By the 16th century, the aboriginal peoples had been exploiting marine resources for thousands of years for their own subsistence. Then, the Basques arrived to hunt whale and fish cod. Vestiges of the ancient ovens they built have been discovered in various places on the shores of the marine park and on the appropriately named island, Île aux Basques.

In the early 18th century, Basque sea captains introduced the inhabitants to their hunting techniques. By then, local businesses had already begun to hunt seal. The fat of this marine mammal soon became a popular fuel for lighting Québec homes.

Under the French regime, fishing for cod and other species became the principal activity.