News
Mark Milburn’s Cornish Wreck Ramblings, Part 6: Flotsam, Jetsam and as far as you could see a barrel
Wrecks happen, they always have, especially along an exposed coastline like the one around Cornwall. Many have heard the stories about the wreckers; were there really people out there, deliberately causing wrecks? The rumour goes like this, someone stood on a cliff waving a light. The light was supposed to look like a mast head light, at anchor, swaying gently in a protected cove. The unsuspecting ship out in rough seas, would see the light and head for the sheltered water. The ship would strike the rocks, the wreckers would kill anyone alive on board and steal the cargo. Were there really people doing that?
There are no records of anyone ever being prosecuted for such an action. There were prosecutions of people taking cargo from wrecked ships, as well as taking flotsam and/or jetsam. There were and possibly still are, some very old laws in place. One of which was the “right to wreck”. The “right to wreck” was an old manorial right to any wreckage, flotsam or jetsam, from a known or even an unknown wreck, along the coastline of the manor to which it was granted. They had to set a limit for the distance offshore, for most of these it was as far as you could see a barrel floating, from the shore. How this was interpreted is a wild guess, could a very tall person stand on a cliff, or did it have to be the from the beach?
Anyone else taking anything within the manorial coastline, was breaking the law. Whether or not these rights are actually still legal, is not sure. It is believed, that they are now no longer legal or have lapsed due to the rights being given to the original manor. The old “right to wreck” law, only related to things that could actually be seen, it didn’t relate to anything under the water; that belonged to Davy Jones.
As divers, most of us believe that “wreck” is a ship on the seabed or ashore. The Receiver of Wreck judges anything from a ship to be “wreck”, whether it is flotsam (floated), jetsam (jettisoned), lagan (jettisoned and buoyed) or derelict (drifting ship or, a part on the seabed with no hope of recovering). Anything we find and recover, that possibly came from a ship or a shipwreck, has to be declared to the Receiver of Wreck. This is true, even if the item washed ashore.
So when does litter become a reportable item? If it came from a ship, it is wreck, if it came from the land, it is litter. This litter can even include cannon balls fired into the sea, at a target or an enemy. If the enemy returned fire and the shot fell short, into the sea, that is wreck. It is about proving where the item came from. If the item has value, it is worth reporting, to be on the safe side. I found an onion bottle, just a random find whilst collecting scallops. I contacted the Receiver of Wreck and I was asked to complete a droit (legal salvage form). There are no known wrecks of this age, anywhere near this location. It must have come from a ship, as it was so far out, but, was it thrown or was it dropped by accident? I now have a letter stating it is legally mine.
Find out more about Mark and Atlantic Scuba at www.atlanticscuba.co.uk
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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