Yes, the Catholic Church did observe this fast back before Vatican I. It was called the Black Fast.  Byzantine (Eastern) Catholics still observe this fast

Interestingly, Christopher Columbus mentions this fast in a diary he kept. Sailors tended to become more upset during a fast, due to the hard life at sea, so it was crucial to have salt biscuits, nuts, and other fasting foods to help them survive the Great Lenten fast without dairy, eggs, meat, and fish.  

The Greeks love calamari (squid) because it is not truly a fish and can be eaten during Lent. Sharks are also not fish because they do not have a bony vertebrae.

On special feast days during Great Lent, Nativity Fast, the Apostles Fast (ends on June 29), and the Fast of the Theotokos, (ends on August 15), fish, wine, and oil is allowed. For example, this occurs on the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), on the Feast of St. Nicholas of Myra (Santa Claus) December 6, and the Feast  of the Transfiguration (August 6). Sundays are often days of a reduced fast where wine and oil are allowed.

Here is a yummy recipe using Calamari: This would be appropriate to serve on Sundays during the Fast because of the wine and olive oil).
https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Calamari-with-Potatoes-and-Peas-440805?prm-v1

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 8 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 small yellow onion (minced)
• 1 medium carrot (minced)
• 1 rib celery (minced)
• 3 tablespoons red wine
• 56 ounces whole peeled tomatoes (in juice, crushed)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 pounds russet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1″ chunks)
• 1 pound calamari (cleaned, bodies cut into ¼″-wide rings)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper