Cod Fishing

The once abundance cod in Petty Harbour had now dwindled down in number, resulting in a number of ramifications on fishing within the town. As a result, fishing for cod had significantly declined and became strictly regulated in Petty Harbour. The Canadian government enacted legal action that prohibited fishing for groundfish, such as the cod, in the Grand Banks, Newfoundland waters, and a majority of the Gulf of St. Lawerence. A program called the Sentinel Fishery, the only legal cod fishery in the region, was implemented to allow for collaboration between resident fishermen and government scientists in ensuring and measuring cod stock. Furthermore, a ban allowing only conservative fishing equipment (i.e. old-fashioned handlines and traps) was put into place by fisherman to outlaw more harmful fishing practices since there is not enough space to allowing for such practices to be conducted.

The Basques, who were described as a mysterious group of people, …show more content…
The climate in this region allowed for inshore winter fishing and offshore summer fishing of cod. Such climates and its supported fishing season, positioned New England as for the trading of cod to eager Europe and its colonies. Due to its successful cod trading, New England became not only commercialized, but also independent and affluent. On the other hand, cod would spawn in the summer months in Newfoundland, which ultimately clashed with its farming season. Due its inability to handle the overabundance of cod catches within their fishing season, lack of population and internal trading markets, Newfoundland became a fishing outpost for Boston. Thus, the development of Newfoundland’s stagnant economy became heavily dependent upon Boston as a source of trade for its cod supply, ultimately negatively affecting