A Long and Proud History

Shetland’s fishing history spans a period of more than 6,000 years, since the islands were first settled. Throughout most of that period – and until relatively recently – fish were caught by hand, either from the shore or from small open boats propelled by oars or sails. It was only in the last 150 years or so that these traditional fishing methods started to be replaced, ushering in an era of apparently ever more rapid technological development. In the space of only six generations or so these developments propelled local fishermen from small open boats to the decks of the sophisticated fishing vessels that make up the modern Shetland fishing fleet.