Are there any special conditions for collecting from shipwrecks?
Yes. Only ten artifacts per day may be recovered from a shipwreck site. Divers are not allowed to remove structural fittings, fastenings, or timbers from a wreck. The quarterly report must include an accurate location of the site and a drawing of where the artifacts were found on the wreck. Federally-owned vessels in state waters are exempt from collecting, for instance USS Patapsco, USS Dai Ching, among others. Federal regulations prohibit disturbance of these shipwrecks and carry stiff fines and penalties for activities that adversely impact the site.
