Coming Together or Going It Alone:

In 1992 the Canadian government announced a moratorium on cod fishing in the Atlantic Maritime provinces, resulting in an upheaval of ways that were centered on the cod fishery for centuries. This research examines the social, economic and political history of two clusters of communities caught up in the crisis on coastal Labrador and on the island of Newfoundland\'s Avalon Peninsula, and how they managed to adapt. This study focuses on the interrelatedness of social capital- in particular the characteristics of local social structures and civic culture - and how they impact community socioeconomic well-being. Data from participant observation and over 100 in-depth interviews with local leaders, fishers and citizens are supplemented with quantitative information from census, community and government records. The results show that when adjacent communities band together, the likelihood of accomplishing substantial development initiatives is much higher than if individual locales work separately. This account offers insight for those interested in community economic development, regionalization, and how resource-dependent areas handle significant environmental and economic change.