KPR Participates in Baltic Workshop on Underwater Cultural Landscapes, 02.12.2025
From 25 to 27 November, Kurzeme Planning Region (KPR) participated in the international workshop “Working with Underwater Cultural Landscapes”, organised within the Interreg Central Baltic Programme project UCL Baltic. The seminar took place in Mariehamn, Åland Islands (Finland) and was hosted by the Cultural Department of the Åland Government.
The event brought together archaeologists, heritage specialists, marine geologists, policy-makers and practitioners from across the Baltic Sea region to discuss the research, preservation and sustainable governance of underwater cultural heritage.
During the first day, experts worked towards a shared understanding of underwater cultural landscapes, emphasising that heritage should not be viewed only through individual objects, such as shipwrecks or historic harbour sites, but within the broader spatial context where human activity and the marine environment interact.
Participants also discussed key risks affecting the Baltic Sea region, including increasing maritime use, offshore renewable energy development, climate change impacts and insufficient mapping of shallow-water areas. The second day focused on data standardisation, mapping methodologies and cross-border cooperation. The Åland experience highlighted both the richness of underwater heritage in the archipelago and the challenges posed by tourism pressure and fragmented datasets.
The Latvian representative presented the situation along the Kurzeme coast, particularly in Kolka and at the mouth of the Daugava River, where underwater artefacts are increasingly exposed due to coastal erosion.
The workshop provided valuable insights for the COREEL project, implemented by KPR, supporting efforts to strengthen research, cooperation and sustainable management of coastal cultural heritage. Discussions also explored the possibility of organising a COREEL-themed seminar in Kurzeme in spring 2026, potentially in Roja or Kolka, to further promote knowledge exchange and regional cooperation.
Anete Jansone
Head of Project COREEL, Kurzeme Planning Region
anete.jansone@kurzemesregions.lv