Heritage Malta, the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage for the Mediterranean archipelago Malta, and their Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) announced that the United Nations Ocean Decade has officially endorsed the WreckLife project – an initiative aimed at deepening our understanding of the intricate relationship between historic wrecks in Maltese coastal waters and their surrounding marine environments.
WreckLife addresses the challenges of wreck degradation and its impact on marine organisms and ecosystems. The United Nations’ endorsement of the project underscores the importance of preserving underwater cultural heritage worldwide.
The project is aimed at enhancing our ability to predict future degradation and develop effective strategies for preserving these underwater cultural heritage sites. The shipwrecks in our seas are studied as ecological islands, merging archaeological methodologies with biological research. The project focuses on identifying critical ocean knowledge, building capacity and increasing the use of that knowledge.
Heritage Malta’s UCHU has three foundational pillars: Explore, Record, and Share.
This commitment is exemplified through a range of initiatives aimed at sharing underwater findings to the public. WreckLife, in partnership with the University of Malta, is developing new research methodologies and promoting innovation. They will be publishing open-access articles and engaging with the public through educational programs and interactive online platforms, ensuring its research findings reach a broad audience, promoting ocean literacy and environmental stewardship.
Heritage Malta’s Virtual Museum (www.underwatermalta.org), a platform that invites the public to explore the historical sites found in Maltese coastal waters, and the Dive into History 360 program, which brings these sites to life through high-resolution 360-degree virtual reality experiences.
About The Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit
This underwater cultural heritage legacy has made Malta the curator for a uniquely well-preserved cultural resource that is global and belongs to all humankind. The recognition of responsibility towards properly managing and protecting Malta’s underwater cultural heritage resulted in the decision to create the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) within Heritage Malta. The main objectives of the UCHU are the identification and documentation of sites, the valorization of sites, site protection, as well as public access management and public outreach. The UCHU aims to continue opening sites for public access, ensuring that the authenticity and integrity of Malta’s UCH is protected, in keeping with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
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About Heritage Malta
As guardians of over 8,000 years of history, Heritage Malta is the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. With a portfolio that encompasses archaeological sites, baroque auberges and palaces, catacombs, forts, natural landscapes and UNESCO listed Neolithic monuments, Heritage Malta is the face of the Maltese Islands. More than simply advancing the stock of intellectual and cultural capital, our vocation is to offer a mirror to society through a heritage which is ‘Part of Us‘, because we are our history and this is our cultural identity. Every generation, monument, artifact, language, specimen, and celebration has a story to share. Heritage Malta ensures that these stories are preserved for posterity and are made accessible for everyone, everywhere to experience and enjoy.
About Malta
Malta and its sister islands Gozo and Comino, an archipelago in the Mediterranean, boasts a year-round sunny climate and 8,000 years of intriguing history. It is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Valletta, Malta’s Capital, built by the proud Knights of St. John. Malta has the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, showcasing one of the British Empire’s most formidable defense systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious, and military structures from the ancient, medieval, and early modern periods. Rich in culture, Malta has a year-round calendar of events and festivals, attractive beaches, yachting, a trendy gastronomical scene with 7 Michelin-starred restaurants, and a thriving nightlife, there is something for everyone.
For more information on Malta, please visit www.VisitMalta.com.
SEEN IN MAIN IMAGE: HMS Nasturtium gun Sponge growth © John Wood, Heritage Malta – image courtesy of Malta Tourism Authority
