Abstract
This chapter looks at legislation pertaining to, and the management of, underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in Australia in association with the proposed management regime under the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001. The most pertinent domestic legislation, the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 dates back to the 1970s and has been subject to only minor amendments since then. However, its 'saving grace' has been the effective federal program in place since the 1980s that has supported the legislation. The legislation and program are now at a critical stage given UNESCO's adoption of a convention for protecting UCH, Australia's role in developing the Convention and Australia's adoption of a new heritage regime which has been placed in context with protecting and managing the environment. Keywords: Australia; Historic Shipwrecks Act; Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH); UNESCO
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