Photo: Andrew Green
AIMA plays an important role in the dissemination of information. It has an active publications program, organises annual conferences and hosts the National Shipwrecks Database. AIMA maintains active liaison with government agencies at both a State and National level.
This includes membership of the National Cultural Heritage Forum (NCHF) which provides direct advice to the Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. AIMA contributed to the development of the NCHF Vision Statement which includes specific consideration of the management of underwater cultural heritage and the need for Australia to ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention on underwater cultural heritage.
AIMA is an incorporated body with a Constitution. An Annual General Meeting is held in conjunction with the annual conference.
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Darling, 1880 Wreck site Photo: Andrew Green |
In Australia, AIMA has supported the important archaeological investigations on sites including Batavia (1629) in Western Australia, HMS Sirius, wrecked at Norfolk Island, HMS Pandora (1791) off far north Queensland, the Sydney Cove (1797) wreck in Bass Strait, Tasmania, The Zanoni in South Australia and the City of Launceston in Victoria.
These projects, supported by funding from the Federal Government, State Governments and the private sector, have involved Australian maritime archaeologists and conservators in the excavation of these significant Australian shipwrecks.
AIMA is concerned about the growth of treasure hunting on an international scale. Our organisation petitions governments and international bodies to support the international banning of treasure hunting.
AIMA strongly supports the UNESCO Convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage and the work of the the International Committee for Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH), a committee of ICOMOS.
AIMA members have been involved in training programmes in China, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Joint co-operative projects have been undertaken in Kenya, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Korea and Japan, to assist and support existing or developing maritime archaeological programmes. AIMA has also supported the recent Australian expeditions to Turkey to identify the remains of the WWI Australian submarine AE2 lost in the Dardenelles at the time of the Gallipoli Campaign.
For a number of years AIMA also supported the Joint Thai-Australian Maritime Archaeological Programme in Thailand. This programme involved work in association with Thai maritime archaeologists on shipwreck sites in the Gulf of Thailand. Through this work Australian maritime archaeologists were able to find out more about Asiatic shipwreck sites and to contribute to the work of Thai colleagues.
AIMA is generously supported by Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
