"Ship Wrecking" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Wrecking in The Bahamas: A Foundation of Maritime History
Wrecking, the historical practice of salvaging property and cargo from shipwrecks, is inextricably linked to the economic and cultural identity of The Bahamas. Situated along one of the world’s most dangerous yet essential trade routes, the Bahamian archipelago served as both a treacherous barrier and a lucrative resource for centuries. Far from being a mere footnote, the wrecking industry became a cornerstone of the colonial economy, shaping settlement patterns, generating wealth, and forcing the implementation of laws that sought to regulate a practice rooted in chaos and maritime misfortune.
