What does safeguarding mean?

In the broadest sense of the idea, safeguarding includes legislation, advice, and methodology. The objective of the Safeguarding Theme of the project is to develop good methods and ways of management for the four wrecks. These methods and models will help us to outline general instructions and advice. One of the main questions here is: In what way could the authorities protect shipwrecks in a more effective way? The project takes into account both the interests of divers and the interests of the general public. The participants will also ponder questions such as these: Is it possible to open an underwater park at a wreck site where divers could study a wreck using an underwater path marked by ropes and information boards? Are some wreck sites more suitable to be open as an underwater park than some other sites? Which are the criterions and principles for an underwater park? Or should all diving be prohibited at a site? Should we cover the wrecks in order to protect them better? How are we going to study a wreck site? How often should we go and check the sites? How shall we inform the public of the wreck sites?

When it comes to legislation, our aim is at giving information about the national and international laws, rules, and regulations concerning underwater cultural heritage. The project does not plan to produce new legislation or change the existing one.

The Safeguarding Theme is close to the Monitoring Theme of the project. When we get to know the real state and environmental conditions of a wreck site, it is easier to predict its future developments. Among other things, we will know whether the conditions at a site are stable or not. And in case a wreck is at the risk of deteriorating, because of altering environmental conditions, for example, we can prioritaze it.