oderin island is an island in the province of newfoundland and labrador in western placentia bay, located about 30 km northeast of marystown. oderin was originally settled by the french who considered it an important fishing post and had fortified it against the english. the name was originally audierne, named after a town in france. in 1712, the french authorities in placentia ordered all the buildings and fishing premises to be burned or destroyed, in part to deny to english the use of the site but also as retribution against the local french merchant lafosse who had deserted to and collaborated with the english. this did not happen, however, as english captain tavener's second report indicates that lafosse's abandoned wife was still present in may 1718 and running a prosperous operation.