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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