The first Meeting of States Parties to the 2001 Convention (Paris, 26-27 March 2009) established a Scientific and Technical Advisory Body in accordance with Article 23, paragraph 4 of the Convention.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Body is composed of twelve expert members. The Meeting of States Parties may increase this number up to twenty-four.  

Experts are nominated by State Parties. They have a scientific, professional and ethical background in the field of underwater archaeology, international law, materials science or conservation of underwater cultural heritage.  

The election of members of the Advisory Council will be conducted giving respect to the principle of equitable geographical distribution and the desirability of a gender balance and a balance in the various fields of competence. The members possess scientific, professional and ethical abilities at the national level and / or internationally, particularly in the fields of underwater archeology, international law, materials science (metallurgy, archeo-biology, geology) and the conservation underwater cultural heritage sites and / or underwater archaeological objects.

Current members

The Advisory Body:

1. assists the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in questions of a scientific or technical nature regarding the implementation of the ‘Rules concerning activities directed at underwater cultural heritage’ (the Annex of the Convention); 
2. may be consulted for the elaboration of draft Operational Guidelines related to the Rules; gives guidance in questions related to Rules in the framework of the practical application of the State cooperation mechanism contained in the Convention (Articles 8 to13).
3. The Advisory Body consults and collaborates with accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having activities related to the scope of the Convention, namely ICOMOS, the International Committee for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICPUCH) and other relevant NGOs recognized by the Meeting States Parties, and work with them.
   These are accredited by the Meeting of States Parties. The Advisory Body reports on its activities at each Meeting of States Parties.

The first election of Board members was held at the second session of the meeting of States Parties to the Convention in 2009.

Statutes of the Advisory Body : EN | FR | ES | RU | AR | ZH