Recovering and reporting wreck material
If you recover wreck material, you must report it to the 'Receiver of Wreck'. Wreck material includes things found on the sea shore or in tidal water that have come from a ship, aircraft or hovercraft (vessels). This could be parts of the vessel, its cargo or equipment.
Report wreck material
You can find out how to report wreck material at this link:
If you're not sure whether something is wreck material, contact the Receiver of Wreck.
Rewards
You may be entitled to a ‘salvage award’ recognising your efforts to save the item and return it to its owner.
Wreck and salvage law
There is information about the Receiver of Wreck, and wreck and salvage law, at this link:
Wrecks of historical interest, treasure or archaeological finds
If you think the wreck you've found might be of historical interest, treasure or an archaeological find, you should contact the local heritage agency before you recover any items.
- Historic environment
- Marine historic environment
- Historic England
- The Royal Commission on Historic and Ancient Monuments of Wales
- Historic Environment Scotland
- National Monument Service Ireland