Talking of boats, the problems caused by the removal of items from a nineteenth century Spanish wreck by the crew of Odyssey, and the subsequent litigation has triggered the authorities to better preserve the seabed and all it contains.
As such, the Junta de Andalucia has designated some 56 underwater sites, including Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona as ‘of archaeological interest’ and will form part of the General Catalogue of Andaluz Historical Heritage.
This move should protect the seabed around La Herradura from treasure hunters, as to make any dive on such a site would require the authorization of the Ministry of Culture, the ruling also includes any dredging or building of ports on or near the sites.