Saint Pierre and Miquelon
France's last North American territory suffered ecosystem collapse from 1992 cod ban—41% still rely on fishing, 46% GDP from government employment, permanent French subsidy dependence.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon exemplifies ecosystem collapse from resource depletion—France's last North American territory, this 5,100-person archipelago near Newfoundland once thrived servicing Atlantic fishing fleets. The 1992 cod fishing ban triggered economic devastation from which the territory never recovered, illustrating how carrying capacity collapse can strand entire communities. Fishing still provides livelihoods for 41% of the population, making any fluctuation in fish stocks directly impact half the territory. The 2024 halibut dispute with Canada—discussed at the highest levels between Trudeau and Attal during D-Day commemorations—demonstrates ongoing tensions over diminishing marine resources. Government employment now accounts for 46% of GDP, with services comprising 86% of economic activity—classic symptoms of an economy sustained by external transfers rather than productive capacity. Unemployment at 2.9% in 2023 masks the reality of state-supported employment. The French Development Agency has mobilized €20 million since 2018 to support tourism and aquaculture development as alternative economic pillars. The territory exported just $3.4 million to the US in 2024 while importing only $100,000—a trade relationship reflecting its marginal economic significance. This is what happens when an economy's foundational resource disappears: permanent dependence on the metropolitan patron becomes the only survival strategy.