Subsistence Whaling and the Norse Diaspora: Norsemen, Basques, and Whale Use in the Western North Atlantic, CA. AD 900–1640

Between the 16th and early 17th centuries, Basque whalers established a network of whaling stations along the Strait of Belle Isle, with Red Bay as their primary hub. They harvested an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 whales, primarily right and bowhead species, capitalizing on the abundant marine resources brought by the cold Labrador Current. This subsistence whaling venture marked one of North America's earliest large-scale entrepreneurial efforts, blending Norse diaspora influences with Basque maritime traditions. The study reconstructs this historical whaling practice through archaeological evidence and documentary records, revealing its economic significance and ecological impact during a pivotal period in Atlantic history.

Szabo, V. (2012). Subsistence Whaling and the Norse Diaspora: Norsemen, Basques, and Whale Use in the Western North Atlantic, CA. AD 900–1640. Studies in the Medieval Atlantic, 65–99. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137062390_3