By Associated Press

December 22, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- France and Florida have signed a "declaration of intent" to preserve, protect and research a 16th century shipwreck off the state's coast.

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and Consul General of France in Miami Clement Leclerc announced the agreement Friday to protect what remains of La Trinite, which sank off the coast of Cape Canaveral during a 1565 hurricane.

The Trinite was the flagship of a fleet captained by Jean Ribault that was part of a conflict with Spain as the nations fought to colonize Florida.

Items from the ship were discovered in 2016 by a marine salvage company and led to a court battle over the rights to them. A judge ruled the artifacts were the property of France.

The agreement calls for artifacts removed from the site to be put on public display in Florida