Voices from the Sea examines the relationship between human rights and ocean heritage through a wide range of scholarly, professional and community perspectives. It considers underwater cultural heritage, maritime knowledge, navigation traditions, cultural identity, environmental change and the rights of island and coastal communities. The volume argues that ocean heritage cannot be separated from questions of power, sovereignty and justice. Shipwrecks, sacred seascapes, ancestral routes, fishing grounds and maritime practices are not simply objects or traditions to be preserved. They remain part of living cultural worlds and are closely tied to memory, belonging, political claims and the right of communities to determine their own futures. Particular attention is given to voices that are often marginalised in international heritage law and policy, even though these communities are among those most affected by climate change, militarisation, displacement and environmental degradation. The book also addresses the place of underwater cultural heritage within global debates on identity, responsibility and the governance of the oceans. The contributors offer a broader understanding of ocean heritage, one that recognises the rights, knowledge and histories of the people most closely connected to the sea.

Elena Perez-Alvaro is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellow financed by the European Commission, specialising in underwater cultural heritage, maritime governance, and the strategic dimensions of ocean security. She serves as Chair of the Underwater Conflict Heritage Working Group of Blue Shield International and is an expert member of ICOMOS International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage. She is also founder of the Women and Oceans Think Tank. Her research explores the intersection of heritage, defence policy, and global ocean diplomacy.

Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas holds a PhD in Maritime Archaeology and has focused her work on the study, interpretation, and public dissemination of submerged cultural heritage. She is a member of ICOMOS and has participated in national and international initiatives related to its management and promotion.