AGREEMENT TO PROTECT UNDERWATER TREASURE

From The Leader Info: AGREEMENT TO PROTECT UNDERWATER TREASURE

The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation have signed an inter-ministerial agreement on collaboration and coordination in the protection of underwater archaeological heritage. This agreement is the culmination of a partnership that has been fostered within the framework of the UNESCO Convention and the National Plan on Underwater Archaeology with highly successful results.

In November 2007, the Council of Ministers approved the National Plan for the Protection of Underwater Archaeological Heritage to establish the basic outline for an effective policy on the comprehensive protection of underwater archaeological heritage from both national and international perspectives. Since then, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation have been working together in a coordinated fashion.

Combating treasure-hunters

The sheer magnitude of Spanish underwater archaeological heritage demands coordination between all the authorities involved in the matter, especially from these two ministries given that the action required must often take place beyond Spanish borders.

Technological advances in underwater exploration in recent years are being used to explore sea-beds but also to remove the historical remains found there. In this regard, the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage prohibits the removal and commercial exploitation of underwater heritage. Spain was one of the first countries to ratify this convention.

The recent ruling from the Appeals Court of Atlanta recognising all of Spain's rights over the shipwreck of the 'Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes' is a clear example of the collaboration between these two ministries. In fact, Spain is the first country to bring legal action against a treasure-hunting company.