Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Overseas Collectivity of ‌France

Motto
A Mare Labor

Anthem
La Marseillaise

Military occupation:
British North America (1778-1816)

Capital

Saint-Pierre

Status

Overseas Collectivity

President of France

- From 2007

Nicolas Sarkozy

Prefect

- From 2009

Jean-Régis Borius

History

- February 10, 1763

Established

- October 27, 1946

Overseas territory

- July 17, 1976

Overseas department

- June 11, 1985

Territorial collectivity

- March 28, 2003

Overseas collectivity

Area

242 km²

Population

- 2009

7,063

Density

29.1/km²

Currency

Euro

New France

v

The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is an overseas collectivity of France, located in North America.

Background

First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions.^[1]

Economy

The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. France heavily subsidizes the islands to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.^[2]