Bermuda?s wrecks could be a wonderful tourist attraction but the proper controls must be in place to protect the Island?s marine heritage, Senators said on Wednesday.

While it is in the Island?s heritage to hunt for treasure, one senator added, we do not live in those days any longer.

Senators passed the Historic Wrecks Amendment Act 2004 after discussing the benefits of the work a custodian of wrecks is doing for Bermuda. The amendment corrects an oversight when the Act was originally implemented, allowing the custodian more time to catalogue all of Bermuda?s 200 or more wrecks.

While some Senators cited concerns about policing the wrecks and protecting them from treasure hunters, Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes pointed out that treasure hunting is in the Island?s blood.

There are two extremes at work which the legislation must find a middle ground through, he said. ?It?s finder?s keepers, basically ... or Government owns everything, so don?t bother looking.?

The legislation must also find middle ground between two other extremes ? ?that treasure is only treasure if people find it ... or the view that it is best to leave it all alone?.

Government cannot afford to frighten people off reporting their finds, he said, as they will search for treasure anyway.

Government Sen. Walter Roban agreed that in the past, Bermudians were treasure hunters.

However, he pointed out, at the time the ?wrecking? was done for profit, and was a necessity of the times. ?We?re not in that situation anymore.?

Government Sen. Neville Tyrell said the Department of Conservation Services will be working to educate and engage the public in the status of shipwrecks in an effort to prevent treasure hunting.

The custodian will continue to catalogue all the known wrecks, and a national collection is well on the way to being set up, he said.