Maritime Cultural Heritage in the Indo-Pacific faces increasing threats from coastal development, looting, climate change, and commercial exploitation. In response, a diverse range of strategies are being developed to protect and manage this heritage—strategies that are based not only on international policy and professional practice but also increasingly on inclusive, culturally appropriate, and context-sensitive community-based participatory approaches. This session invites contributions that critically examine policies, legal frameworks, and institutional practices shaping maritime cultural heritage management in the Indo-Pacific, while highlighting community-based participatory methods as culturally appropriate components of sustainable heritage stewardship. We welcome papers that explore co-management models, Indigenous and local custodianship, citizen science, education and outreach initiatives, and other forms of inclusive, context-sensitive collaboration that democratise and decolonise heritage decision-making processes. Papers may also examine the implementation of the UNESCO 2001 Convention, regional or national governance frameworks, ethical challenges, capacity building, and innovations in practice that empower communities and reflect local knowledge systems. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and community voices, this session aims to demonstrate how collaborative and context-sensitive approaches can enhance the protection of maritime cultural heritage and promote more equitable and resilient futures for the stewardship of the Indo-Pacific’s maritime past.