The 2001 Unesco Convention on the Protection of The

Tullio Scovazzi *

THE 2001 UNESCO CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE

1. An unexpected obstacle. 2. The UNCLOS regime: A) two general obligations; B) cigarette smugglers, clandestine immigrants and infectious patients; C) the benefit of mankind as a whole; D) a legal vacuum; E) an invitation to looting; F) prospects for a better regime. 3. The CPUCH as a defensive tool: A) the rejection of the law of salvage and finds; B) the exclusion of a "first come, first served" approach for the heritage found on the continental shelf; C) the strengthening of regional cooperation. 4. Conclusive remarks.

* Professor of International Law, University of Milano- Bicocca, Milan, Italy; legal expert of the Italian delegation at the negotiations for the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. 1

1. An Unexpected Obstacle On 6 November 2001 the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage1 was signed in Paris with UNESCO. When entered into force2, it will apply to "all traces of human existence having a cultural, historical or archaeological character which have been partially or totally under water, periodically or continuously, for at least 100 years" (Art. 1, para. 1, a). The CPUCH, which is the outcome of a longlasting negotiation, was adopted by vote (87 States in favour, 4 against3 and 15 abstentions4). However, the lack of consensus at

1 Hereinafter: the CPUCH. On this convention see O'KEEFE, Shipwrecked Heritage: A Commentary on the UNESCO Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, Leicester, 2002; GARABELLO, The Negotiating History of the Provisions of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, in GARABELLO & SCOVAZZI (eds.), The Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage - Before and After the 2001 UNESCO Convention, Leiden, 2003, p. 89.

2 The CPUCH will enter into force after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession (Art. 27). For the time being (December 2004), Panama, Bulgaria and Croatia have ratified the CPUCH.

3 Namely, the Russian Federation, Norway, Turkey and Venezuela. The observer delegate of the United States, who was not entitled to vote (the United States not being a member of UNESCO at that time), regretted that his delegation could not accept the CPUCH because of objections to several key provisions relating to jurisdiction, the reporting scheme, warships and the relationship of the convention to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The negative vote of Turkey and Venezuela was due to disagreement on the CPUCH provisions on peaceful settlement of disputes (Art. 25) and reservations (Art. 30).

4 Namely, Brazil, Czech Republic, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Guinea-Bissau, Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay. The abstentions 2 the moment of its adoption should not be considered as an irreparable flaw. Not only did the great majority of developing countries vote in favour, but also several among the industrialized countries and maritime powers were satisfied with the final outcome of the negotiations5. To explain the merit of the CPUCH a basic consideration must be made. Any attempts to deal with the cultural heritage at sea have inevitably to face an unexpected obstacle, that is Art. 303 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Montego Bay, 1982)6. This provision is not only incomplete, but also counterproductive. It can be understood in a sense that undermines the very objective of protecting the underwater cultural heritage. Such a clearcut assumption about the deficiencies of Art. 303 requires some elaboration.

2. The UNCLOS Regime were based on different, and sometimes opposite, reasons. For instance, the Greek delegate stated inter alia that "despite the fact that throughout the negotiations at UNESCO the majority of governmental experts were in favour of extending coastal rights over underwater cultural heritage on the continental shelf, the Draft Convention does not even mention the term 'coastal State'". According to the French delegate, "la France est en désaccord avec le projet sur deux points précis: le statut des navires d'Etat et les droits de juridiction, dont nous considérons qu'ils sont incompatibles avec les dispositions de la Convention sur le droit de la mer".

5 For example, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea voted in favour. Among the member States of the European Community (at that time), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain voted in favour, while France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom abstained.

6 Hereinafter: the UNCLOS. 3

The UNCLOS regime relating to the underwater cultural heritage is based on the following scheme. A) Two General Obligations Art. 303, para. 1, sets forth two very general obligations of protection and cooperation which apply to all archaeological and historical objects, wherever at sea they are found: «States have the duty to protect objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea and shall co-operate for this purpose».

Due to its rather broad content, Art. 303, para. 1, does not say very much. Nevertheless, some legal consequences can be drawn from it. A State which knowingly destroyed or allowed the destruction of elements of the underwater cultural heritage would be responsible for a breach of the obligation to protect it. A State which persistently refused any request by other States to establish some forms of cooperation aiming at the protection of the underwater cultural heritage could also be held responsible of an internationally wrongful act. An obligation to cooperate is not devoid of legal meaning. It implies a duty to act in good faith in pursuing a common objective and in taking into account the situation of the other interested States. As remarked by the International Court of Justice in the judgement of 20 February 1969 on the North Sea Continental Shelf cases, «the parties are under an obligation to enter into negotiations with a view to arriving at an agreement, and not merely to go through a formal process of negotiation as a sort of a prior condition for the automatic application of a certain method of delimitation in the absence of agreement; they are under an obligation so to 4

conduct themselves that the negotiations are meaningful, which will not be the case when either of them insists upon its own position without contemplating any modification of it»7.

B) Cigarette Smugglers, Clandestine Immigrants and Infectious Patients While underwater cultural heritage located within internal maritime waters, archipelagic waters and territorial sea is subject to the jurisdiction of the coastal State8, Art. 303, para. 2, UNCLOS specifically relates to archaeological and historical objects located within the 24-mile zone set forth by Art. 33 UNCLOS (the contiguous zone): «In order to control traffic in such objects, the coastal State may, in applying article 33, presume that their removal from the sea-bed in the zone referred to in that article without its approval would result in an infringement within its territory or territorial sea of

7 I.C.J., Reports, 1969, para. 85 of the judgment. According to the arbitral award rendered on 16 November 1957 in the Lake Lanoux case (France v. Spain), the obligations to negotiate an agreement "take very diverse forms and have a scope which varies according to the manner in which they are defined and according to the procedures intended for their execution; but the reality of the obligations thus undertaken is incontestable and sanctions can be applied in the event, for example, of unjustified breaking off of the discussions, abnormal delays, disregard of the agreed procedures, systematic refusals to take into consideration adverse proposals of interests, and, more generally, in cases of violation of the rules of good faith" (International Law Reports, 1957, p. 128).

8 The question of the regime of State vessels and aircraft will not be discussed here. According to certain States, such as the United States, the flag State retains title indefinitely to its sunken craft, wherever it is located, unless title has been expressly abandoned or transferred by it. Other States believe that there is no reason to envisage two different kinds of underwater cultural heritage. On the question, with special reference to the Spanish galleons, see AZNAR GOMEZ, La protección international del patrimonio subacuático con especial referencia al caso de España, Valencia, 2004. 5

the laws and regulations referred to in that article» [= customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations].

Art. 303, para. 2, does give some rights to the coastal State. But the content of these rights is far from being clear, as the wording of the provision gets entangled in mysterious complications. As provided for in Art. 33, in the contiguous zone, which is located between the external limit of the territorial sea (12 n.m., in the case of most States) and 24 n.m., the coastal State may exercise control for customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary purposes. If literally understood, para. 2 suggests that the removal of archaeological and historical objects located in the contiguous zone can determine a violation of domestic provisions relating to matters which have little or nothing to do with the cultural heritage, such as smuggling, public health and immigration. Under the UNCLOS logic, it is only as a consequence of the competences that it can already exercise in dealing with cigarette smugglers, clandestine immigrants and infectious patients that the coastal State can exercise some other competences for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage located within 24 n.m. from the shore. The wisdom of such a logic, which implies that underwater cultural heritage cannot be protected per se, is not fully convincing, to say the least. Other problems arise from the wording of Art. 303, para.

2, if literally understood. The coastal State, which is empowered to prevent and sanction the "removal from the sea- 6 bed" of objects of an archaeological and historical nature, is apparently defenceless if such objects, instead of being removed, are simply destroyed in the very place where they have been found9. Again, it is difficult to subscribe to the logic of such a conclusion. All the textual complications of Art. 303, para. 2, are probably due to the obsession of the drafters of the UNCLOS to avoid any words that might give the impression of some kind of coastal State jurisdiction beyond the territorial sea (horror jurisdictionis, to say it in Latin). Rather than laying down a substantive regime to deal with a new concern, such as the protection of the underwater cultural heritage, the UNCLOS seems more interested in paying tribute to abstractions, like the attachment of some States to the almost theological dogma of freedom of the seas. In any case, even if the spectre of cigarette smugglers, clandestine immigrants and infectious patients does not seem the ideal way to transmit the message, from Art. 303, para. 2, the conclusion may be drawn that the coastal State can establish a 24-mile so-called archaeological zone where it can apply its legislation for the aim of protecting the relevant objects10. C) The Benefit of Mankind as a Whole A specific provision of the UNCLOS (Art. 149) deals with

9 Destroyed by a company holding a license for oil exploitation, for instance.

10 In fact, a number of countries have already created such a zone. 7 the underwater cultural heritage found on the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the so-called Area): «All objects of an archaeological and historical nature found in the Area shall be preserved or disposed of for the benefit of mankind as a whole, particular regard being paid to the preferential rights of the State or country of origin, or the State of cultural origin, or the State of historical and archaeological origin».

Art. 149 appears rather vague in its content and devoid of details that could ensure its practical application. It however shows a preference for those uses of archaeological and historical objects that promote the "benefit of mankind as a whole". Private interests, such as the search for and use of the objects for trade and personal gain, are given little weight, if any. Some categories of States which have a link with the objects (namely, the State of cultural origin, the State of historical and archaeological origin, the State or country of origin tout court11) are given preferential rights, although Art. 149 does not specify the content of these rights and the manner in which they should be harmonized with the concept of "benefit of mankind as a whole". D) A Legal Vacuum While specific UNCLOS provisions apply to the space within

11 The imprecise wording of Art. 149 gives rise to some textual doubts. Should the State of historical origin be at the same time also the State of archaeological origin to get preferential rights? What is the meaning of the word "country" in the expression "State or country of origin"? Why is "country" not used in the cases of cultural, historical and archaeological origin? 8

24 n.m., on the one hand, and to the Area, on the other, there is no clarification in the UNCLOS about the regime relating to the archaeological and historical objects found on the continental shelf or in the exclusive economic zone12, that is the space located between the 24-mile limit of the archaeological zone and the Area. It is however clear that the rights of the coastal State on the continental shelf are limited to the exploration and exploitation of the relevant "natural resources", as explicitly stated in Art. 77, para. 1, of UNCLOS, and cannot be easily extended to man-made objects13, such as those belonging to the underwater cultural heritage14.

12 The reference to the exclusive economic zone seems redundant (and will be hereinafter omitted), as the objects of archaeological or historical nature are more likely to lie on the seabed than to float in the waters of the exclusive economic zone. However, during the negotiations for the CPUCH, the highly hypothetical example was made of a bottle containing a message by the Italian national hero, Mr. Giuseppe Garibaldi, which is found floating in the exclusive economic zone of the United States or Uruguay, countries where Mr. Garibaldi had lived in certain periods of his life. Embarking on another effort of imagination, one could also think of an ancient little statue which has been eaten by a fish or cetacean swimming in the exclusive economic zone.

13 As also stated by the International Law Commission in the commentary to the relevant provision of the draft Convention on the continental shelf: "It is clearly understood that the rights of the coastal State do not cover objects such as wrecked ships and their cargos (including bullion) lying on the seabed or covered by the sand and the subsoil" (U.N., Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1956, vol. 2, p. 298).

14 It seems too eccentric to assume (as assumed in a judgment rendered on 21 December 1983 by the United States District Court, District Maryland, in 577 F. Suppl. 597) that archaeological and historical objects which are found embedded in the sand or encrusted with sedentary living organisms can be likened to natural resources. But this approach is followed in the Abandoned Shipwreck Act adopted by the United States on 9

This legal vacuum greatly threatens the protection of cultural heritage, as it brings into the picture the abstract idea of freedom of the seas15. It could easily lead to a "first come, first served" approach. Availing himself of the principle of freedom of the sea, any person on board any ship could explore the continental shelf adjacent to any coastal State, bring any archaeological and historical objects to the surface, become their owner under a domestic legislation (in most cases, the flag State legislation16), carry the objects into certain countries and sell them on the private market. If this were the case, there would be no guarantee that the objects are disposed of for the public benefit rather than for private commercial gain or personal benefit. Nor could a State which has a direct cultural link with the objects prevent the continuous pillage of its historical heritage. The danger of freedom of fishing

15 Art. 59 UNCLOS (Basis for the resolution of conflicts regarding the attribution of rights and jurisdiction), that is the provision on the so-called residual rights in the exclusive economic zone, should also be taken into consideration. Under Art 59, "in cases where this Convention does not attribute rights or jurisdiction to the coastal State or to other States within the exclusive economic zone, and a conflict arises between the interests of the coastal State and any other State or States, the conflict should be resolved on the basis of equity and in the light of all the relevant circumstances, taking into account the respective importance of the interests involved to the parties as well as to the international community as a whole". In fact, the CPUCH regime could be seen as the application of UNCLOS Art. 59, as far as the underwater cultural heritage within the exclusive economic zone is concerned (see MIGLIORINO, Submarine Antiquities and the Law of the Sea, in Marine Policy Reports, 1982, p. 1).

16 In this regard, the problems posed by flags of convenience must be taken into consideration. 10 for underwater cultural heritage is far from being merely theoretical17. During the negotiations for the UNCLOS some countries were ready to extend, under certain conditions, the jurisdiction of the coastal State to the underwater cultural heritage found on the continental shelf. For instance, an informal proposal submitted in 1980 by Cape Verde, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Tunisia and Yugoslavia provided as follows: «The Coastal State may exercise jurisdiction, while respecting the rights of identifiable owners, over any objects of an archaeological and historical nature on or under its continental shelf for the purpose of research, recovery and protection. However, particular regard shall be paid to the preferential rights of the State or country of origin, or the State of cultural origin, or the State of historical and archaeological origin, in case of sale or any other disposal, resulting in the removal of such objects out of the Coastal State»18.

The rejection of this kind of proposals, due to the already mentioned fear of creeping jurisdiction by coastal States (horror jurisdictionis)19, led to the legal vacuum resulting from the present UNCLOS regime. E) An Invitation to Looting The danger of uncontrolled activities is aggravated by 17 See, as regards the story of the expeditions made by Mr. Ballard in the Mediterranean and the various stories of Spanish galleons looted by treasure hunters, SCOVAZZI, The Application of "Salvage Law and Other Rules of Admiralty to the Underwater Cultural Heritage, in GARABELLO & SCOVAZZI, op. cit., p. 20 and 38.

18 Informal proposal by Cape Verde, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Tunisia and Yugoslavia (U.N. doc. A/CONF.62/C.2/ Informal Meeting/43/Rev. 3 of 27 March 1980).

19 Above, para. 2 B. 11

Art. 303, para. 3, UNCLOS, which subjects the general obligations of protection of archaeological and historical objects and international cooperation to a completely different set of rules: «Nothing in this article affects the rights of identifiable owners, the law of salvage and other rules of admiralty, or laws and practices with respect to cultural exchanges».

In fact, salvage law and other rules of admiralty are given an overarching status by the UNCLOS. If there is a conflict between the objective to protect the underwater cultural heritage, on the one hand, and the provisions of salvage law and other rules of admiralty, on the other, the latter prevail, as they are not affected by any of the paragraphs of Art. 30320. There is no clarification in the UNCLOS about what the expression "the law of salvage and other rules of admiralty" means. In many countries, the notion of salvage ("sauvetage", in French) is only related to the attempts to save a ship or property carried by it from imminent marine peril on behalf of its owners. But it has never been intended to apply to submerged archaeological sites or to ancient sunken ships which, far from being in peril, have been definitively lost. On the contrary, in a minority of other countries of common law tradition the concept of salvage law has been enlarged by some court decisions to cover activities which have very little to do with the traditional sphere of salvage. For 20 Luckily enough, the drafters of the UNCLOS did not subject to salvage law and other rules of admiralty the heritage found in the Area which falls under Art. 149. 12 example, the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in a decision rendered on 24 March 1999 (case R.M.S. Titanic, Inc. v. Haver) stated that the law of salvage and finds is a "venerable law of the sea". It was said to have arisen from the custom among "seafaring men" and to have "been preserved from ancient Rhodes (900 B.C.E.), Rome (Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis) (533 C.E.), City of Trani (Italy) (1063), England (the Law of Oleron) (1189), the Hanse Towns or Hanseatic League (1597), and France (1681), all articulating similar principles"21. Coming to the practical result of such a display of legal erudition, the law of finds seems to mean that "a person who discovers a shipwreck in navigable waters that has been long lost and abandoned and who reduces the property to actual or constructive possession becomes the property's owner". The application of the law of salvage, which appears to be something different from the law of finds, is also hardly satisfactory, as it gives the salvor a lien (or right in rem) over the object. Yet the expression "the law of salvage and other rules of admiralty" simply means the application of a first-come-first-served or freedom-of-fishing approach which can only serve the interest of private commercial gain. The fact remains that the body of "the law of salvage and other rules of admiralty" is today typical of a few common law systems, but remains a complete stranger to the legislation of other countries. Because of the lack of corresponding concepts,

21 International Legal Materials, 1999, p. 807. For the details of the judicial "saga" of the Titanic see SCOVAZZI, The Application (quoted avove, note 17), p. 60. 13 the very words "salvage" and "admiralty" cannot be properly translated into languages different from English. In the French official text of the UNCLOS they are rendered with expressions (droit de récupérer des épaves et (...) autres règles du droit maritime) which have a broader and different meaning. No Italian lawyer (with the laudable exception of a few scholars) would today know what the "law of salvage and finds" is, despite the fact that the cities of Rome and Trani, which are said to have contributed to this body of "venerable law of the sea", are located somewhere in the Italian territory. Nor is it clear how a "venerable" body of rules, that is believed to have developed in times when nobody cared about the underwater cultural heritage, could provide today any sensible tool for dealing with the protection of the heritage in question. All the lofty and almost theological expressions employed by the supporters of the law of salvage and the law of finds ("return to the mainstream of commerce", "admiralty's diligence ethic", "venerable law of the sea", etc.) are doubtful euphemisms. They dissimulate a first-come-first-served or freedom-of-fishing approach based on the destination of underwater cultural heritage for the exclusive purpose of private commercial gain. This worsens the already sad picture of Art. 303 of the UNCLOS. Does this provision, while apparently protecting the underwater cultural heritage, strengthen a regime which results in the destination of much of this heritage for commercial purposes? Does Art. 303 give an overarching status to a body of rules that cannot provide any sensible tool for the protection 14 of the heritage in question? The doubt is far from being trivial22. F) Prospects for a Better Regime It would be difficult to find elsewhere so many obscurities and contradictions as can be found in the UNCLOS regime of the underwater cultural heritage23. If the protection of the underwater cultural heritage is to be achieved "for the benefit of mankind as a whole" (as stated in Art. 149), why are salvage law and the other rules of admiralty, which only serve the purpose of private benefit and commercial gain, granted an

22 "In recent decades treasure salvage has been added as an element of marine salvage under admiralty law. From an archaeological perspective, salvage law is a wholly inappropriate legal regime for treating underwater cultural heritage. Salvage law regards objects primarily as property with commercial value and rewards its recovery, regardless of its importance and value as cultural heritage. It encourages private-sector commercial recovery efforts, and is incapable of ensuring the adequate protection of underwater cultural heritage for the benefit of mankind as a whole" (The Archaeological Institute of America, Comments on the UNESCO / UN Division on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Draft Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, reproduced in PROTT & SRONG (eds.), Background Materials on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, Paris, 1999, p. 176.). For other critical remarks about the results of the application of this body of law see THROCKMORTON, The World's Worst Investment: The Economics of Treasure Hunting with Real Life Comparisons, paper published in 1990 and reprinted in PROTT & SRONG, op. cit., p. 181. But see also the different views expressed by HOFFMANN, Sailing on Uncharted Waters: The U.S. Law of Historic Wrecks, Sunken Treasure and the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, in SCOVAZZI (ed.), La protezione del patrimonio culturale sottomarino nel Mare Mediterraneo, Milano, 2004, p. 297.

23 "The regimes for underwater archaeology resulting from the Convention are complicated and not complete" (NORDQUIST, ROSENNE & SOHN, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 - A Commentary, vol. V, Dordrecht, 1989, p. 161). 15 overarching status (as stated in Art. 303, para. 3)? If the underwater cultural heritage is to be protected everywhere (as stated in Art. 303, para. 1), why is an evident gap left open as regards the heritage located on the continental shelf24? As a further surprise, it may be added that prospects to find some remedy to the unsatisfactory regime of the UNCLOS could be drawn from para. 4 of Art. 303 itself. Under this paragraph, Art. 303 does not prejudice "other international agreements and rules of international law regarding the protection of objects of an archaeological and historical nature"25. There is no reason why future agreements, such as the CPUCH, should not be covered by this provision. In other words, the UNCLOS itself seems to allow the drafting of more specific treaty regimes which can ensure a better protection of the underwater cultural heritage. The UNCLOS itself seems to encourage the filling of the gaps and the elimination of the

24 The fact that the UNCLOS regime is far from being satisfactory seems implicitly acknowledged in the declaration made by the Netherlands on 28 June 1996 on ratification of the UNCLOS: "Jurisdiction over objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea is limited to articles 149 and 303 of the Convention. The Kingdom of the Netherlands does however consider that there may be a need to further develop, in international cooperation, the international law on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage".

25 Under para. 3, Art. 303 does not affect salvage law and other rules of admiralty. Under para. 4, Art. 303 is without prejudice to other international agreements regarding the protection of objects of an archaeological and historical nature. If there is a conflict between salvage law and an international agreement covered by para. 4, which one would prevail? To try to give an answer to the question, which is a consequence of the plethora of contradictions embedded in Art. 303, does not seem a sensible exercise. 16 contradictions that it has generated.

3. The CPUCH as a Defensive Tool The CPUCH may be seen as a reasonable defence against the results of the contradictory and counterproductive regime of the UNCLOS. The basic defensive tools are three, namely: the elimination of the undesirable effects of the law of salvage and finds; the exclusion of a "first come, first served" approach for the heritage found on the continental shelf; the strengthening of regional cooperation. A) The Rejection of the Law of Salvage and Finds While most countries participating in the negotiations for the CPUCH concurred in the rejection of the application of the law of salvage and finds to underwater cultural heritage, a minority of States were not prepared to accept an absolute ban. To achieve a reasonable compromise, Art. 4 (Relationship to law of salvage and law of finds) of the CPUCH provides as follows: «Any activity relating to underwater cultural heritage to which this Convention applies shall not be subject to the law of salvage or law of finds, unless it: (a) is authorized by the competent authorities, and (b) is in full conformity with this Convention, and (c) ensures that any recovery of the underwater cultural heritage achieves its maximum protection».

This provision is to be understood in connection with Art. 2, para. 7, of the CPUCH ("underwater cultural heritage shall not be commercially exploited") and with the rules contained in the annex, which form an integral part of the CPUCH. In particular, under Rule 2 of the Annex, «the commercial exploitation of underwater cultural heritage for trade or speculation or its irretrievable 17

dispersal is fundamentally incompatible with the protection and proper management of underwater cultural heritage. Underwater cultural heritage shall not be traded, sold, bought or bartered as commercial goods».

The practical effect of the CPUCH regime is the prevention of all the undesirable effects of the application of the law of salvage and finds. Freedom of fishing for archaeological and historical objects is definitely banned. This seemed generally acceptable to all the States participating in the negotiation. B) The Exclusion of a "First Come, First Served" Approach

for the Heritage Found on the Continental Shelf The majority of the countries participating in the negotiation were ready to extend the jurisdiction of the coastal State to the underwater cultural heritage found on the continental shelf or in the exclusive economic zone. However, a minority of States assumed that the extension of the jurisdiction of coastal States beyond the limit of the territorial sea would have altered the delicate balance embodied in the UNCLOS between the rights and obligations of the coastal State and those of other States. Such a difference of positions proved to be a thorny question. During the negotiations, the chairman of Working Group 1 of the Group of Governmental Experts, trying to find a way out of the deadlock rather than merely recording the statements and re-statements of the opposing positions26, undertook to produce

26 See Final Report of the Third Meeting of Governmental Experts on the Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, UNESCO doc. CLT-2000/CONF.201/CLD.7, para. 4 of Annex 1. 18 a tentative proposal27. It was based on a three-step procedure, namely: reporting of planned activities or discoveries; consultations on how to ensure the effective protection of the underwater cultural heritage; provisional protection measures. The coastal State was entitled to coordinate the consultations among the States which declared their interest28, unless it invited another State to act as coordinating State. Pending the outcome of the consultations, all States Parties had to comply with the provisional protection measures adopted by the coordinating State. During the same session, a "non-paper" was proposed by three unnamed delegations as a basis for discussion. Although different for several aspects from the proposal of the chairman of Working Group 1, the non-paper was also based on reporting and consultation29. It introduced two important elements, namely: that the States entitled to participate in the consultations were those which had a "verifiable link" with the

27 UNESCO doc. WG1-NP3 of 6 July 2000 (reproduced also in the doc. quoted above, note 26).

28 To avoid the ghost of jurisdiction (horror jurisdictionis), the coastal State was not called coastal State, but was given a special responsibility under the following wording: "Taking into account its interest in avoiding unjustified interference with the exercise of sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf in accordance with international law, a State Party has a special responsibility for the co-ordination of activities directed at the underwater cultural heritage and for the protection of any discoveries made in its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf" (Art. D, para. 2, of the tentative proposals of the chairman of Working Group 1).

29 UNESCO doc. WG.1/NP.1 of 5 July 2000 (reproduced also in the doc. quoted above, note 26). 19 underwater cultural heritage concerned; and that the coastal State30 was entitled to impose requirements not in its own interest but on behalf of all States Parties as a whole. Both proposals were inspired by a spirit of compromise and showed an effort to find reasonable solutions based on procedural mechanisms, without insisting on a mere extension of the jurisdiction of the coastal State. Both proposals led to the present Arts. 9 and 10 of the CPUCH which were found acceptable by the majority of the States engaged in the negotiation. It is regrettable that, despite all the efforts to reach a reasonable compromise, a consensus could not be achieved. It would be a difficult task to dwell upon all the nuances of provisions, such as Arts. 9 and 10, resulting from a stratification of proposals, counter-proposals, last-minute changes and "constructive ambiguities" which are not likely to lead to an easily readable text. The essence of the regime is the three-step procedure (reporting, consultations, urgent measures) it sets forth31. As regards reporting, the CPUCH bans secret activities or discoveries32. States Parties shall require their nationals or

30 Again, the expression "coastal State" was not used in the "non-paper" either.

31 Under Arts. 11 and 12 CPUCH a similar (although not identical) three-step procedure applies to the underwater cultural heritage found in the Area.

32 For obvious reasons, the principle of transparency of information is limited to the competent authorities of States Parties: "Information shared between States Parties, or between UNESCO and States Parties, regarding the discovery or location 20 vessels flying their flag to report activities or discoveries to them. If the activity or discovery is located in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of another State Party, the CPUCH sets forth two alternative solutions: «(i) States Parties shall require the national or the master of the vessel to report such discovery or activity to them and to that other State Party; (ii) alternatively, a State Party shall require the national or master of the vessel to report such discovery or activity to it and shall ensure the rapid and effective transmission of such report to all other States Parties» (Art. 9, para. 1, b)33.

While the wording leaves a certain margin of ambiguity, the "State Party" mentioned in sub-para. (ii) is to be understood as the State to which the "national" belongs or the State of which the "vessel" flies the flag34. This interpretation is in conformity with the preparatory works of the CPUCH35. of underwater cultural heritage shall, to the extent compatible with their national legislation, be kept confidential and reserved to competent authorities of States Parties as long as the disclosure of such information might endanger or otherwise put at risk the preservation of such underwater cultural heritage" (Art. 19, para. 3).

33 On depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, a State Party shall declare the manner in which reports will be transmitted (Art. 9, para. 2).

34 The ambiguity lies in the fact that the "State Party" in question could also be understood as the coastal State.

35 A draft resolution submitted by the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom and endorsed by the United States tried to clarify the point by proposing the following wording: "When the discovery or activity is located in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of another State Party: (i) a State Party shall require its national or the master of a vessel flying its flag to report such discovery or activity to it and to that other State Party; (ii) alternatively, a State Party 21

Information is also notified to the Director-General of UNESCO who shall promptly make it available to all States Parties (Art. 9, paras. 4 and 5). As regards consultations, the coastal State36 shall consult all States Parties which have declared their interest in being consulted on how to ensure the effective protection of the underwater cultural heritage in question (Art. 10, para. 3, a, and Art. 9, para. 5). The CPUCH provides that any State Party may declare its interest in being consulted and that "such declaration shall be based on a verifiable link, especially a cultural, historical or archaeological link, to the underwater cultural heritage concerned"37. The coastal State38 shall coordinate the consultations, unless it expressly declares that it does not wish to do so, in which case the States Parties which have declared an interest in being consulted shall appoint another coordinating State (Art. 10, para. 3, b). The co-ordinating State shall implement the measures of protection which have been agreed by the shall require its national or the master of a vessel flying its flag to report such discovery or activity to it and shall ensure the rapid and effective transmission of such reports to all other States Parties" (UNESCO doc. 31 C/COM.IV/DR.5 of 26 October 2001). The draft resolution was not adopted.

36 Here and everywhere else, the CPUCH avoids the words "coastal State" (because of the already mentioned horror jurisdictionis) and chooses other expressions, such as the "State Party in whose exclusive economic zone or on whose continental shelf" the activity or discovery is located.

37 The attempt to define what is a "verifiable link" was not made.

38 See above, note 36. 22 consulting States and may conduct any necessary preliminary research on the underwater cultural heritage (Art. 10, para. 5). As regards urgent measures, Art. 10, para. 4, CPUCH provides as follows: «Without prejudice to the right of all States Parties to protect underwater cultural heritage by way of all practicable measures taken in accordance with international law to prevent immediate danger to the underwater cultural heritage, including looting, the Coordinating State may take all practicable measures, and/or issue any necessary authorizations in conformity with this Convention and, if necessary prior to consultations, to prevent any immediate danger to the underwater cultural heritage, whether arising from human activities or any other cause, including looting. In taking such measures assistance may be requested from other States Parties».

The right of the coordinating State to adopt urgent measures is the cornerstone of the CPUCH regime. It would have been illusory to subordinate this right to the conclusion of consultations that are normally expected to last for some time. It would also have been illusory to grant this right to the flag State, considering the risk of activities carried out by vessels flying the flag of non-Parties or a flag of convenience39. By definition, in a case of urgency a determined State must be entitled to take immediate measures without losing time in procedural requirements40.

39 The present experience of the regulation of fisheries proves the dangers posed by vessels flying flags of convenience and engaging in so-called IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing.

40 On the contrary, the draft resolution submitted by the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom and endorsed by the United States (quoted above, note 35) subordinated the right to 23

The CPUCH clearly sets forth that in coordinating consultations, taking measures, conducting preliminary research and issuing authorizations, the coordinating State acts "on behalf of the States Parties as a whole and not in its own interest" (Art. 10, para. 6). Any such action shall not in itself constitute a basis for the assertion of any preferential or jurisdictional rights not provided for in international law, including the UNCLOS. In any case, "a State Party in whose exclusive economic zone or on whose continental shelf underwater cultural heritage is located has the right to prohibit or authorize any activity directed at such heritage to prevent interference with its sovereign rights or jurisdiction as provided for by international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" (Art. 10, para. 2, CPUCH). This could mean that the coastal State can exercise broader rights if, for instance, a wreck is embedded in the sand or is encrusted with oysters, molluscs or other sedentary living resources over which it already exercises sovereign rights under the UNCLOS provisions on the continental shelf41. adopt measures to prevent immediate danger to a specific condition: "(...) but in any event prompt assistance shall be requested from the State Party that is the flag State of the vessel engaged in such activities".

41 The majority of countries participating in the negotiation rejected the assumption, put forward by the United States of America, that the only possibility for the coastal State to protect the underwater cultural heritage was based on its right to prevent interferences with its sovereign rights or jurisdiction as provided for by international law. This assumption is in principle unacceptable, as it implies that oysters and other equally respectable living resources are more 24

C) The Strengthening of Regional Cooperation The CPUCH devotes one of its provisions (Art. 6) to bilateral, regional or other multilateral agreements: «1. States Parties are encouraged to enter into bilateral, regional or other multilateral agreements or develop existing agreements, for the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. All such agreements shall be in full conformity with the provisions of this Convention and shall not dilute its universal character. States may, in such agreements, adopt rules and regulations which would ensure better protection of underwater cultural heritage than those adopted in this Convention. 2. The Parties to such bilateral, regional or other multilateral agreements may invite States with a verifiable link, especially a cultural, historical or archaeological link, to the underwater cultural heritage concerned to join such agreements»42.

Art. 6 opens the way to a multiple-level protection of underwater cultural heritage. This corresponds to what has already happened in the field of the protection of the natural environment where treaties having a world sphere of application are often followed by treaties concluded at the regional and sub-regional level. The key to coordination between treaties applicable at different levels is the criterium of the better protection, in the sense that the regional and sub-regional treaties are concluded to ensure better protection than the important than the cultural heritage. It is also dangerous, as it can be interpreted in the sense that the salvor can retain the wreck after having given all the oysters to the coastal State!

42 Under Art. 6, para. 3, the CPUCH "shall not alter the rights and obligations of States Parties regarding the protection of sunken vessels, arising from other bilateral, regional or other multilateral agreements concluded before its adoption, and, in particular, those that are in conformity with the purposes of" the CPUCH. 25 protection granted by those adopted at a more general level. The possibility to conclude regional agreements should be carefully considered by the States bordering enclosed or semi- enclosed seas which are characterized by a particular kind of underwater cultural heritage, such as the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Caribbean. For instance, in a declaration adopted in Siracusa, Italy, on 10 March 200143, the participants to an academic conference stressed that "the Mediterranean basin is characterized by the traces of ancient civilisations which flourished along its shores and, having developed the first seafaring techniques, established close relationships with each other" and that "the Mediterranean cultural heritage is unique in that it embodies the common historical and cultural roots of many civilizations". They consequently invited the Mediterranean countries to "study the possibility of adopting a regional convention that enhances cooperation in the investigation and protection of the Mediterranean submarine cultural heritage and sets forth the relevant rights and obligations".

4. Conclusive remarks It is not likely that any sensible prospects for protecting the underwater cultural heritage may be drawn from the contradictory and counterproductive regime embodied in the UNCLOS, at least if it were literally read. The drafters of the UNCLOS could not forecast the subsequent progress in underwater

43 Text in GARABELLO & SCOVAZZI, op. cit., p. 274. 26 technologies and the diffusion of treasure hunting activities in many seas of the world. They probably did not feel that the protection of the underwater cultural heritage was to be considered an urgent need. For its innovative and pragmatic character, the CPUCH is a major step forward in the progressive development of international law. It has been criticized for the reason that, irrespective of Art. 344, it departs from the regime embodied in the UNCLOS45. Perhaps it partially departs. But it must be stressed that the UNCLOS regime is so insufficient that it was impossible to protect the underwater cultural heritage without partially departing from it. Variations from the UNCLOS regime are not a novelty. After the adoption of the UNCLOS, two multilateral treaties have been concluded which apparently "implement" the UNCLOS, namely the 1994 Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the UNCLOS and the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UNCLOS Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. In fact, as both agreements depart from the UNCLOS, the politically prudent label of an "implementing agreement" can be

44 "Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the rights, jurisdiction and duties of States under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This Convention shall be interpreted and applied in the context of and in a manner consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".

45 See, for example, the intervention made on 28 November 2001 by the delegate of the Russian Federation, Mr. Tarabrin, at the United Nations General Assembly. 27 considered as a euphemism for the word "amendment" which would have been more correct from a substantive point of view. The reality is that, as it is itself a product of time, the UNCLOS cannot stop the passing of time. It is therefore subject to a process of evolution in the light of subsequent international practice. The establishment of an effective protection regime for the underwater cultural heritage cannot be seen as an encroachment on the principle of the freedom of the sea. Nor is it the creation of other jurisdictional zones. It is difficult to see how rules and entitlements on the underwater cultural heritage found on the continental shelf could affect navigation in the superjacent waters. The concept of freedom of the sea is today to be understood not in an abstract way, but in the context of the present range of marine activities and in relation to the other potentially conflicting uses and interests. Also the idea that the coastal State can exercise rights on the oil found in its continental shelf corresponded, when it was initially proposed46, to an encroachment on the freedom of the high seas. Evident encroachments on the freedom of fishing on the high seas can easily be found in the above mentioned 1995 Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks Agreement,which introduces the innovative idea that States which persistently undermine the measures agreed upon by the others can be excluded from an activity taking place on the

46 See the Presidential Proclamation concerning the policy of the United States with respect to the natural resources of the subsoil and seabed of the continental shelf, adopted on 28 September 1945 (the so-called Truman Proclamation). 28 high seas. In this case, a new regime was considered a necessary tool to promote the conservation and sound management of living marine resources and, as such, was found reasonable by the great majority of States. Abstract principles and fears of creeping jurisdiction (horror jurisdictionis) were not sufficient to prevent the evolution of international law of the sea and the drafting of reasonable legal responses to emerging needs. Similarly effective solutions are today required with respect to the underwater cultural heritage. The protection of the underwater cultural heritage is endangered by an increasing number of unreported and unregulated activities which are the consequence of the improvement of underwater instruments and technologies. Should there remain a freedom-of-fishing-type regime for objects of an archaeological and historical nature? Do they deserve less protection than fish? The CPUCH provides sensible answers to both questions.