Page 9 - AHATA

Thursday 9 February 2023 locAl
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History of fishing in Aruba

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