[4] Like the neighboring island of Ojika, Ukujima previously had significant resources of shellfish and seaweeds in the surrounding coasts that were collected by both professional fishers and community residents alike.

[5] During the early period of the Tokugawa shogunate, the two fishing districts, Taira and Kōnoura were under the control of the Fukue domain, along with the rest of the Gotō islands, excluding Ojika.

In 2016, the district self-governing council (地区自治協議会) was established to increase decision-making abilities for island residents on island-specific issues, such as road maintenance.

With the motorization of fishing boats in the early 20th century, fishers from Ukujima and Ojika began to expand their activities into the adjacent areas of China and the Korean peninsula.

Like many other islands, the fishers of Ukujima are organized into groups known as Fisheries Cooperative Associations (FCA), which were the principal beneficiaries of fishery-related financial aid from the federal government.

In 2005, the Remote Island Fishery Aid (RIFA) was established, and 144 fishing-affiliated households on Ukujima signed contracts to promote and improve the health of the surrounding waters, such as removing sea urchins, laying spawning beds for squids, and conducting beach clean-ups.