Expansion of the Newfoundland Fishery

Timeline

1. 1550–1555Grand Banks · Atlantic offshoreIn the early 1550s, the number of European fishing vessels heading to Newfoundland and the Grand Banks continued to grow. Basque and Portuguese fishermen still held a substantial share, while English and French fleets also increased significantly, creating a multi-national pattern of seasonal fishing competition.
2. 1553–1558South coast of Newfoundland · Newfoundland and LabradorFishermen of various nations established temporary drying flakes and cutting tables on Newfoundland's south coast, processing cod into dry fish suitable for long-distance transport; French and Spanish fleets relied more on shipboard salting. Output rose in the mid-to-late 1550s, driving expansion of the transatlantic fish trade.
3. 1556–1559East coast of Newfoundland and the Avalon Peninsula · Newfoundland and LabradorAs competition among fishing seasons intensified, fishermen of various nations vied for the best drying shorelines and freshwater sources, with occasional conflicts. The English and French governments began more explicitly framing the Newfoundland fishery within national maritime interest discourse, laying groundwork for England's 1583 claim of sovereignty over Newfoundland and 17th-century colonial competition.