Legislation Worldwide

Only a limited number of historical wrecks or artefacts can be excavated or taken care of by archaeologists. The remainder is often in no peril (unless robbed by treasure hunters), and may remain on-site for future generations. International legislation aims at protecting our heritage against uncontrolled treasure hunting and looting. (European legislation is briefly described under each country in the list of European authorities & contacts.)

Historic shipwrecks on international water are usually subject to salvage laws, thus unidentified and abandoned wrecks go to the finder, sometimes resulting in commercial salvage without any archaeological investigation. Historic wrecks on territorial waters were considered in various ways depending on national legislation.

On November 2, 2001, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was adopted by the plenary session of the General Conference. Article 4 states that any activity relating to underwater cultural heritage should not be subject to the law of salvage or law of finds, unless authorised by the competent authorities, and ensures that any recovery of the underwater cultural heritage achieves its maximum protection. Once it is ratified by enough nations, we will have a more uniform worldwide underwater cultural heritage protection.

• UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, 2001
• Annex to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, 2001
• ICOMOS Charter on Protection and Management, Sofia, 1996. By the International Council of Monuments and Sites, under UNESCO.
• UNESCO Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, Paris, 1998
• UNESCO Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, Buenos Aires, 1994
• Législation et géstion du patrimoine archéologique nautique et subaquatique au Portugal, F. J. S. Alves
• The Protection of Wrecks Act, UK 1973
• Australian Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act, Australia 1976
• Abandoned Shipwrecks Act, USA 1987
• Swedish & Nordic legislation
    
• Legal Loopholes, Edward Brown
• Finders Keepers, Patrick O'Keefe
• Who owns the Titanic? Bengt Grisell

Underwater cultural heritage

• EU project to protect underwater cultural heritage, 2001-2004
• Maritime archaeology – What is at issue in northern Europe, Thijs J. Maarleveld
• Between frugality and eclecticism – management of an archaeological cornucopia, Thijs J. Maarleveld
• Resolution from IKUWA 99, Germany
• What Kind of Underwater Heritage Convention Do We Need?, He Shuzhong
• Lure of the Deep, Nancy C. Wilkie
• Adopt a Wreck. The Nautical Archaeological Society has initiated this campaign in the UK in co-operation with local clubs.
• Respect our Wrecks, international campaign from Project AWARE, PADI

Treasure hunting

Commercial search for and exploitation of valuable items in historical wrecks may ruin the archaeological information.

• The Men Who Stole the Stars, George F. Bass
• Underwater Heritage, a Treasure Trove to Protect, Sue Williams
• Marx is the Name, Treasure's the Game, Sue Williams
• My quest against treasure hunting, Paulo Monteiro
• Destructive Salvage Policy, Chuck Meide

Ethics

• Ethics Class, Filipe Castro, Nautical Archaeology Program, Texas A&M University
• AIMA Code of Ethics

You may find more in the lists European authorities and worldwide authorities. These topics are also discussed under Debate.