Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Ocean bank in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are an underwater plateau off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Atlantic Ocean. The plateaus sit at depths ranging from 50 to 300 feet and cover broad areas of the continental shelf.
John Cabot charted these waters in 1498 during his voyage for the English Crown. Over the following centuries the area was worked by fishing fleets from across Europe.
The fishing industry on the Grand Banks shaped maritime traditions across generations of Canadian coastal communities until the 1992 cod moratorium.
The meeting of cold and warm ocean currents often produces dense fog. Boats and ships must navigate here with extra care.
The water is especially rich in nutrients and attracts a wide variety of fish. Cod, haddock, and flatfish share this habitat with shellfish and crustaceans.
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