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local Tuesday 4 april 2023
History of fishing in Aruba

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

As a source of income,
however, fishing did not
amount too much. In the
beginning of the 1900’s
approximately 160 peo-
ple earn their living in this
branch of this industry.
Rancho, which stands for
a shed, nowadays east
Oranjestad, was the head
quarter and remains the
fishermen’s settlement. Sa-