The MAS aims to:

• Provide finders with a basic scheme to record archaeological material that is found on the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Contribute to offshore renewable projects by providing a better understanding of the seabed
• Establish best practice for finds of underwater cultural heritage
• Help guide finders to satisfy the appropriate legal requirements
• Increase our knowledge of underwater cultural heritage and history
• Generate a publically accessible online database of discoveries that will inform research and study

Protecting our underwater heritage

Finds left undisturbed as well as those that are recovered can be recorded through the MAS.
The expert position is that finds of an archaeological nature should be left in place so that the character of the marine environment can be appreciated by future generations. Nonetheless finds are often recovered, either intentionally or by accident, so it is important that they are also recorded before all knowledge of them is potentially permanently lost.

Other positive outcomes:

• Promote best practice to everyone who interacts with the marine historic environment
• Support the Merchant Shipping Act and help finders to meet their legal obligations in respect of wreck
• Encourage use of the standards provided by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
• Promote maximum public interest and benefit through the recording and research of marine archaeological objects and sites
• Motivate further independent research into these finds
• Create partnerships between finders and museums/archaeologists to increase participation in marine archaeology
• Increase opportunities for museums to acquire archaeological finds for public benefit