Protecting Nova Scotia's ShipwrecksImagine yourself just poking along, 10 metres down in super clear water. There, in the sand... that curved shape isn't natural. It's wood, and here's more. Ship's timbers! Could be a fortune in gold coins, or some old bottles to sell. A cannon ball would be great for the rec room. Better get digging before someone else finds this wreck...
If you are a:
THE INFORMATION THAT FOLLOWS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU Nova Scotians are becoming more and more aware of the value of preserving and learning from our heritage, in all its forms. Both our past and present way of life are closely tied to the sea, and shipwrecks are part of our heritage. How we treat this evidence of our history now will determine for all time the knowledge, sites and artifacts available for future generations. These shipwrecks are worth protecting, and worth sharing. Thoughtless collecting will destroy this important resource forever. Read on to find out what the law says, some responses to common questions, and what you can do to help.
What Some Divers AskWhy not finders-keepers?Taking souvenirs harms both the historical and recreational value of shipwrecks. Wreck stripping is a thoughtless and short-sighted activity. Down below, cold water and low oxygen levels slow down the deterioration of wood and metal. Topside, they start to deteriorate immediately and quickly suffer permanent damage. Taking wreck artifacts is easy, but few individuals have the resources to preserve waterlogged objects once they are exposed to air again. Many artifacts have been cared for in museums for more than a century. Every year, thousands of people enjoy and learn from them. Where will your personal collection of wreck artifacts be 10 or 100 years from now?
Won't ocean currents destroy the wreck I just found? Won't sand cover it over so no one will ever find it again? Ocean currents and wave action do break up wrecks, but chances are that if a wreck is still recognizable after centuries in the water, it will last a few years yet. Divers might learn to record wreck locations accurately for future archaeology, rather than strip and destroy them.
Diving gives you a tremendous feeling of isolation, of being the first one there. Most often, that's a false impression.
If I don't take it, someone else will. Maybe. But most people don't walk into historic houses and steal things. Most people don't pick the rare flowers in national parks. It's time to start thinking of shipwrecks as important pieces of our heritage, not as undersea junkyards free for plundering.
But if I don't bring things up, they'll just rot down below. Not true! Wood and metal objects decay much faster when exposed to air and warmth topside. The underwater environment acts naturally to preserve them. When archaeologists retrieved the wheel from the ship Breadalbane in Arctic waters, they had to immediately immerse it in water saturated with nitrogen and keep it in cold storage. Full conservation is expected to take over two years and $100,000.
Is it alright if I bring it up and donate it to a Museum? Museums may not want what you bring up, even if it is an interesting artifact. Would you want us to display an artifact if we didn't know what vessel it came from? Or one that we couldn't conserve? Did you know that it is illegal to collect artifacts without a permit, and that Museums are not allowed to accept illegally collected artifacts as part of the international fight to prevent looting of historic sites? Please, leave it on the bottom.
Individual Divers Will Make the DifferenceWe can protect the remaining shipwrecks, but we must start now. Already some wrecks have been stripped by divers, acting out of ignorance and selfishness. More wrecks will certainly be found. Some will have wonderful historic value and should only be disturbed by qualified underwater archaeologists. Others will be good settings for exciting and informative recreational dives. But they quickly lose all their value for everyone if irresponsible divers become wreck vandals. Will artifacts from these wrecks end up on the auction block in some foreign capital? Decaying rapidly in the rec rooms of sport divers? Or displayed for all to enjoy in public museums or preserved in their underwater resting places? The choice must be made now, by each diver.
Three LawsThe Special Places Protection Act of Nova Scotia requires you to have a Heritage Research Permit from the Heritage Division before disturbing any place where historical artifacts are found, including underwater sites. People wanting permits must be able to show a level of skill in archaeology so that important historic sites will be carefully explored and records kept. Such information becomes one source for tomorrow's history books. All artifacts removed from any Nova Scotia archaeological site belong to the Province, that is, to the people of Nova Scotia.The Canada Shipping Act (a Federal Act) pertains to all wrecks, including historic wrecks. By this Act, anything recovered from a wreck must be turned over to the Receiver of Wrecks until ownership can be determined. Failure to do so can bring heavy fines. This Act is administered by the Canadian Coast Guard for the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. The provincial Treasure Trove Act requires you to have a Treasure Trove License, issued by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, if you expect to search for "treasure". Even with a Treasure Trove Licence, you are still bound by the legal requirements of the Special Places Protection Act. These are laws, not suggestions. There can be heavy fines for breaking them. But the real answer to protecting Nova Scotia's historic shipwrecks is not laws and enforcement. It's a question of diving ethics. Unless individual divers choose to cooperate, these relics of our sea-going heritage will slowly but surely disappear. With them goes all the exciting information they might have told us about our past. Divers and government can work together to stop the plundering of Nova Scotia's underwater heritage resources. You can start by saying "no" to the temptation to bring up wreck souvenirs. Tell your diving friends. Exert a little "peer pressure" if you can. Divers can learn to carry out shipwreck surveys, diving, sketching, drafting, surveying and photographing for research and public education. Wrecks can be located and mapped, then added to the provincial inventory. Research in public archives helps identify the wrecks you might find. There are lots of opportunities for divers to visit wrecks, have a great dive and contribute something to research and education, too. The best souvenirs are your log records, photos and memories of dives on intact wrecks. Imagine yourself watching with pride as your children and grandchildren dive on wrecks you helped protect. Won't that bring more satisfaction than a rusted cannonball on the mantlepiece?
For more information: Bob Ogilvie |
|