• people excavating fossils are qualified to do the work;
• the excavation is well planned;
• the fossils end up being properly studied and cared for; and
• a report on the work is written and kept in the Museum archive.

This type of requirement is common is most areas with important fossil resources. Laws to regulate fossil collecting have been created to prevent what has often happened in the past - important fossils and information being lost when researchers retire or pass away. Another purpose of the Act is to ensure that important fossils are seen, studied and reported on by those who have the knowledge and training to do so. The Museum will ensure that both the fossils and the knowledge they represent are passed on for future generations.

The Special Places Protection Act also states that anyone exploring for fossils requires a permit. For years the Museum issued "Casual" permits for people picking up a few loose fossils from the beach, but we are now looking at another approach. While we encourage people to pick up beach fossils before they are destroyed by the tides, we want to make sure that the important ones find their way to the Museum and to those most knowledgeable about them. We are actively working on how best to do this - stay tuned.

If you are planning to excavate fossils (by removing them from the bedrock, for example), you need a permit. You may write, fax or e-mail the Museum at this address:

Robert Ogilvie
Corporate Services Division
Nova Scotia Museum
1747 Summer Street
Halifax, NS B3H 3A6

Phone: (902) 424-7344
Fax: (902) 424-0560
E-Mail ogilvirr@gov.ns.ca