A UK Member of Parliament is urging the government to revise export controls to classify significant fossils as national treasures, following the sale of a major collection to an Abu Dhabi museum. The call aims to prevent the loss of natural heritage.
The debate highlights a potential gap in the UK's heritage protection laws, risking the permanent loss of scientifically valuable fossils that could inform our understanding of natural history and geology.
A Member of Parliament is urging the UK government to reclassify significant fossils as national treasures, a move that would allow for export controls similar to those applied to art and other cultural artifacts. This call follows the sale of a substantial collection of Jurassic Coast fossils, amassed by private collector Chris Moore, to the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi for an undisclosed eight-figure sum.
Edward Morello, the Liberal Democrat MP for West Dorset, has written to the minister for museums, heritage, and gambling, expressing concern that the UK's current cultural goods export controls do not encompass fossils, as they are not considered 'made' items. This loophole means that important and rare fossils can be sold overseas without requiring an export license, potentially leading to the loss of significant natural heritage.
Senior figures at Lyme Regis Museum, located near the fossil-rich Dorset coast, have voiced disappointment, stating they were not informed of the sale and were not given an opportunity to acquire the collection, which they considered to be of exceptional scientific value. They argue that fossils of national significance should be subject to the Waverley criteria, which can impose temporary export bars to allow UK institutions time to raise funds.
Morello has specifically asked the government whether it will explore options to delay or suspend the export of this particular collection, providing UK museums a final chance to submit an acquisition proposal. He emphasized that natural history is as crucial as cultural history for national preservation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on the matter.