Despite the United Kingdom (UK) having been regarded as one of the richest hotspots for underwater cultural heritage (UCH), its policy and practice regarding its protection has displayed some areas of weakness. This paper makes a case to review the legal framework and its overall administration in the UK, in order to protect and preserve any remaining UCH before it is further lost or damaged. First, we introduce some of the flaws in the UK’s legal system protecting UCH, demonstrating how it has led to a considerable loss of cultural heritage and underlining how it is in need of modernisation. This includes discussion of issues raised in a number of recent cases, including the proposed Victory (1744) recovery project, the proposed Goodwin Sands dredging licence and various cases relating to the illegal recovery of material. We then map out how policy is implemented in practice and the role played by various institutions involved with its administration, where we find a schism between what policy intends and what it is achieving in practice. This takes us towards a broader discussion on how legislative reform might look, including a more proactive and ambitious approach to the future management and enjoyment of the UK’s impressive UCH. Here we argue the need for better engagement at the global and regional negotiating table, as well as in favour of adopting a unified and consistent policy which aims to be more sustainable, precautionary, proportionate and inclusive.

中文翻译：

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保护英国卓越水下文化遗产的法律弱点：现代化和改革的必要性

尽管英国 (UK) 被视为水下文化遗产 (UCH) 最丰富的热点地区之一，但其保护政策和实践却显示出一些薄弱环节。本文通过案例审查英国的法律框架及其整体管理，以保护和保存任何剩余的水下文化遗产，以免其进一步丢失或损坏。首先，我们介绍英国保护水下文化遗产的法律体系中的一些缺陷，展示它如何导致文化遗产的大量流失，并强调它如何需要现代化。这包括对近期一些案件中提出的问题的讨论，包括拟议的 Victory (1744) 回收项目、拟议的 Goodwin Sands 疏浚许可证以及与非法回收材料有关的各种案件。然后，我们描绘了政策在实践中如何实施以及参与其管理的各个机构所扮演的角色，我们发现政策的意图与实践中的目标之间存在分歧。这使我们对立法改革的前景进行了更广泛的讨论，包括对英国令人印象深刻的水下文化遗产的未来管理和享受采取更加积极主动和雄心勃勃的方法。在这里，我们认为需要更好地参与全球和区域谈判桌，并支持采取统一和一致的政策，旨在更加可持续、预防性、相称性和包容性。这使我们对立法改革的前景进行了更广泛的讨论，包括对英国令人印象深刻的水下文化遗产的未来管理和享受采取更加积极主动和雄心勃勃的方法。在这里，我们认为需要更好地参与全球和区域谈判桌，并支持采取统一和一致的政策，旨在更加可持续、预防性、相称性和包容性。这使我们对立法改革的前景进行了更广泛的讨论，包括对英国令人印象深刻的水下文化遗产的未来管理和享受采取更加积极主动和雄心勃勃的方法。在这里，我们认为需要更好地参与全球和区域谈判桌，并支持采取统一和一致的政策，旨在更加可持续、预防性、相称性和包容性。