Underwater Cultural Heritage as a Tool for Implementing the Global Goals of Un Sustainable Development

The article analyses new approaches to respond to the challenges set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The subject is relevant because seventeen Sustainable Development Goals are defined, which are a universal call to action for humanity to reduce poverty, overcome hunger, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people live in peace and prosperity. According to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001),sites that fall under its protection include archaeological remains of ships, historic structures, submerged landscapes, sunken cities, and ancient fishing structures. Such sites must have been underwater for at least 100 years. They must also be partially or completely, periodically or permanently submerged in the waters of the ocean, sea, lake or river. On the basis of analyzing the studies of foreign and domestic scientists, the author found out that with responsible use and management of underwater cultural heritage sites, it is possible to achieve effective methods of conservation and sustainable economic development of humanity. This is possible by increasing and accumulating knowledge of the oceans. In particular, stone tidal weirs, which are underwater cultural heritage sites, were investigated. Using these ancient structures for fishing today could be an effective solution to the problem of hunger. The study found that protecting underwater cultural heritage sites and the areas in which they are located ensures the conservation of marine resources. And this is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. The relationship between the protection of heritage sites and the prosperity of marine ecosystems helps to create livelihoods for local communities through dive tourism. Organizing underwater tourism at historic shipwreck sites can create new jobs. And this will lead to an increase in the welfare of the population. Quality management and responsible use of underwater heritage sites will lead to increased tourist flows. And this will contribute to the sustainable development of cities and communities. Thus, underwater cultural heritage is characterized by the integrity of cultural, natural, archaeological, tangible and intangible heritage. Such knowledge can be applied to solve the problems of our time. This makes heritage an important tool for achieving certain objectives of the Global Programme for Sustainable Development as defined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.