WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The wreck of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor off the North Carolina coast is in good condition but still faces threats, according to a report released last week.

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, which surrounds the shipwreck 16 miles off Cape Hatteras, is threatened by corrosion, strong currents, hurricanes, high water temperatures and highly salty water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"For a shipwreck that is more than 140 years old, the wreck is in pretty good shape," said David Alberg, superintendent of the sanctuary.

The report found that the sanctuary also has become a productive artificial reef. Black sea bass, oyster toadfish and great barracuda live nearby, and corals and sponges are abundant on the ship's iron surfaces. Alberg said the corals and sponges help protect the ship from corrosion.

Discarded fishing gear and ocean debris also pose a danger. While looting has not been a major problem, researchers said the significant amount of diving and boating in the area could cause problems, according to a first-of-its-kind assessment by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Alberg said educating divers and boaters to take care in the area and not remove anything from the wreck is the key to limiting damage.

"The wreck is part of our national heritage, and taking something for someone's personal collection takes away from the whole story being told," he said.

The ship made history on March 9, 1862, during the battle of Hampton Roads against the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia. The battle was indecisive, and six months later, the Monitor sank in a storm. The wreck was discovered in 1973 and designated the first national marine sanctuary in 1975.

The ship's propeller, steam engine and revolving gun turret were recovered by NOAA and the U.S. Navy between 1998 and 2002. The artifacts are on display at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News.