The coastal fishing towns, such as Peterhead and Fraserburgh, benefited from the oil boom by supplying maintenance and service industries, but are now suffering from the downturn in the oil industry. Peterhead is a major centre for the United Kingdom's fishing industry while St Fergus is home to a vast gas terminal - nearly half of the UK's gas is pumped ashore here.
Tourism is important to the region, and it holds some spectacular scenery and secluded resorts.