Regulation of underwater heritage

It lays down four principles: preserving heritage for humanity, favouring in situ conservation, prohibiting commercial exploitation and cooperating between States. It organises the coordination of States when a discovery concerns several maritime zones.

It does not call into question the law of the sea, but specifies the protection of cultural heritage in each zone: territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf and the International Area.

National laws specify the procedures: declaration of discoveries, excavation permits, penalties for looting, status of ownership. Many States regard wrecks as public domain; others recognise rights for shipowners or for those who found them.

OIMAP helps its members to modernise their legislation and to ratify the Convention. It offers a model law and support with drafting.

A market operator must not acquire, sell or display objects from wrecks without proof of lawful provenance: excavation permit, declaration to the authority, absence of listing. Failing that, the object is presumed illicit.

OIMAP's directives provide for enhanced vigilance for objects of underwater origin and for the obligation to inform the BIOP unit in case of doubt. Breaches may lead to loss of approval.

OIMAP argues for wider ratification of the 2001 Convention and for the harmonisation of national laws. It supports States wishing to adopt rules on the import of objects of underwater origin, in order to close the outlets for looting.

It works with UNESCO and regional organisations on implementing protocols, notably on wrecks in areas where several States have rights.