Living Museums in the Sea: The Past, Present, and Future of Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation.

Author(s): Kirsten Hawley, Charles D. Beeker, Samuel Haskell and Matthew Maus

Current Science vol. 117 no. 10 (2019)

Summary

The living museums in the sea (LMS) is a conservation model that promotes the study and protection of submerged cultural resources while encouraging ecological resiliency, public outreach and sustainable tourism. In collaboration with local, national and international stakeholders, Indiana University established the first network of LMS sites in the south-eastern Dominican Republic in 2011 – including Captain Kidd’s 1699 CE Quedagh Merchant, and is currently working to establish a second network of sites in Punta Cana. This article discusses the challenges and successes associated with management of these marine protected areas, photogrammetric monitoring techniques and ongoing interdisciplinary research.