Maritime/Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Era of Blue Growth

Dear Colleagues,

In Europe, based on the 2012 Blue Growth Strategy as well as the related policies, strategies and resources brought into play for its implementation, the view of the marine space is progressively changing, from something simply to be safeguarded from exploitation and degradation into a place of opportunity and investment, both in traditional as well as emerging economic sectors. This change can not only generate benefits, but is also creating severe threats to maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MCH/UCH). Understanding, recognizing and utilizing underwater cultural heritage (UCH) as a sensitive asset in the marine space and reconciling its preservation and promotion within the blue growth perspective is a real challenge.

The objective of this Special Issue is to gather expertise and guidance on how maritime/ underwater cultural heritage (MCH/UCH) may be considered and incorporated into the maritime spatial planning (MSP) process in order to overcome these threats, be established in statutory and practical terms, and then subsequently developed. Thus, the Special Issue will address relevant initiatives in their different stages of development; from those that are just starting up, to those that are already well-established. It aims to explore ways of achieving an ideal equilibrium and give a new impetus to the nexus between the protection and preservation of MCH/UCH and the Blue Growth agenda in European seas, as well as worldwide.

The Special Issue acknowledges that the adoption of the solutions related to the incorporation of MCH/UCH in MSP by local, regional, national or transnational actors is highly dependent on their respective regulatory frameworks concerning the protection of UCH, including the ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, their administrative, geographic and maritime contexts, and their individual stage in the maritime spatial planning process. Particularly in Europe, each sea-basin has its own history; some have seen strong cooperation endeavors in their shared history (like the Baltic Sea) and others (like the Mediterranean) are characterized by a more fragmented joint history and culture when it comes to the possibility of achieving common plans and promoting relevant cultural dialogue. Taking this into account, the Special Issue calls for papers that showcase general principles that are valid in all countries, irrespective of their individual context, and for concrete case studies, highlighting the lessons learnt from them.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to explore the challenges linked to the incorporation of UCH into the maritime spatial planning process and to examine the different modes of incorporation into maritime spatial plans, taking into account the obligations linked with key international instruments such as the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, as well as the commitments stemming from other processes like the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol under the Barcelona Convention, which are relevant to the integration of maritime/underwater cultural heritage into the MSP process, especially in the coastal zone. Furthermore, the SI seeks to gather and present concise reports on the existing and potential options that can directly inform planners and MSP authorities (in accordance with DIRECTIVE 2014/89/EU, member states have designated competent authority or authorities responsible for the implementation of MSP), as well as maritime archaeologists and cultural heritage/archaeology authorities and practitioners on a topic that is central to the protection and management of the cultural and historic marine environment (e.g., regarding access, recreational and tourism activities such as diving and diving tourism, education, etc.). It is particularly interested in receiving case studies at national, sea-basin and regional levels, highlighting that the use of the marine environment should be spatially planned, recognizing the protection and management needs of MCH/UCH according to its significance and in support of the Blue Economy activities such as maritime/underwater heritage tourism.

Dr. Stella Sofia Kyvelou
Guest Editor

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