Shipwrecks and Maritime Heritage in Coastal Protected Areas of Rocha, Uruguay

This article examines the maritime and underwater cultural heritage associated with the marine-coastal protected areas of Rocha Department, Uruguay. Despite the high frequency of shipwrecks along its Atlantic coast, systematic academic research has been limited. Drawing on documentary sources, technical reports, oral histories, and community-held collections, this study compiles and analyzes 161 documented shipwrecks in or near four protected areas: Cabo Polonio, Laguna de Rocha, Laguna Garzón, and Cerro Verde/Islas de la Coronilla. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal strong temporal and spatial patterns: nearly 70% of wrecks occurred during the 19th century, coinciding with intensified regional navigation and preceding lighthouse construction, while the transition from sail to steam reflects broader global maritime transformations. The results also highlight the diversity of flags, particularly the predominance of British ships, and the persistence of maritime memory in local communities through oral traditions and practices. Beyond identifying tangible remains, the study frames Rocha’s Atlantic coast as a maritime cultural landscape, where material, ecological, and intangible elements intersect. By providing the first systematic synthesis of this heritage, the article establishes a foundation for integrating it into protected-area management. It also stresses the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks capable of articulating heritage, land-use planning, environmental protection, and defense norms, as current fragmentation hampers effective stewardship. Finally, the study underscores the potential of international collaboration for research and management of underwater cultural heritage. Strengthening these connections, together with archaeological fieldwork and community-based initiatives, is essential for sustainable conservation and safeguarding this shared cultural legacy.