The History of Fishing in Peterhead, Scotland
The largest town in the Scottish county of Aberdeenshire is Peterhead. The is the most eastern region located in the country, and is the home to the largest port and the largest exporter of white fish in all of Europe. Peterhead hotels, restaurants and the people of the town have relied on the sea and have been deeply connected to it throughout the town’s history. Compared to the other villages and towns in Scotland, the history of Peterhead is relatively shorter than the others.
The town was settled by George Keith. During 1587, he was the fifth Earl Marischal of the country. This town started out as a very small fishing village on the island of Keith Insch. This was a perfect place for the industry of fishing, and was one of the reasons for the quick success of the town. In less than 100 years, the small town had grown and supported one of the largest and busiest ports on the coastlines of Scotland. The industry as changed throughout the years, adjusting to the times and the markets.
Various focuses have included sealing, whaling, herring fishing and in modern times the off and onshore oil rigs. The Arbuthnot Museum in Peterhead is located on Saint Peter Street, and this is a great place to investigate the history of the town and the citizens, including a large collection of artifacts and relics of the Inuit People.
These were collected over the years by Adam Arbuthnot during the days when the whaling industry was the major economic support for the town. Lovers of history and maritime lore is found in the quirky boat shaped building on South Road. Located in the ship-building is the Peterhead Maritime Museum. This documents the history and the changes in the fishing industry before the stocks went into decline. Located nearby is a wonderful restaurant called the Ugie Salmon Fish House, where diners feast on the delicacies of the sea.
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