Page 264 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

 © G. Adams. Fujikawa Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, Federated Sates of Micronesia.
handle equipment, engines and fuel as well as food, garbage and the like in the same responsible way as one would do at home. No litter or waste should be discarded from vessels into the sea, including cigarettes, tissues and paper towels, bottles, cans and batteries. Ashtrays and rubbish bins must be provided on board for sorting waste. This also applies to biodegradable waste, especially leftover food. Animals must not be fed either directly or indirectly. Waste collection, management and disposal are compulsory.
Such rules and policies apply for the whole du-ration of the project. They will not extend beyond the scope of the project design.
A different situation occurs if the intervention aims to facilitate access to the site. Impact is then not only a one-off, from which site and ecosystem can recover, but it will be sustained over longer periods of time. The project therefore needs to take the consequences of an intensified human presence into consideration. Integrated site management addresses whether the ecosystem can bear this.
In all cases, the human factor is the key. If one behaves responsibly, impacts are significantly reduced. In contrast, if this aspect is neglected, the impact can be considerable. Underwater archaeologists must be responsible diver-scientists who respect the environment in which they operate. Site workers must be aware of any specific or fragile areas and these should, if necessary, be clearly indicated. If
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Environment