The Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (Cth) is the Commonwealth law which, together with similar legislation passed by the States, protects shipwrecks and related articles that lie in the waters around the Australian coast that are older than 75 years of age. Regulations under the Act prohibit all kinds of activities (such as trawling or diving) that might damage historic shipwrecks or relics. Permits to explore and recover historic shipwrecks and relics are granted by the Minister. Anyone finding the remains of a ship or an article associated with a ship must notify the Minister as soon as practicable. Rewards and compensation are payable under the Act. There are serious penalties including imprisonment for interfering with or damaging historic shipwrecks, relics or other underwater cultural heritage without a permit.