Good Berry Clifford found his boat before the seal infestation.
Barry Clifford discovered the wreck of the treasure laden "WHYDAH" in July 1984, just north of Marconi Beach, Wellfleet Mass. (Cape Cod)
So Barry had plenty of time to retrieve the treasure and artifacts and start a Pirate Museum on Cape Cod, since the white shark infestation in that area didn't start until about 1984.
I'll bet many Freepers have visited that Pirate Museum. -Tom