Newfoundland - Tourism - Communities

Bay de Verde is a community that offers a unique combinationof attractions to the tourist. Bay de Verde has some of themost striking scenery in the province, a long and interestinghistory, mainly built on the inshore fishery, and is located aneasy d rive from St. John's, and many other local attractions.

Bay de Verde is located at the top of the Bay de Verdepeninsula that separates Trinity Bay from Conception Bay. It issituated 5 km west of the large and well known sea bird colonieson Baccalieu Island.

The name Bay de Verde is derived from a combination of theEnglish, Portuguese, and French languages. It was so named byJohn Guy, one of Newfoundland's first settlers who visited in1611 and named the community Green Bay, from its appearance insummer.

Bay de Verde soon became very important in the era of theEnglish west country migratory fishery. The struggles betweenthe English and French played an important role when Frenchraiding parties destroyed the community and killed severalinhabitants in 1696 and 1705.

The main source of livelihood for the community comes fromthe fishery. For generations the inshore cod fishery was thebackbone of the community, although now there is a moratorium onthat fishery to allow the stocks to recover. For now the crabfishe ry is the main source of income for the residents.

A major attraction is the proposed bird sanctuary onBaccalieu Island. Many thousands of birds nest on the island andthe sight is truly impressive. In the summer the visitor can Go sailing and take a boat tour of the island and see the sights.

The combination of accessibility, history, and scenic beautyof the area makes Bay de Verde a community that would make amemorable stop during a vacation.