Tag: submerged-cultural-resources

International conference – New challenges for UW nature and cultural heritage tourism during the Ocean Decade

Open accessibility, sustainable UW cultural and nature tourism, impacts of climate change, upskilling and reskilling for the new generation, connection with the Blue economy

International conference – New challenges for UW nature and cultural heritage tourism during the Ocean Decade

The UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology and the UNESCO Chair in maritime and coastal archaeology ( MoMArch – Aix-Marseille University ) in collaboration with UNESCO 2001 Convention Secretariat and three leading EU projects on the main theme, EMFAF uBlueTec, Horizon Europe TOURAL and EMFAF ecoRoute, are organising the international conference ”New challenges for UW nature and cultural heritage tourism during the Ocean Decade”

The Conference will be held in presence at Le Cube THE CUBE | Aix-Marseille Université in Aix-en-Provence from the 29th of January to the 1st of February 2026.

Deadline for abstract submission: 30th of October 2025.
English will be the official language of the Conference.
Email: info@unescochair-mca.org

Call for papers

We are thrilled to announce the International Conference New challenges for UW nature and cultural heritage tourism during the Ocean Decade, that will bring together scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and community leaders to explore the intersections of underwater cultural heritage, tourism, climate change and community engagement. This conference will be held on 28 January – 1st of February at Le Cube, Aix-en-Provence, France, in presence and will also feature live youtube streaming to facilitate global involvement of students and researchers worldwide.

Abstract submission for papers and posters should consist of 300 words with the applicant’s name, address, institutional affiliation and abstract title.

Deadline for abstract submission: 30th of October 2025.

Email: info@unescochair-mca.org

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The Conference is organised under the aegis of the UNESCO Chair of Aix-Marseille University in Coastal and Maritime Archaeology, led by AMU and the Department of Underwater Archaeological Research of the French Ministry of Culture (DRASSM), and the UNESCO-UNITWIN network for underwater archaeology, that AMU is currently coordinating.

The Conference is organised in collaboration with three major EU projects, that are currently leading innovation in the field of sustainable natural and cultural tourism in Europe and the Outermost Regions; the Horizon Europe project TOURAL and EMFAF project ecoRoute, as well as EMFAF project uBlueTec, aiming at upskilling and reskilling the new blue EU generation to face challenges of the blue economy, such as impacts of climate change, cultural and natural ecosystem preservation and valorisation, and our common efforts towards carbon neutrality.

The event will also be an occasion for an extraordinary meeting of the members of the UNESCO UNITWIN network for Underwater Archaeology.

The event will centre around critical themes in the management, preservation, and promotion of coastal and underwater cultural heritage through public accessibility and green tourist initiatives, and natural environment and biodiversity, focusing on challenges of climate change, sustainable green practices, and technological innovations, connection with the Blue economy, and alignment with the Ocean Decade objectives and the UNESCO Strategic Development Goals.

As a result, we invite contributions related to the following core themes:

  • Open-accessibility and sustainable UW cultural tourism: legal frameworks, management strategies, challenges and opportunities
  • Underwater parks, open-access sites for diving and snorkelling in cultural and natural sites: Lessons learnt and new initiatives
  • UW cultural heritage in marine protected areas: Protecting and managing cultural heritage and marine biodiversity as an entity
  • Public awareness and outreach initiatives associated with open-access sites. Issues and value of local and indigenous communities’ engagement
  • Impacts of climate change in UW cultural and natural sites open to the public, threats and resilience strategies, proactive management strategies
  • Innovative underwater technologies for the digital documentation, preservation and monitoring of coastal and UW cultural heritage and natural biodiversity
  • Education and training in innovative UW technologies and green practices for the new Blue workforce. Higher-education and life-long training

Northeast Regional Ocean Council is seeking one or more Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist(s)

Click to access NROC-RFQ-to-Support-Tribal-Engagement-and-Technical-Assistance.pdf

Request for Qualifications to Support Tribal Engagement and Technical Assistance

NROC is seeking one or more Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist(s) to work closely with the Tribal Engagement Coordinator, to provide support to the Tribal Caucus and Tribal members, and to assist Tribes in advancing their ocean and coastal priorities. The Tribal Technical Assistant Specialist(s) will assist Tribes with their technical assistance needs and priorities, including but not limited to:

  1. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mapping, and development of databases and systems to support Tribal management of coastal and ocean resources;
  2. Coastal and submerged archaeological and cultural resources;
  3. Offshore energy, transmission, and ocean planning;
  4. Water quality, fisheries, marine mammals, habitat, and species of significance to Tribes (for example, anadromous fish and whales);
  5. Youth programming, capacity building, grant writing, and communications and outreach;
  6. Other priorities aligning with NROC’s three committees: Ocean Planning, Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health, and Coastal Hazards Resilience.

The Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist(s) will have an opportunity to contribute to NROC’s strategic direction and to work with the federal and state agencies, Tribes and the Tribal Caucus, industries, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations involved in coastal and ocean management issues in the Northeast.

Download the full RFQ here: NROC RFQ to Support Tribal Engagement and Technical Assistance