Daniela-Anca DETEȘEANU
Viorel CHIRICIOIU
The seas and oceans of the world hide many resources and treasures, and not all of them come from nature. Thousands of wrecks still lie on the bottom of the sea, alongside countless objects of cultural and historical value. Just as it is essential to know how to manage and develop the natural resources of the maritime environment, it is equally important to learn about the legal status of the underwater cultural heritage, more specifically what States are and what they are not allowed to do with regard to the underwater heritage. This article shall try to briefly discuss these matters and whether a satisfying balance may be achieved between protecting the underwater heritage and exploiting the natural resources of the sea, given the most recent developments in science and technology.
