Red Bay Basque Whaling Station

Red Bay Basque whaling station is situated in the northeastern part of Canada on the shores of the Strait of Belle Isle. It is a well-preserved archaeological site of a pre-industrial whaling station. In the 16th century, Red Bay was established by Basque mariners in the northeastern part of Canada, where it is situated right now. In the 1530s, people who founded this site called it Gran Baya, and it was used for hunting whales and then rendering the whale fat by producing oil and storage from them.

After that time, it became the main source of whale oil. This oil was shipped to Europe, and there it was used for lighting fires by the people. This site was used for rendering purposes and contains the generating oven’s remains, a cemetery, a pier, and deposits of whale bones.

For now, the site has become Canada’s newest and most modest UNESCO world heritage site after being added to the list in Cambodia.

Quick Synthesis 

The Red Bay was the maritime base used for hunting and rendering whales for Basque mariners. Red Bay Basque whaling station is one of the best and most accurate examples, which depicts those times’ traditions and culture of hunting and rendering the wales to produce the oil and trade them in parts of Europe. It was transported after production to the country for sale and money.

Everything related to underwater elements and terrestrial materials has been included in the property, which shows all the different indications and phases of whale hunting and rendering methods used in this site.

Many types of research have been performed on this, and some have observed those areas where the hunting and manufacturing process of whale oil had been done, including barrel-making locations. Also, the underwater archaeological sites were identified by the archaeologist and researchers.

Many such treasures were found underwater, and sunken ships were also found over there in areas which also depict the insight into the life of Basque and how they worked over there.

Cultural Heritage

Red Bay Basque whaling stations were added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites list after the meeting during the 37th session. A notation symbolises the fact that this site is an outstanding value of cultural and universal value finance. It has pledged allegiance and commitment to saving Red Bay and its environmental areas related to the merits of whaling in the territory.   

Many artefacts and artistic materials of that time give a slight glimpse of the whaling process. These were instrumental to the growth and development of the whaling industries in such a part of Canada. This is also why Red Bay Basque whaling stations are considered the symbol of the largest and most complete industrial-scale activity in the universal culture of the world.

Protection Requirements

Red Bay is now a historic site in Canada that needs to be protected; therefore, a protection plan has been in place for a long time, and responsibilities have been defined for every member.

Tourist Attractions at Red Bay Basque Whaling Station

• Iceberg and whale-watching sight

• Fishing

• Basque whaling station

• Hiking

• The whale’s restaurant and cuisine 

Before a whaling delivery set sail, information regarding the duties of each proprietor and clothes shop had been finalised. An agreement recognised the events and indexed the responsibilities and powers of the proprietor. This agreement stipulated the duties of the clothes shop concerning team, wages, meals, and equipment. And it laid out the department of merchandise received from the voyage. 

End of Whale Hunting

Due to a need for concrete proof, much instability encompassed the downfall of the Basque whaling in Ruddy Inlet. One calculation contributing to its disappointment was the critical decay in the bowhead and right whale crowds due to over-hunting. As it was 50 a long time ago, over 20,000 whales were slaughtered. This stock consumption affected, in turn, relocation designs. Nowadays, bowhead whales travel in Cold waters and right whales as they were within the Inlet of Fundy and the Inlet of Maine amid summer. Thought ought to be given to the whale chasing performed by inborn groups and assaults on whaling ships by littler, private vessels. In any case, such explanations are theoretical. There’s insufficient proof to offer any unequivocal conclusions about why Basque whaling vanished in Labrador.

Conclusion

The Red Bay Basque shaking station is a fishing site, but it has an interesting history of being illegal as well. Whale hunting was popular at that time of the century, and their oil was traded for profit.