I believe the best way to protect wrecks is not to pass laws preventing treasure hunting and shipwreck salvage, but to pass laws allowing and carefully regulating it. There are millions of wrecks. They are of all and values. Some are important historically and/or archaeologically. The laws need to allow work on them while insuring appropriate archaeological protocols are in place. Those protocols should vary according to the importance of the wreck. Outlawing the work simply insures their ultimate loss through neglect, looting, natural and man-made causes. Only a very small percentage should be treated as underwater museums or grave sites.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 10:50:49 +0000