Abstract The sea is a key vector for the development of Portugal and of most European Union Member States. The increasing demand for maritime space led the European Union, within the framework of its Integrated Maritime Policy, to adopt measures aimed at achieving coherence and harmonization in the planning and management of maritime space under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Member States. The proper development of uses and activities in maritime space depends on minimizing and preventing potential conflicts between different uses and interests. In this context, underwater cultural heritage is subject to various pressures, which threaten not only its integrity but also its potential for valorisation as a significant national resource. This brief article opens the discussion on the planning model for Portuguese underwater cultural heritage. It identifies actions and legal frameworks from both Maritime Law and Cultural Heritage Law, within a land-sea interface approach and in coordination with other legal regimes, to ensure the protection, enhancement, and effective management of maritime cultural assets.
Jorge Freire (Sun,) studied this question.