
3. Indigenous rights and underwater cultural heritage: (de)constructing international conventions. Maritime Studies (2023).