Balleneros vascos en Brasil

Whaling in Brazil is one of the least known episode s of the Basque whalers’ former activities, overshadowed by their big undertakings in Terranova , much more significant historically. In 1602 a royal warrant given by King Philip III granted fish ing rights in Brazilian waters for a period of ten years to two shipowners from Bilbao. Basque whalers carri ed their activity at Todos os Santos Bay in Bahia, setting up their factory in the north of Itaparica Island, at a port therefore known by the name of Pu nta de Biscaya. Before the grant expiration, from 1609 onwards, the whalers’ activity became hindered by the seizure of one of their ships, involved in a sm uggling case, as well as by a lawsuit with the Portuguese colonists, which claimed their fishing r ights in the area. Thus, Basque whalers brought thi s activity to Brazil and in so doing they set in moti on an industrial activity which with time extended to a great deal of the Brazilian coast. Traditional fish ing lasted in Itaparica for three centuries, until well into the 20 th century