Fishing Tradition Shetland, the most northerly group of islands in the UK, has a rich maritime heritage. Its pivotal location between Scandinavia, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scotland, and the last landfall before North America, has attracted many seafaring visitors to its shores. The most significant influences - which left a lasting heritage that the islands still proudly celebrate - come from the Vikings and a time of Norse rule. In more recent years, the islands' ports have hosted many European traders and fishing fleets, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries when Shetland dominated herring fisheries in Europe. Today, pelagic fishing remains a vital part of the Shetland economy.