MP Demands Fossil Export Controls After Jurassic Coast Sale
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- Edward Morello, Liberal Democrat MP for West Dorset, called on ministers to change export controls so significant fossils can be classed as national treasures after a major UK collection was sold overseas.
- Chris Moore's private collection of Jurassic Coast fossils, including hundreds of ichthyosaur specimens, was sold to the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi for what one source described as an "eight-figure sum," after first being offered to UK institutions.
- The Natural History Museum in London and Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales) were both offered the collection but declined due to lack of funds, and both were required to sign non-disclosure agreements during the process.
- Lyme Regis Museum was neither informed of the impending sale nor given the opportunity to acquire any specimens, and director Bridget Houseago noted that UK cultural-goods export controls do not cover fossils because natural history items are not "made."
- Houseago and Dr Jonathan Evans, chair of the Lyme Regis Museum trustees, want fossils of exceptional scientific or national significance covered by the Waverley criteria (the benchmarks used to designate a "national treasure") and want a national register of important fossil finds.
- Morello has written to minister Fiona Twycross asking whether the government will explore options to delay or suspend the export to allow accredited UK museums a final opportunity to raise funds and submit an acquisition proposal.
- The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi told the Guardian a large majority of the collection is already on public display; there is no suggestion the sale broke any rules.
Why it matters: Because the Waverley criteria currently exclude natural history items as un-"made," UK museums had no legal mechanism to retain scientifically significant fossils — the sale to Abu Dhabi was entirely legal. If ministers extend those criteria, any future major fossil find could trigger a temporary export bar, giving UK institutions a window to raise funds, but it would not retroactively stop this deal.
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