Inappropriate fossil or specimen collecting is a potential threat to the World Heritage Site but due to the high natural rates of erosion in certain places, collecting effort is also essential in order to recover specimens that would otherwise be lost to erosion.

Coastal cliffs that erode slowly are sensitive and inappropriate specimen collection can cause unsightly damage. Scientists have taken core rock samples from many sections of coast in order to study the magnetic orientation of metals trapped in the rocks as this can help to identify their relative age. But many of these sample holes can still be seen today, years after the samples were collected. The Geologists' Association have published a best practice guide on coring. The issue relates to the aesthetics of the Site as they have not caused a loss of quality of the scientific interest.

Along active and rapidly eroding coastlines the issues are quite different. The West Dorset coast between Burton Bradstock and Lyme Regis is one of the most famous fossil sites in the world. People have collected fossils here for over 200 years, and yet discoveries new to science continue to be made each year. Many thousands of people enjoy the coastline and gain hands on experience of collecting. Good advice is provided by the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. The coast is eroding rapidly and therefore responsible collecting is a sustainable activity. Black Ven is the site of the largest coastal landslide in Europe, which took place in the winter of 1958/9, but landslides, large and small continue every year and winter storms reveal the fossils. As a result it is essential that people actively collect on a day to day basis, especially during and after these winter storms. Academics and researchers are seldom available at such times but local people are. Since the days of Mary Anning (1799-1847), people have made a living from collecting and selling fossils. Local professional and amateur collectors have the skill, motivation and time to rescue the fossils, some of great scientific importance that would otherwise be destroyed by the sea.

However, there are concerns about digging along certain fossil rich horizons, and as to the destination of key scientifically important fossils. In 1999 a code was developed by The Jurassic Coast Project (Dorset County Council), English Nature, the National Trust and others in order to address these issues.