"We hope to further study not only the sunken boat but also related history about the exploration of marine resources," Chen said.
Scientists believe that research in the area might reveal hitherto unknown details about the history of human migration around the Asia-Pacific region.
Chen said that underwater archeology-related topics near the Dongsha Islands have interested scientists from not only neighboring countries, such as Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, but also from Australia, the UK, and the US.
Chen said future possible scientific collaborative projects with other countries on marine science issues would be discussed at a four-day workshop for marine scientists, the Second International Workshop on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which begins today in Kaohsiung.
Stressing that the responsibility of protecting and preserving the underwater cultural heritage rests with all countries, Chen said the workshop aims to provide a forum for sharing information and experience about the development of underwater archaeology in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the coastal waters of Taiwan as well as the Dongshas.
"We hope to gain more support from some governmental agencies in charge of cultural conservation, such as the Cabinet's Council of Cultural Affairs," Chiau Wen-yan (邱文彥), an associate professor of marine environment and engineering at NSYSU, said.
Chiau said that the 2001 UN Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage stresses the underwater cultural heritage is an integral part of the cultural heritage of humanity and a particularly important element in the history of peoples, countries, and their relations with each other concerning their common heritage.
The Ministry of the Interior plans to turn the waters near the Dongsha Islands into an oceanic national park. Scientists said that a comprehensive ecological survey would be essential because, so far, people remain ignorant of the abundant natural resources in the area.
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