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local Friday 17 March 2023
History of fishing in Aruba

ORANJESTAD — Fishing creatures such as turtles,
has been a family tradition octopus squids, conch and
for ages in Aruba. Our many type of crustaceans
ancestors used to fish have formed a means
for a living. Even though of subsistence for the
nowadays you don’t see native Aruban inhabitants.
them often we still have Especially along the west
some passionate fishermen coast of the island where
on the island that go out the fishing grounds are
every day in search for fish settlements of fishermen.
to feed their families and Until the arrival of the oil
serve our local market. -industry Aruban fishermen
One of these fisherman is could supply Aruba’s
Gregory Wernet. wants.

The so-called Continental As a source of income,
Bank between Aruba however, fishing did not
and the opposite coast amount too much. In the
reaches a depth of about beginning of the 1900’s
650 feet. The sea is very rich approximately 160 people
in fish here. Since the time earn their living in this a shed, nowadays east market to local restaurants. lures, spears, and load
of the indigenous native branch of this industry. Oranjestad, was the head Fisherman Gregory Wernet their boat with fishing reels,
people fish and other sea Rancho, which stands for quarter and remains the Gregory Wernet is a well- batteries, fill the gasoline
fishermen’s settlement. known fisherman from tank, lights and some food
Savaneta, Noord, Santa Cruz. His father and beverages. For bait he
Santa Cruz all had their taught him fishing when he uses sardines, squid and the
fishermen’s villages. At a was a small child. Gregory small fish known in Aruba
rough estimate there were has two sons, Jordan and as piskechi. The have two
about a hundred small Jordanny, which he taught boats they use for fishing.
fishing boats during that fishing too, when they were ‘Virgen del Valle’ which
time. only 3 years old and he is parked at the pier by
takes them fishing with him. the Seaport and ‘Padrot’
The Arubans were mainly Fishing has been a family which they have at home.
engaged in coastal fishing, tradition for quite a long The fish they catch they
using rowing-boats or small time and even his grandson take home to their families
sailing-boats, and lines or Willvion of 7 years old is and they also sell it to their
dragnets and canisters in following his grandfather clients. Gregory is proud to
shallow water. When fishing steps. This is the sixth be a fisherman. It is a honest
with deep-sea lines just generation of fishermen in and humble job but with it
over the bottom of the sea their family. he is able to feed his family
the boat is kept in place by even during hard times. It is
means of a piece of rock They go deep sea fishing. a very dangerous job and
serving as an anchor. The There they catch red you have to spend many
two most important species snapper, grouper and hours on the sea, waiting
of fish by far caught in this amberjack. They usually patiently and risking your
manner are the pargo or fish for 15 hours a day, but life while fighting a big fish
red snappers and a variety now due to the covid-19 and big waves but the
of groupers like the mero, measurements they adrenaline it brings with it
jeanpao and the wowo di go fishing from 5 in the but also just sitting there
boyo. morning until 8 o’clock at listening to the sound of the
night or even sometimes waves and enjoying the
Cruising off the coast from 8 at night till 5 in the marvelous view that nature
the Aruban fisherman morning. The day before has to offer is all worth it.
patiently waits for a fish they prepare all their fishing
willing to snap at the bait tools such as the Lines, Source: Etnia Nativa
on the drag-line, in nets
and traps. Veritable giants
are sometimes caught.
Barracudas weigh from 9
to 44 pounds and measure
from 3 to almost 7 feet.
The king-fish has a weight
from 22 to 44 pounds; the
moclat may tip the scales
at 155, whilst garfish, having
a length of nine feet, weigh
over 132 pounds.

Most fish caught is used
for their own consumption,
to feed their families and
some are being sold in the