2021 Session 3: Sustainable Development of Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Asia‐Pacific Region

Session 3 Abstract:

The archaeological community seems to acknowledge the touristic side of the underwater cultural heritage but
only if is not incompatible with the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage. In fact, the
2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage highlights the importance
of public awareness and public enjoyment of the underwater cultural heritage. This is implicitly pointing out
the necessity of a sustainable use of this heritage: it tries to balance the desire to conserve and protect versus
the desire to exploit. However, while it has been accepted that the heritage needs to be available to all, its
availability sometimes could threat its integrity: mass tourism can bring pollution, economic exploitation and
mass transit.
Sustainability means living in a way that do not endanger the life chances of people alive tomorrow by
exhausting the earth’s resources and destroying its environment. In our case, it means enjoying the underwater
cultural heritage today in a way that do not endanger it for tomorrow. However, underwater cultural heritage
can be places to visit and learn, giving economic benefits to local communities. New options have to be
developed for making underwater cultural heritage accessible to all since involving society is not only
necessary but also a good way to preserve the underwater cultural heritage.
This session seeks to find proposals where the management of underwater cultural heritage complies with a
sustainable development: to provide education, protection and accessibility. The Asia‐Pacific Conference on
Underwater Cultural Heritage is the perfect scenario to keep an open mind to attract new ideas where not only
the preservation of the underwater heritage but also its enjoyment by all can become a reality: the sustainable
use of underwater cultural heritage is possible.