Did the cod fishery start fur trade?

The cod fishery and fur trade were two separate, but related, industries in North America. Fishing for cod was driven by the demand in Europe for Atlantic cod , which was dried, salted, and shipped across the Atlantic. This industry led to the establishment of fishing communities along the coast of Newfoundland, Canada where Portuguese , French, Spanish and English fleets gathered during the summer to catch the migratory cod. Cod fishing began as early as the 1500s when Portuguese and Spanish fisherman first sailed to the Grand Banks. This industry eventually grew into a major economic driver for the region, and supported the growth of other industries, such as shipbuilding.

Meanwhile, the North American fur trade, primarily involving beaver pelts for making hats, arose with the arrival of Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries. French and British traders established networks of trading posts in the interior of North America to exchange goods with indigenous communities. French traders played a significant role, starting in the 1530s and building a vast fur trade empire in the interior of the continent. Unlike cod fishing, the fur trade was not tied to a specific location and moved westward as new sources of fur were found.

So, while the cod fishery and the fur trade were both important economic activities in North America, they did not directly cause or start one another.