The Vega Archipelago was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004. The islands gained this status mostly because of the unique interaction between the eider duck and the island population during the nesting season. To this day the locals protect the nesting birds against all dangers and in return get the precious eider down as a trading commodity when the birds leave their nests. The eider harvesting has been an important industry run by women and the inscription on the World Heritage list can also be interpreted as a tribute to their efforts