Conflicting reports have appeared in the recent UK media regarding the legality of collecting shells on British beaches. Many of these refer to the UK Coast Protection Act 1949 (Coast Protection Act 1949 (legislation.gov.uk).
The Society does not regard the responsible collecting of small quantities of shells, for natural history purposes, to be forbidden by the Act. The Act makes no mention of shells, molluscs, or other marine animals.
The Act states that it was introduced to protect the coast from physical erosion and encroachment by the sea, and to protect shipping (navigation). It appears to be primarily concerned with the extraction or excavation of stone, coal and other minerals for industrial or building purposes.
The removal of shells in small numbers, by those interested in learning more about British molluscs, will have only a negligible effect on coastal erosion. Dead shells are regularly thrown up on shores in large numbers by natural processes, and usually rapidly destroyed by wave action.
In the UK, a few species of marine mollusc are legally protected, as are certain places as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). With this proviso, the Society considers the responsible collecting of small quantities of shells for natural history purposes to be a useful and sustainable way to learn about and help protect marine biodiversity. The beauty and interest of shells is widely appreciated, including by children, and is a valuable basis of public support for conservation.