The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is also authorized to establish a professional staff for the purpose of conducting and/or supervising the surveillance, protection, preservation, survey and systematic underwater archaeological recovery of underwater materials as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 121-22 hereof. (1967, c. 533, s. 3; 1973, c. 476, s. 48; 2015-241, s. 14.30(s).)