Background
Cultural heritage on land has in the last decades benefited from national and international protection. Nevertheless, the looting of underwater cultural heritage is increasing rapidly and it still remains largely unprotected. Due to improved diving technology, art markets and collectors along with treasure hunters turn more and more to objects coming from the seabed.
The cultural treasures in danger of pillaging and destruction are immense. Over three million undiscovered shipwrecks are estimated to be spread across the ocean floor. Remnants of ancient civilizations, like the ruins of the Alexandria lighthouse in Egypt, and whole cities, such as Jamaica’s Port Royal and Dvārakā of Krishna, lie under the waves.
However many national laws do not adequately protect such heritage and wrecks or ruins located in international waters are even still entirely unprotected. A court case ensuing from the looting of Clive of India's gold from the wreck of the Doddington set important precedents for the convention.
Read more about this topic: UNESCO Convention On The Protection Of The Underwater Cultural Heritage
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