Harbour Authority

'Bay de Verds is a wild fishing cove, open to the sea, very small and dangerous.' This statement very aptly described the harbour at Bay de Verde. Also referred to as Foreside, it was not much of a safe haven for its fishermen. Strong and devastating southerly and south-west winds often destroyed large and small vessels as well as fishing premises.

In 1945, after constant requests by residents, the Newfoundland Commission of Government finally allocated $220,000 for construction of a 500 foot long breakwater to extend north-west from Emberley’s Point. The announcement was made on April 18, 1945 and construction began in mid-June with the breakwater being completed in mid-January of 1946. However, just a week later, a severe storm did immense damage, cutting a large gap in the structure and carrying away much of the heavy stone. Repairs were made in the spring but the unrelenting seas caused more gaps to appear shortly afterwards.

In 1951, the federal Government of Canada provided funding for repair and reconstruction. Later in 1958, it was raised to its present height and substantially widened. In 1965, a 120 foot long by 30 foot wide seaward cribbing as well as a concrete wing-wall was constructed at the end of the breakwater. Later in 1978, large armour stone were placed outside this cribbing. In 1989, another 100 foot extension was put onto this cribbing and filled with rock and concrete. The last cribbing was placed there in 1999, finally making the harbour significantly safer.