The ocean is home to many archaeological gems below its surface. Protecting these underwater cultural heritage sites—traces of human existence that have cultural or historic character—is no easy task. Many U.S. statutes and maritime and international laws exist for site protection, but with regulation and enforcement divided among various governing agencies, until recently this information was difficult to locate.
With the Ocean Law Search tool’s online database, the hunt for ocean-governing statues is now much easier. Users are able to search through hundreds of legal documents, including environmental and historic preservation statutes, legislative histories, court decisions, and other documents related to the protection of underwater cultural heritage on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The “My Briefcase” feature enables tool users to save documents that can be accessed at a later time or shared with colleagues through a web address.
The Ocean Law Search tool was developed as part of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Law Study. The study identifies applicable laws and points out current gaps in the protection of underwater cultural heritage on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and exclusive economic zone areas.
It also recommends specific changes for better protection, such as suggesting potential amendments to several statutes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management worked together to develop these products.
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The Ocean Law Search Tool uncovers regulations that apply to Hawaii’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, where many artifacts on the seafloor are protected, such as this anchor from the whaling ship Parker. In 1842 this ship was lost at sea during a fierce storm. (Credit: Robert Schwemmer, NOAA)