**edited to fit**
colombia – The Government of Colombia today passed Senate bill No. 125 of 2011 - which will regulate Colombia’s Underwater Cultural Heritage. The bill states that contracts can now be made with marine exploration companies to search for and salvage shipwrecks in Colombian watersAs explained by the Colombian Minister of Culture, Mariana Garces. The rationale for the project by the Minister of Culture is that Colombia has neither the technology nor the resources to do these kinds of explorations that are highly expensive. To Garcés, this law will rescue the riches submerged and leverage them for the benefit of all Colombians and citizens of the world that will be able to see them in marine or naval museums. "The spirit of this bill was to create mechanisms to access some heritage objects that would otherwise be unattainable.
Colombia has 1,600 km of coastline on the Caribbean coast and 1,300 km in the Pacific side. While not all these shipwrecks were carrying treasure when they went down, it is estimated that some 800 tons of gold and 12,000 tons of silver are scattered among the wrecks. In today’s money that comes to nearly 176 Billion Dollars, or about 332 Trillion Colombian Pesos. This is based on the current spot price for both Gold and Silver, and does not take into consideration the market value of shipwreck coins and bullion which is often considerably higher. Also not figured into these calculations is that of unregistered treasure. The Spanish were experts at smuggling treasures back to Spain in order to avoid paying taxes.
There is a new paradigm emerging in archaeology with the passage of this law and Colombia is now on the leading edge. **The Islands of The Bahamas is also in the process of implementing a very similar program to recover and preserve its underwater cultural heritage.**

A similar and very successful model was first implemented back in the 60’s in the U.S. State of Florida, when treasure hunters first discovered shipwrecks of the 1715 treasure fleet in the shallow waters along Florida’s east coast. State archaeologists worked with the treasure hunters and established a permitting program, and this program eventually lead to the discovery of many other shipwrecks. As a direct result of the work of treasure hunters and the State archaeologists, the State of Florida is still receiving 20 percent of the treasure hunters finds today, and Florida museums across the state are filled with amazing shipwreck artifacts seen by thousands of residents and tourist every day.

Archaeologist, I think you may have misread the statement "**Apart from the financial loss to the Government and Bahamian people, the pirating of numerous wreck sites is also depriving this nation of its culture and history."**

I take it to mean that during the past years of the Moratorium, that without the permitting process in place, the Bahamas, has no doubt lost Millions of dollars in revenue, and just as important because the integrity of the shipwreck has been destroyed and Artifacts have been pirated without regard for archaeological data, and without government knowledge that during that time period a part of the Bahamas cultural heritage has been lost forever.with no benefit whatsoever to the Bahamian people. Dell

Barcnen, you make an interesting point, but I'm sure the government will not allow any situation that has the potential to cause embarrassment.

Remember, the permits are basically in two parts. The first part is permission to search and locate potential Treasure wrecks, and only after all the data is submitted will they approve and grant the Salvor permission to conduct a regulated salvage. They also have the option to shut down any operation that does not comply with the rules.

In the "Search" phase hundreds of miles of ocean bottom will be surveyed by multiple vessels and the electronic data collected will be given to the Government providing them insights into the ecology and marine life in areas that have never been surveyed before. Shipwrecks of historical interest will also be plotted and the data provided for future Archaeological interests.

Yes, salvors will probably be permitted to start salvage right away at the locations of known Treasure shipwrecks such as the Marvilla.

I don't think the HMS Victory, is a very good example in this case. As far as I know there are no famous sunken Bahamian Naval ships in the Bahamas. Most Treasure ships sunk in the Bahamas, are of foreign origin.

Wrekin, (ship wreck salvage } is a Bahamian tradition that dates back over 200 years extends all the way to the Florida Keys. Let's embrace this heritage.

JOHN, I believe there is Treasure buried on land through out the Islands. The treasury of Haiti, being one of them. Any ship carrying valuables that sank within a quarter mile of shore you can bet that the survivors made every effort to salvage precious cargo and bury it on land for safe keeping. There are cave entrances at the bottom of since filled in potholes, and in sand dunes with buried treasure waiting for the lucky finder. And there were Pirate stashes, But, I understand the government has Treasure Trove laws that apply to land as well as water, so obey the law and don't get into trouble.

In my opinion the Bahamas, has a tremendous untouched resource of buried wealth, as well as unexploited natural Mineral resources.

I wish the people of the Bahamas every success in this endeavor. Dell

Mr Hartnell's, article already explains some of the reasons Shipwreck Salvage would benefit the Bahamas, in the short term. The long term benefits will depend on new discoveries that attract Free media attention to support tourism, and new enterprises that develop as a result of this endeavor.

Because of the voliltility of the ocean much of the remains of historic Shipwrecks will not survive another hundred years and that portion of our past will be lost forever to the future generations.

Troughout the Shipwreck moratorium, local owned Bahamian musuems were unable to obtain pemits to legally recover historic shipwreck artifacts from their own local waters while outsiders were quietly looting Treasure from Bahamian waters. Shipwreck Musuems are international tourist attractions that benefit the local economies. This is a new day, and even if it should be only short term, Shipwreck Salvage provides a new opportinty that I hope will not be squanderd.

The Albert Lowe musuem, on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco has recently opened a Historic Shipwreck section with a few donated artifacts. They have met all the Government criteria, including an Archaeologist, and applied for a permit to salvage shipwreck artifacts from their Harbour and Ocean waters just off shore. They are still awaiting a permit to do so.

Bahamian companies and organizations are those standing in line to receive Shipwreck Salvage permits. Should Bahamians be denied this opportunity? Dell

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2013…

Folks, allow me to introduce my friend Alexandre. He is known Internationally for his egotistical rants which are of no credit to Archaeological academia. It's interesting that an article in the Tribune, has stirred up so much hostility in him as to infer that the Bahamian government, and people are stupid, and reference to "A sucker is born every minute? What has this man ever done for the Bahamian people that he feels he can speak in such a manner? I apologize that he can at times be fanatical, but overall he is an excellent Archaeologist, worthy of being hired by any Shipwreck Salvor.

I do not have all the details but from my viewpoint the Bahamas government is doing every thing right. To the best of my understanding the Shipwreck Salvage permits will be issued to Bahamian organizations, and corporations who have to meet a strict criteria and commit to providing both Archaeological, and important Geophysical data which will be obtained from the hundreds of square miles of ocean floor that will be systematically scanned electronically as a requirement for obtaining a permit. This is time consuming work that is too expensive to be undertaken by the government without the help of private enterprise.

Each lease holder is required to have at least one Marine Archaeologist in their group to comply with Government rules, regulations and Archaeological guidelines, who file their daily activity reports to the Bahamian Archaeologist designated to oversee the activities of the Salvage lease holders, and the compilation of data.

From what I see, the Bahamanian Government's plan makes this a win, win, situation for everyone.

Who knows, in this day of electronic technology, scanning the ocean floor for Shipwrecks, might discover the remnants of past civilizations. What a publicity coup that would be for the Bahamas. Shipwreck Salvors, could even invite Alexandre, to witness the worlds amazing discovery. Dell

I would like to Thank the Tribune for sharing this knowledge with the Bahamian people.

There has been no word from the Government when, or if, Salvage permits will ever be issued. What is the delay? In my opinion a great opportunity for the Bahamas tourist industry, local Museums, and millions in revenue from the Salvage of Treasure shipwrecks is being lost by every day of delay. Dell