Alexandria, Egypt | August 20, 2026.
As part of the celebration of the first International Day for Underwater Cultural Heritage and the 25th anniversary of the 2001 UNESCO Convention, the Alexandria Declaration on Underwater Cultural Heritage, "From Protection to Development," was adopted. This initiative proposes a renewed international vision for the conservation and responsible use of this shared heritage of humanity.
The Declaration emphasizes that protecting maritime and underwater cultural heritage is the starting point for generating lasting benefits in education, scientific research, environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and the well-being of coastal communities.
It also calls for stronger international cooperation, the promotion of research programs, the sharing of knowledge and best practices, and the development of public policies that integrate underwater cultural heritage into sustainable development strategies.
With this vision, Alexandria marks the beginning of a new international agenda that seeks to go beyond protecting the remains of the past and transform them into a source of knowledge, cultural identity, and opportunities for present and future generations, while ensuring their preservation and transmission as an irreplaceable part of humanity's shared heritage.