UNESCO Convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage
International conventions have in the last decades stressed the need to preserve the marine archaeological heritage in Europe and worldwide. One of the most important international conventions is the UNESCO Convention from 2001 for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage.
Through international collaboration the convention aims to guarantee the protection of underwater heritage where other conventions on the law of the sea fail to do so sufficiently.
On 5 August 2013, Belgium ratified this convention, becoming the 45th country to accede to this convention which is so important for the underwater cultural heritage in Belgian waters.
- UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage
- UNESCO 2001 convention
- List of countries that have already ratified the 2001 convention
In December 2011 the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage was commemorated with a very well attended international colloquium held in Brussels.
Furthermore, in 2012 it has been 100 years since the Titanic sank. Since 15 April 2012, also this iconic shipwreck falls under the protection of the UNESCO Convention, as according to UNESCO, something may be regarded as marine heritage when it has been completely or partly, constantly or intermittently underwater for 100 years or more.
