MOC unveils underwater cultural heritage bill

2014-11-07

Taiwan’s first underwater cultural heritage bill was unveiled Nov. 6 by the Ministry of Culture, underscoring government efforts to safeguard local shipwrecks and related artifacts.

“Given Taiwan’s location in some of the most important waterways in the world, the legislation is an essential step in developing a marine-based heritage preservation policy,” MOC Minister Lung Ying-tai said.

“The bill also helps document Taiwan’s place in maritime history while contributing to the increasingly important field of undersea archeological research.”

Comprising 46 articles in seven chapters, the bill was drafted with an eye to the U.N. Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. The process also involved more than 20 expert consultations, cross-agency meetings and public hearings organized by the MOC.

As part of this undertaking, the ministry coordinated with a French government agency for talent training and commissioned Academia Sinica for a survey of Taiwan’s underwater heritage.

In addition to prescribing the protection and management of undersea cultural assets and related issues, the bill stipulates a maximum fine of NT$10 million (US$327,868) for violators.

According to Shy Gwo-lung, director-general of the MOC’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage, 78 shipwrecks have been found in the waters surrounding Green Island, Matsu, Penghu and off the coast of Tainan City.

These include S.S. Bokhara, a commercial steamship struck by a typhoon in 1892; a Qing dynasty-era (1644-1911) cruiser holed by rocks in 1895; and Yamafuji Maru, a Japanese cargo ship sunk by the U.S. Navy during World War II.

“Such discoveries are important cultural treasures documenting the turbulent history and development of the Taiwan Strait over the past century,” Shy said.

“Following further investigation and studies of the wrecks, the MOC will determine the appropriate course of action, including onsite preservation, incorporation into underwater museums or refloating the remains,” he said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=223778&CtNode=413)