ROC passes underwater cultural heritage bill

2015/11/26

An act aimed at protecting Taiwan’s underwater cultural heritage was passed Nov. 24 by the Legislature, underscoring the nation’s efforts to safeguard submerged archaeological assets, according to the Ministry of Culture.

Drafted by the ministry in line with the U.N. Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, the bill is Taiwan’s first legislation dedicated to furthering pursuits in this area, MOC Minister Hung Meng-chi said. He expects the act to help advance local research in maritime history while contributing to the increasingly important field of undersea archaeology.

“Given Taiwan’s prime location in some of the world’s most important waterways, the nation requires a comprehensive legal framework to ensure the preservation, protection and management of its rich undersea cultural heritage resources,” Hung said.

Comprising 44 articles in seven chapters, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation Act specifies that any cultural resources found in Taiwan’s territorial waters, except for those from vessels and aircraft whose ownership is claimed by foreign countries, are to be designated as national heritage.

Any underwater site, vessel, human remains, artifact or any other assets pertaining to human life and activity are regarded as such and subject to inspection and registration by the MOC.

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$307,749) or a sentence of up to five years for violators.

According to the MOC’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage, a total of 79 such assets—comprising mostly shipwrecks and historic sites—have been found in the waters surrounding Green Island, Matsu and Penghu, as well as off the coast of Tainan City.

Four of them already meet the conditions outlined in the act and are now legally protected under the legislation. These include a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) wooden boat carrying a large amount of bricks, tiles and celadon wares; S.S. Bokhara, a commercial steamship struck by a typhoon in 1892; a cruiser lost during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895); and Yamafuji Maru, a Japanese cargo ship sunk by the U.S. Navy during World War II (1939-1945).

“The legislation is an essential step in developing a comprehensive marine heritage policy,” Hung said. “We have every reason to believe this bill will help build a national mechanism for the professional preservation of undersea archaeological assets and strengthen cross-border collaboration in this field.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239361&ctNode=2194&mp=9)