Further Legal Protection for Isle of Skye Dinosaurs

The internationally-recognised fossil bearing strata that dates from the Middle Jurassic on the Isle of Skye has been granted greater legal protection.  Earlier this month, the Scottish Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Mairi Gougeon signed a Nature Conservation Order (NCO), aimed at protecting globally significant vertebrate fossil sites on the Scottish Island.

Many Dinosaur Fossils Including Footprints have been Discovered on the Isle of Skye

Dinosaur footprint.
A dinosaur footprint from the Isle of Skye.

Picture credit: Colin MacFadyen (Scottish National Heritage)

Protecting the Isle of Skye Fossil Sites

The principle aim of the Nature Conservation Order is to prevent rare vertebrate fossils such as dinosaur footprints and bones, along with marine reptiles and fossil evidence of early mammals, being collected and removed by non-authorised parties.  The Nature Conservation Order also aims to encourage local people and the wider public, including the thousands of tourists that visit Skye each year, to take an interest in and report any potentially important fossil discoveries.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.