Before fossil fuels powered nations, one of the most strategic resources in the Atlantic world was a fish.

Atlantic cod

The cold waters of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland produced vast cod stocks beginning in the 1500s. European fleets crossed the Atlantic specifically to harvest them.

Why cod mattered:

• It was high in protein.

• It could be salted and air-dried.

• It lasted for months without refrigeration.

• It could feed crews on long ocean voyages.

In an age before modern food preservation, durability meant reach.

Salted cod sustained sailors, naval fleets, and expanding trade networks. It supported urban populations and became a cornerstone of Atlantic commerce, especially for New England ports.

Navies cannot operate without reliable calories. Maritime empires cannot expand if their crews starve.

For centuries, Atlantic cod was not just a commodity.

It was maritime infrastructure.