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Thursday 1 december 2022 locAl
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History of fishing in Aruba

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