Meetings of the STAB
The STAB generally meets once a year but also operates through missions and electronic procedures. These meetings bring together Advisory Body members, representatives of accredited NGOs, and the Secretariat. Experts qualified to assist the Advisory Body may be invited to speak.
At meetings, the recommendations of the advisory body shall be adopted by consensus of its members or, in the absence of consensus, by a majority vote.
Meetings of the STAB
Sixteenth Meeting of the STAB, 2025
In the framework of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, UNESCO organizes the following meeting in presential with online access at UNESCO headquarters (Room XI) in Paris:
Sixteenth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) (18 June 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).
Please register to participate in the Meetings of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
Working documents
- Election of the Bureau
UCH/25/16.STAB/1 : |
- Adoption of the agenda
UCH/25/16.STAB/2 : |
Information documents
- Adoption of the agenda
UCH/25/16.STAB/2.INF.I : |
- Adoption of the agenda
UCH/25/16.STAB/2.INF.II : |
Fifteenth Meeting of the STAB, 2024
In the framework of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, UNESCO organizes the following meeting in presential with online access at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris:
Fifteenth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) (4-5 June 2024 Room XI, Fontenoy Building, from 10 am to 1 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).
Recommendations
UCH/24/15.STAB/9 : |
Working documents
- Election of the Bureau
UCH/24/15.STAB/1 : |
- Adoption of the agenda
UCH/24/15.STAB/2Rev : |
- Secretariat鈥檚 Report
UCH/24/15.STAB/3 : |
- Consultations on the Draft Result Framework of the 2001 Convention
UCH/24/15.STAB/4 : |
- STAB missions
UCH/24/15.STAB/5 : |
- Date and Venue of the 16th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body
UCH/24/15.STAB/8 : |
Exchange day
- Agenda
UCH/24/15.STAB/EXC : |
Fourteenth Meeting of the STAB, 2023
In the framework of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, UNESCO organizes following meeting in presential with online access at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris:
- Fourteenth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) (15 June 2023 Room XI, Fontenoy Building, from 10 am to 1 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).
Recommendations
UCH/23/14.STAB/6 :
Working documents
- Election of the Bureau
UCH/23/14.STAB/1 : |
- Adoption of the agenda
UCH/23/14.STAB/2 : |
- Date and Venue of the 15th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body
UCH/23/14.STAB/5 : |
Thirteenth Meeting of the STAB, 2022
The 13th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) to the Meeting of States Parties to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage will take place on 6 (PM) and 7 May (AM) 2022 in a hybrid format, online and in presence in Tunis, Tunisia.
The STAB is a subsidiary body of 14 experts elected by the Meeting of States Parties, which meets once a year and provides advice to the Meeting in scientific and technical matters.
The 13th Meeting, preceded by the 4th Coordination Committee Meeting for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage at the Skerki Bank also held in Tunis, will discuss, among others, the STAB missions to Guatemala and Paraguay, and the follow-up to the Ocean Decade and Ocean Conference.
Recommendations
UCH/22/13.STAB/14 : |
Working documents
- Election of the Bureau
(UCH/22/13.STAB/1) |
- Adoption of the Agenda
(UCH/22/13.STAB/2) |
- Secretariat Report
(UCH/22/13.STAB/3) |
- STAB missions
(UCH/22/13.STAB/4) |
- Report STAB Missions to Guatemala
(UCH/22/13.STAB/INF.4) |
- Ocean Decade and Ocean Conference
(UCH/22/13.STAB/5) |
- Planning of Working Meeting on Operational Guidelines (No document)
- Date and venue of the fourteenth meeting of the STAB
(UCH/22/13.STAB/7) |
Statutes of the Advisory Body (2019): |
Rules of Procedure of the Meeting of States Parties (2019): |
Twelfth Meeting of the STAB, 2021
The Twelfth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage took place online on 10 June 2021 via the Zoom platform.
Final document
- Final report
UCH/21/12.STAB/8 /
Recommendations
- (UCH/21/12.STAB/7) /
Working documents
- Election of the Bureau
(UCH/21/12.STAB/1) /
- Adoption of the Agenda
(UCH/21/12.STAB/2) /
- Report of the Secretariat
(UCH/21/12.STAB/3) /
- STAB missions
(UCH/21/12.STAB/4) /
- Distinction to personalities who have largely contributed to the promotion of underwater cultural heritage
(UCH/21/12.STAB/5) /
- Date and venue of the thirteenth meeting of the STAB
(UCH/21/12.STAB/6) /
Eleventh Meeting of the STAB, 2020
The 11th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) was held online on September 14 and 15, 2020 from 3 pm to 6 pm (CET Paris).
The meeting included a discussion on the STAB missions to Guatemala and Paraguay, followed by a reflection on the concepts of the 2001 Convention. A discussion on the evaluation of nominations of Examples of Best Practices concerning underwater cultural heritage also took place. Finally, the work was concluded with some considerations on the evaluation of the 2001 Convention by the IOS.
Working Documents
Election of the Bureau
- UCH/20/11.STAB/1 |
Adoption of the Agenda
- UCH/20/11.STAB/2/REV |
Secretariat Report
- UCH/20/11.STAB/3 |
STAB Missions
- UCH/20/11.STAB/4/REV |
Clarification of concepts of the 2001 Convention
- UCH/20/11.STAB/5 |
Distinction to personalities who have largely contributed to the promotion of underwater cultural heritage
- UCH/20/11.STAB/6 |
Technical Evaluation of Best Practices Examples
- UCH/20/11.STAB/7 |
Recommendations from the Evaluation of the 2001 Convention
- UCH/20/11.STAB/8 |
Date and venue of the next meeting
- UCH/20/11.STAB/10 |
Resolutions and Recommendations
- UCH/20/11.STAB/11 |
Final Report
- UCH/20/11.STAB/12 |
First extraordinary Meeting of the STAB, 2019
The first extraordinary Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) of the 2001 Convention took place on 28 October 2019. This session, organized in the framework of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, took place in Algiers, Algeria.
During this extraordinary meeting, STAB members has discussed the remaining items of the agenda of its tenth meeting.
Resolutions
- UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/6 |
Report
- UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/7 |
Working Documents
- Adoption of Agenda
UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/1 |
- Best Practice
UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/3 |
- Date and Venue of the next Meeting :
UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/5. |
Information Documents
- Election of the Bureau
UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/INF2.1 |
- Report on STAB Mission on Guatemala
UCH/19/1.EXT.STAB/INF2.2 |
Tenth Meeting of the STAB, 2019
The tenth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) of the 2001 Convention took place on 21 June 2019 at the Fontenoy Building of the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
The main point in the agenda for the 10th session of the STAB, was the election of the bureau members of the STAB.
- Resolutions: |
Working Documents :
Election of the Bureau
- UCH/19/10.STAB/1 |
Adoption of Agenda
- UCH/19/10.STAB/2 |
Best Practice
- UCH/19/10.STAB/4 |
Date and Venue of the next Meeting
- UCH/19/10.STAB/6 |
Ninth Meeting of the STAB, 2018
The ninth meeting of the鈥疭cientific and Technical Advisory Body鈥(STAB) of the 2001 Convention took place on 24 April 2018 at UNESCO Headquarters (Room IV). An Exchange Day for Permanent Delegations and international experts preceded the meeting on the morning of 23 April 2018 and deal with 鈥淗eritage and our Oceans鈥. A meeting between the鈥疦GO鈥檚 and the STAB took place in the afternoon of that same day.
A closed meeting for members of the鈥疷NESCO Unitwin University Network for Underwater Archaeology鈥痶ook place on 25-26 April 2018 in Room VI of the UNESCO Fontenoy Building.
The main issues discussed during the 9th session of the STAB were :
- Report on STAB Missions (Bulgaria and Guatemala)
- Best Practices on Access to Underwater Cultural Heritage (Update and New Proposals)
- Contribution to the International Decade of Ocean Science and Ocean Fora
- Implementation of worldwide heritage protection
Resolutions and Recommendations: |
Final Report: |
Documents
23 April 2018, 10am - 1pm
- Exchange Day 鈥 Heritage and our Oceans |
23 April 2018, 3pm - 6pm
- Meeting of the Accredited NGOs of the 2001 Convention EN | FR
(Organized by the NGOs)
24 April 2018, 10am - 1pm and 3pm -6pm
Working Documents
- Election of the Bureau |
- Adoption of the Agenda |
- Secretariat鈥檚 Report (no document)
- Report on STAB Missions
- Best Practices 鈥 Update and New Proposals EN | FR
- Contribution to the International Decade of Ocean Science and Ocean Fora |
- Implementation of Active Personality Principle |
- Date and Venue of next meeting |
Eighth Meeting of the STAB, 2017
The eighth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters on 1 June, 2017. It was preceded by an Exchange Session for Permanent Delegations on Underwater Cultural Heritage on 29 May on the contribution of the 2001 Convention to the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda |); and the 6th session of the Meeting of the States Parties to the 2001 Convention on 30 and 31 May.
Resolutions : |
UCH/17/8.STAB/9
Final Report : |
UCH/17/8.STAB/10
Working Documents
- Election of Bureau
UCH/17/8.STAB/1 | - Adoption of Agenda
UCH/17/8.STAB/2 | - Secretariat鈥檚 Report, Oral Report
- Security on STAB Missions and UNESCO workshops in its assistance to States, Oral Report
- Cooperation with NGOs
Other issues - Date and Venue of the next Meeting of the Advisory Body
UCH/17/8.STAB/8 |
Seventh Meeting of the STAB, 2016
The seventh meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room IV, Fontenoy Building, on 10 May 2016, 10 am - 6 pm. It was preceded by an Exchange Session for Permanent Delegations on Underwater Cultural Heritage and a Working Meeting for States Parties to the 2001 Convention on a new Ratification and Implementation Strategy on 09 May 2016. A meeting of the UNESCO UNITWIN Underwater Archaeology Network followed on 11 and 12 May 2016.
Exchange Session for Permanent Delegations
An Exchange Session for Permanent Delegations on Underwater Cultural Heritage took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room II, Fontenoy Building, on 09 May 2016 (10 am - 1 pm).
The session served to inspire discussions on the future of the 2001 Convention and a new strategy related to it. It featured lectures on the results of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body鈥檚 missions to and , as well as on other UNESCO underwater cultural heritage projects such as the Heritage for Peace and Reconciliation Project on Underwater Cultural Heritage from World War I. The information meeting was open to all interested delegates.
- Agenda EN / FR
Working Meeting for States Parties to the 2001 Convention
A Working Meeting for States Parties to the 2001 Convention on a new Ratification and Implementation Strategy took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room II, Fontenoy Building, on 09 May 2016 (3 - 6 pm).
The fifth session of the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which took place on 28 and 29 April 2015, asked the Secretariat to draft a revised ratification and implementation strategy on the basis of the document UCH/15/5.MSP/5Rev, as well as on recommendations made during a preceding Exchange Day that encompassed regional group discussions. It was also asked to consult with the States Parties on this matter by means of a working meeting at UNESCO, and to submit the revised document for consideration to the next session of the Meeting of States Parties. The working meeting incorporates this consultation. States not yet party to the 2001 Convention can participate as observers.
- Final Report /
Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body
The seventh meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room VI, Fontenoy Building, on 10 May 2016, 10 am - 6 pm.
The two days of meetings - with the exchange session, the working meeting and the seventh meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body- had interpretation services in English, French and Spanish.
Final Report UCH/16/7.STAB/8 /
Working Documents
- Election of Bureau
UCH/16/7.STAB/1 / - Adoption of Agenda
UCH/16/7.STAB/2 / - Secretariat鈥檚 Report Oral Report
- Madagascar Mission Report, Chief of Mission: Michel L鈥橦our, Oral Report accompanied by written Report
UCH/16/7.STAB/4 / - Panama Mission Report, Chief of Mission: Xavier Nieto Prieto, Oral Report accompanied by written Report
UCH/16/7.STAB/5 / / - Pillaging of Underwater Cultural Heritage by Leisure Divers and Outreach in that regard, UCH/16/7.STAB/6 /
- Date and Venue of the next Meeting of the Advisory Body
UCH/16/7.STAB/7 /
UNITWIN Meeting
A meeting of the UNESCO UNITWIN Underwater Archaeology Network took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room VI, Fontenoy Building, on 11 and 12 May.
The UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology aims to increase capacity in the participating countries by connecting in a formal way universities and professional training institutions working in the field of underwater archaeology.
Sixth Meeting of the STAB, 2015
The sixth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, in Room XIV, Bonvin building (1 rue Miollis, Paris), on 30 April 2015.
It followed the Fifth Meeting of States Parties (27-29 April).
Final Report : EN |
Recommendations : |
Working Documents
- Election of the Bureau
UCH/15/6.STAB/1 | - Adoption of the Agenda
UCH/15/6.STAB/2 | - Secretariat Report
(no document) - Change of Statutes
UCH/15/6.STAB/4 | - Operational Assistance to States Parties
UCH/15/6.STAB/5 | - Access to Heritage
UCH/15/6.STAB/6 | - Date and Venue of the next Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB)
UCH/15/6.STAB/7 |
Fifth Meeting of the STAB, 2014
The fifth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on 11 June 2014.
It was be preceded by an information session for Permanent Delegations on the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body, on 10 June.
The Advisory Body adopted the following resolutions and recommendations:
- to foster public access to underwater cultural heritage, either in situ, in land-based museums or through virtual access, by promoting Best Practice initiatives;
- to encourage further cooperation and collaboration among NGOs and between NGOs and the Advisory Body;
- to ensure proper protection of WWII underwater cultural heritage;
- to strengthen protection of underwater cultural heritage in recognized World Heritage Sites where part of the site is submerged;
- to apply the Rules of the Convention as best practice, even in states which have not yet ratified the Convention;
- to take active and not only passive measures to implement the Convention and to protect underwater sites.
Final report and recommendations: |
Working documents
- Election of Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Adoption of the Agenda
UCH/14/5.STAB/220/1 | - Best Practices regarding Public Access to Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites
UCH/14/5.STAB/220/2 REV2 | - NGO Cooperation
UCH/14/5.STAB/220/3 | - Education and Awareness-Raising Activities
UCH/14/5.STAB/220/4 | - Date and venue of the next meeting of the Advisory Body
UCH/14/5.STAB/220/5 |
Fourth Meeting of the STAB, 2013
The fourth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on 30 May 2013.
It was preceded by an Exchange Day on Underwater Cultural Heritage on 27 May, focusing on the issue of presenting underwater heritage to the general public.
The main topics discussed by the Advisory Body were education, awareness raising and the issue of how underwater cultural heritage can contribute to sustainable development. Ten officially accredited NGOs participated in the debates as observers. Upon conclusion, the Advisory Body adopted the following resolutions and recommendations:
- to promote and encourage sustainable development projects by creating a Best Practice list of initiatives fostering public access to underwater cultural heritage;
- to increase cooperation and collaboration with accredited NGOs, who contribute their invaluable field experience and play a crucial role in disseminating the ethical principles enshrined in the 2001 Convention;
- to incorporate underwater cultural heritage in school curricula, and to prepare a first draft of common education material.
Final report and recommendations: |
Working documents
- Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson(s) and the Adoption of the Agenda.
UCH/13/4.STAB/220/1 : | - Presenting and interpreting underwater sites for the general public
UCH/13/4.STAB/220/2 : | - Discussion on NGO cooperation
UCH/13/4.STAB/220/3 : | - Discussion on education and awareness-raising activities
UCH/13/4.STAB/220/4 : | - Date and venue of the next meeting of the Advisory Body
UCH/13/4.STAB/220/5 : |
Third Meeting of the STAB, 2012
The third meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on 19 April 2012.
The main issues discussed were:
- the importance of NGO accreditation and increased involvement of NGOs in the Advisory Body meetings;
- the identification and monitoring of emerging issues within underwater cultural heritage;
- the incorporation of underwater cultural heritage in educational initiatives;
- the importance of promoting virtual access initiatives in underwater cultural heritage;
- the international harmonization of licensing for scientific divers;
- the elaboration of guidelines for inventorying of underwater cultural heritage;
- the conclusion that the de-accessioning of artifacts from underwater cultural heritage in order to finance excavations is not consistent with the Rules of the 2001 Convention.
Final report and recommendations of the third meeting: |
Second Meeting of the STAB, 2011
The second meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body took place at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on 15 April 2011.
After discussing the most significant factors negatively affecting underwater cultural heritage, and assessing the current status of underwater archaeology, the Advisory Body adopted the following resolutions and recommendations:
- to raise awareness of underwater cultural heritage among development and resource extraction projects, fishers, divers and other stakeholders;
- to facilitate mapping and inventorying of underwater cultural heritage in order to allow for the elaboration of predictive models;
- to make underwater cultural heritage impact assessments a mandatory prerequisite for development and resource extraction projects, and to impose sanctions if this requirement is not met;
- to establish protected areas where fishing is not allowed, and to introduce physical protection measures in order to mitigate the damage caused by fishing and trawling;
- to establish competent national authorities and to provide these authorities, as well as research and capacity-building initiatives with the necessary funds to ensure their proper functioning.
Final report and recommendations of the second meeting: |
First Meeting of the STAB, 2010
The first Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage took place at the Spanish National Museum for Maritime Archaeology (ARQUA) in Cartagena, Spain, on 14 and 15 June 2010.
- the creation of a UNESCO electronic form for the transfer of notifications in the framework of the State cooperation mechanism of the Convention;
- to not accredit any NGO for cooperation until NGO accreditation criteria have been adopted;
- to foster the adaptation of national legislation protecting underwater cultural heritage and cooperation in this regard, in particular in small Island States;
- to collect and disseminate accounts of experience with public access and awareness projects;
- to elaborate guidelines for the establishment of national inventories;
- to elaborate ethical standards for divers;
- to provide assistance to States Parties to build capacity in the area of underwater cultural heritage protection;
- to elaborate a study on the benefit of the valorization of underwater cultural heritage;
- to elaborate a study on the most significant factors negatively affecting the conservation of underwater cultural heritage and the identification of remedial measures;
- to recommend the urgent recruitment of additional permanent staff for the UNESCO Secretariat for the Convention and the allocation of additional resources to facilitate the communication with the State Parties and to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention.
Final report and recommendations of the first meeting: , , , , ,