The recorded event is now available to watch on YouTube and can be accessed at
Enhancing past sacrifices
Protecting our underwater military cultural environment for current and future generations
Anti-aircraft gun of SS Thistlegorm
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Online | In person in The Levinsky Room, 3rd Floor, Roland Levinsky Building, Â鶹´«Ã½
The event brought together experts from the underwater cultural heritage (UCH) community to discuss the increasing challenges inherent in maintaining the sustainability of the UK’s underwater military heritage against seabed development, climate change and looting.
In addition the seminar considered the challenges and social benefits of engaging the public in UCH. Driven by technological advances the UK regulatory authorities are reviewing processes for achieving these objectives and the seminar provides an opportunity for experts and public alike to learn about and input into these developments.
The event showcased the following themes:
- The social and cultural importance of conserving underwater military heritage
- How public engagement can drive and enhance this process
- The current regulatory framework and recent evaluations of its successes and failures
- The benefits of and threats to this process posed by modern technological advances and climate change.
Hosted by Jason Lowther and Mike Williams, the seminar commenced with a networking lunch followed by presentations from 13:15-16:30.
- Jason Lowther and Mike Williams – Challenges, enforcement and the PMRA
- Dominic Tweddle – Military remains and shared heritage
- Commander Caroline Tuckett – Sovereign immunity and practicalities of underwater heritage protection outside UK waters
- Elisabeth Bussey-Jones – Reflections on HMS Victory 1744
- Dave Parham – Failures in the protection of underwater military heritage
This was a hybrid-delivery event, with some limited, socially-distanced seating for in-person attendance or participation online live using Zoom.
Further reading
Mr Jason Lowther
Jason is an Associate Professor of Law in the School of Society and Culture at the Â鶹´«Ã½. He has published widely in environmental and underwater heritage law and worked to advise government departments and NGOs on matters as diverse as wildlife crime, enforcement of underwater heritage law, fisheries regulator powers and the protection of underwater heritage in Antarctica.
He is an editor of the journal of Environmental Law and Management and a Trustee of Wild Futures.
Professor Mike Williams
Mike is a Visiting Professor of Law in the School of Society and Culture at the Â鶹´«Ã½. A qualified diver, he worked on several protected wreck sites and has published extensively on the law relating underwater cultural heritage; advised government departments and agencies, both in the UK and abroad. Mike sits on the UK’s Joint Nautical Archaeological Policy Committee and is a member of the UK’s UNESCO Expert Network.
He is Chair of the Devon & Severn Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authority, as well as having roles with a number of key maritime archaeology NGOs.
Commander Caroline Tuckett, Royal Navy
In her current role Caroline is the lead legal adviser in International and Operational Law for the Royal Navy. A barrister, she is responsible for engagement with key allies of the UK on legal matters in the maritime environment, as well as having oversight of the training and mentoring of RN lawyers in operational law posts.
She has recently completed a Masters by Research in International Law, focusing on sub-threshold operations in the maritime environment.