Page 16 - AHATA

Friday 9 June 2023 locAl
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History of fishing in Aruba

ORANJESTAD — Fishing has per, grouper and amber-
been a family tradition for jack. They usually fish for
ages in Aruba. Our ances- 15 hours a day, but now
tors used to fish for a living. due to the covid-19 mea-
Even though nowadays surements they go fishing
you don’t see them often from 5 in the morning until
we still have some passion- 8 o’clock at night or even
ate fishermen on the island sometimes from 8 at night
that go out every day in till 5 in the morning. The
search for fish to feed their day before they prepare
families and serve our local all their fishing tools such as
market. One of these fisher- the Lines, lures, spears, and
man is Gregory Wernet. load their boat with fishing
reels, batteries, fill the gaso-
The so-called Continental line tank, lights and some
Bank between Aruba and food and beverages. For
the opposite coast reaches bait he uses sardines, squid
a depth of about 650 feet. and the small fish known
The sea is very rich in fish in Aruba as piskechi. The
here. Since the time of the have two boats they use
indigenous native people for fishing. ‘Virgen del Valle’
fish and other sea creatures which is parked at the pier
such as turtles, octopus by the Seaport and ‘Pa-
squids, conch and many drot’ which they have at
type of crustaceans have home.
formed a means of subsis- all had their fishermen’s vil- boyo. The fish they catch they
tence for the native Aru- lages. At a rough estimate Cruising off the coast the Fisherman Gregory Wernet take home to their families
ban inhabitants. Especially there were about a hun- Aruban fisherman patient- Gregory Wernet is a well- and they also sell it to their
along the west coast of dred small fishing boats ly waits for a fish willing to known fisherman from San- clients. Gregory is proud to
the island where the fishing during that time. snap at the bait on the ta Cruz. His father taught be a fisherman. It is a hon-
grounds are settlements of The Arubans were mainly drag-line, in nets and traps. him fishing when he was est and humble job but
fishermen. Until the arrival engaged in coastal fishing, Veritable giants are some- a small child. Gregory has with it he is able to feed
of the oil -industry Aruban using rowing-boats or small times caught. Barracudas two sons, Jordan and Jor- his family even during hard
fishermen could supply Aru- sailing-boats, and lines or weigh from 9 to 44 pounds danny, which he taught times. It is a very dangerous
ba’s wants. dragnets and canisters in and measure from 3 to al- fishing too, when they were job and you have to spend
As a source of income, how- shallow water. When fish- most 7 feet. The king-fish only 3 years old and he many hours on the sea,
ever, fishing did not amount ing with deep-sea lines just has a weight from 22 to 44 takes them fishing with him. waiting patiently and risk-
too much. In the beginning over the bottom of the sea pounds; the moclat may Fishing has been a fam- ing your life while fighting a
of the 1900’s approximately the boat is kept in place by tip the scales at 155, whilst ily tradition for quite a long big fish and big waves but
160 people earn their living means of a piece of rock garfish, having a length of time and even his grand- the adrenaline it brings with
in this branch of this indus- serving as an anchor. The nine feet, weigh over 132 son Willvion of 7 years old it but also just sitting there
try. Rancho, which stands two most important species pounds. is following his grandfather listening to the sound of the
for a shed, nowadays east of fish by far caught in this Most fish caught is used steps. This is the sixth gen- waves and enjoying the
Oranjestad, was the head manner are the pargo or for their own consumption, eration of fishermen in their marvelous view that nature
quarter and remains the red snappers and a variety to feed their families and family. has to offer is all worth it.q
fishermen’s settlement. Sa- of groupers like the mero, some are being sold in the They go deep sea fishing.
vaneta, Noord, Santa Cruz jeanpao and the wowo di market to local restaurants. There they catch red snap- Source: Etnia Nativa