At its session on 10 November 2025, the 43rd General Conference of UNESCO (the Organization’s supreme governing body) formally approved the designation of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol as a Category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO. The new institute will bear the name Institute for Underwater Heritage and will be responsible for projects and initiatives in the Black Sea region and the Lower Danube.
The designation of Bulgaria as the host country of a Category 2 institute dedicated to underwater cultural heritage is further recognition of the high international evaluation of the Centre’s work and reinforces its leading role in researching, preserving, and promoting underwater heritage not only in Bulgaria but also globally. UNESCO confirms that the Centre’s initiatives align with the Organization’s mission and objectives and contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals. The Centre’s numerous collaborative projects with partners worldwide demonstrate its capacity to develop long-term international cooperation in a field as complex and sensitive as underwater heritage.
This achievement is the result of many years of dedicated work by the Centre’s staff and directors, among whom stands out the visionary idea of Hristina Angelova to expand the Centre’s activities to neighboring countries. In several nations of the Black Sea region there is a limited presence of specialized state bodies responsible for underwater cultural heritage, and resources for research, conservation, and presentation are insufficient. Professional networks and scientific exchange between researchers and heritage managers in the region are sometimes limited. Additional efforts are needed for the preservation and management of World Heritage properties that include underwater components.
The entire team of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology extends its gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support and trust throughout the years of work leading to this accomplishment.
During the session, Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, expressed his satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the long collaborative process leading to the establishment of the Institute. Bulgaria was congratulated by several countries, including Romania, Vietnam, India, Egypt, and Burkina Faso.
