Fossil Collecting Codes of Conduct on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site - practical management connecting fossil collectors, land owners / managers, researchers and museums with the needs of the Site

Fossil collecting along parts of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is managed via codes of conduct. This paper provides an outline of their terms, an account of how they operate in practice, and a discussion on how best to manage such a popular open access site of great paleontological importance. Both codes operate on rapidly eroding coastlines; such conditions require and support open collecting but subject to a degree of control afforded by the codes. They function as a series of practical considerations, recognizing the value gained by the recovery of fossils prior to damage by natural processes. Adherence to the codes and participation in the recording schemes is a condition of the transfer of ownership. The recording schemes provide a local record of scientifically important fossils and establish a mechanism for requesting access to specimens and a point of reference regarding potential acquisitions. The sustained recording of scientifically important fossils shows that the codes remain effective. The authors conclude that, taking account of all the circumstances specific to this Site, and subject to amendments that may be agreed occasionally, the codes provide the best practical means to manage this important but vulnerable paleontological resource.