Grand Banks of Newfoundland

The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are a series of underwater plateaus located southeast of the island of Newfoundland. These underwater areas sit on the edge of the North American continent and are known for being some of the richest fishing spots in the world. Many types of fish and sea animals live there, including swordfish, haddock, capelin, shellfish, seabirds, and sea mammals.

However, in the late 1900s, too much fishing caused some fish populations, especially Atlantic cod, to drop very low. Because of this, fishing in the Grand Banks was stopped from 1992 until 2024 to help the fish come back. The Grand Banks have always been very important for fishing and for the communities that depend on the sea.

Significance

The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are underwater areas southeast of Newfoundland on the North American continental shelf. These areas are shallow, with depths from 15 to 91 metres.

The meeting of cold Labrador Current and warm Gulf Stream waters brings nutrients to the surface, making the Grand Banks one of the richest fishing areas in the world. It is home to many types of fish, including Atlantic cod, swordfish, haddock, and capelin. The area also has plenty of shellfish, seabirds, and sea mammals.

History

During a time called the Last Glacial Maximum, large glaciers covered the Grand Banks. About 13,000 years ago, the ice melted, leaving the Grand Banks as islands. Rising sea levels about 8,000 years ago then covered these islands.

Fishermen from many places, including France, Portugal, and Spain, began fishing on the Grand Banks after John Cabot discovered them in 1497. The fish from these waters helped early European settlers in eastern Canada and New England.

Later, new fishing technology and disagreements about who could fish where led to too much fishing. This caused many fish, especially cod, to disappear. Because of this, Canada had to close the fishery in 1993 to help the fish populations recover.

Geological research

Canada is doing important studies of the sea and the land under the water near its eastern coast. These studies help Canada claim its rights to the area under international rules.

Scientists have also found places with oil, and some big projects like Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose are being built there. The area can be very tough for work because of the rough sea conditions.

Climate change

The waters near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland are getting warmer over time due to climate change. From 1950 to 2016, the surface water temperatures have gone up by about 0.13 °C every ten years. However, deeper water temperatures have not changed much during this time.

See also: Climate change in Canada

Culture

The Grand Banks have been featured in many stories and books. For example, they appear in Rudyard Kipling’s novel Captains Courageous from 1897 and Sebastian Junger’s non-fiction book The Perfect Storm from 1997. The Banks were also shown in the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October.

Herman Melville wrote about seeing whales and an old shipwreck when he passed through the Banks as a young sailor in his book Redburn: His First Voyage from 1849. Canadian author Farley Mowat also wrote about the Banks in his non-fiction book The Grey Seas Under.

A popular Canadian song called "Something to Sing About" mentions walking on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, even though the Banks are underwater and you can’t actually walk there.