Everything Everywhere Daily · Monday, September 14, 2026
Journalist Mark Kurlansky, in his book 'Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World,' proposes that Basque fishermen may have reached North America, specifically Labrador or Newfoundland, in the 10th century, predating Columbus. They discovered the Grand Banks fishery and maintained a monopoly, keeping its location a secret. Evidence supporting this theory includes the establishment of the Basque whaling station in Red Bay, Labrador, in 1530.
“Journalist Mark Kurlansky, in his book Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, proposes that Basque fishermen may have landed in Labrador or Newfoundland years before Columbus arrived in the Americas.”
“They kept the location of their Grand Bank fishery a carefully guarded secret.”
“The establishment of the Basque red bay whaling station in Labrador in 1530 lends credibility to this theory.”