Shipwrecks at Risk

Protected Wreck Sites at Risk

A diver off Salcombe, Devon The density of shipwreck remains in the English territorial sea is amongst the highest in the world. This is due to the combined effects of historically high volumes of shipping traffic, a long history of seafaring and an often hazardous coastline. Wreck sites provide tangible evidence of our ancestors’ use of the sea and may contain the remains of vessels, their fittings, armaments, cargo and other associated objects or deposits. If historic wrecks contribute significantly to our understanding of our maritime past they may merit legal protection under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

Cannon Muzzle Salcombe Cannon Site © Wessex Archaeology All wreck sites, whether or not they are protected by the 1973 Act, are vulnerable to both environmental and human impacts. Because they are often in remote locations, their management can also be challenging – and changes to their condition are characteristically difficult to anticipate and monitor. Survey has shown that 19 (42%) of England’s 45 protected wreck sites are at high or medium risk from damage, decay or loss, unless action is taken.