The Receiver of Wreck is an official who administers law dealing with maritime wrecks and salvage in some countries having a British administrative heritage. In the United Kingdom, the Receiver of Wreck is also appointed to retain the possession of royal fish on behalf of the British crown. Countries having a Receiver of Wreck In the United Kingdom, the Receiver of Wreck, a post defined under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, is an official of the British Government whose main task is to administer the law in relation to Wreck and Salvage. Operating on behalf of the Department for Transport, the Receiver of Wreck is located within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Until 1993, the role was carried out by numerous coastal customs officials. Nowadays, the Receiver is based in Southampton, and is helped by local outposts of Her Majesty's Coastguard. The UK post holder as of 2022 is Lydia Woolley. Elsewhere in the British Isles, each of the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man have their own laws of wreck and salvage and their own Receiver of Wreck. In Ireland a Receiver of Wreck is a Revenue Official appointed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with the consent of the Revenue Commissioners whose duty is to deal with any wreck found in or on the shores of the sea or any tidal water or harbour. Canada has a Receiver of Wreck, authorized by Part VI of the Canada Shipping Act. The Navigation Protection Program of Transport Canada is responsible for administering this program. History Traditionally, salvage was an important economic source in coastal areas and sometimes exposed the savage and merciless nature of those around the coast. Folklore has it that some coastal dwellers enticed ships to a watery grave by luring them onto the rocks. This was known as Wrecking. So that order could be maintained and local people encouraged to save those in peril and their belongings rather than pillage them, Receivers of Wreck were appointed to keep order and reward those who assisted in a wreck event. Historically, Receivers were given powers which allowed them to "hurt, maim or kill" anyone obstructing them in their duties. Theoretically at least, Receivers of Wreck were permitted to carry weapons with which to defend themselves whilst carrying out their duties up until 1997. The Act of 1995 updates the prior Merchant Shipping Act 1894. The Receiver