All activities related to palaeontology in the Province of New Brunswick are administered by the New Brunswick Museum (NBM), whose Board of Directors reports to the Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. The NBM plays a central role in all aspects of palaeontological research province-wide. In addition to maintaining fossil collections and extensive palaeontological data, the NBM issues permits for field research to qualified professionals, as well as interested amateurs. For more information on the New Brunswick Museum, click here.
New Brunswick has a rich natural heritage preserved in its geological formations. Fossil remains can be found throughout the Province and provide detailed information about the plants and animals that inhabited this area millions of years ago.
The importance of our palaeontological record is officially recognized in the Heritage Conservation Act. Formally asserting provincial ownership of all palaeontological objects, it stipulates that any fossils discovered in the Province must not be destroyed or removed from sites where they are found, without the required permit.
Any activity carried out for the purpose of obtaining and documenting data on fossils, including excavation and/or removal, is defined by the Act as palaeontological field research. Exacting standards must be met under any permit authorizing such research in regard to observation, collection, preservation and recording techniques.