Page 13 - AHATA

Thursday 17 July 2025 locAl
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The Lionfish

And its threat to our marine wild life

(Oranjestad)—Despite its fish can be up to 100 times to other parts of the Atlantic,
colorful and striking ap- more painful than that of a become more invasive and
pearance, the lionfish has bee’s sting. dangerous for other types
become a Caribbean-wide of fish.
problem for Atlantic sea life. Its natural predators in the
The Aruban marine wild life Indo-Pacific are sharks and For Aruba, the lionfish is a
is also affected by this beau- barracudas, but in the Ca- problem especially for our
tiful dilemma, as it is foreign ribbean Sea, local fish do local coral reefs. According
to our waters and has be- not recognize the lionfish to Patrick van Brakel, lion-
come a danger to our local as part of their diet. In oth- fish expert and hunter from
fish and reefs. er words, the lionfish has no the Hunting Lionfish Aruba
predators in the Caribbean foundation, every reef has
Originating from the Indo- Sea. And this becomes a a “cleaning station”—tiny
Pacific Ocean, the lionfish is major problem for our lo- fish that eat algae and
a relatively small fish. It has cal marine life; if there are other types of waste on a that the fish were too much jewelry making.
no teeth, but it does protect no predators to stimulate reef, thus maintaining the upkeep, they were let out
itself against predators using population control of lion- reef’s health and providing into the ocean to roam free. They are caught with a
its sharp, colorful spikes. It is fish, these fish can continue food to the fish population From continental USA, the hand spear, an object re-
said that the sting of a lion- to reproduce and expand in the area. However, as the lionfish travelled to and in- sembling a garbage picker
lionfish feeds off of these tiny vaded the entire Caribbean with 4 sharp prongs. These
fish, it becomes harder for area, from Aruba, Bonaire spears are used like a sling
the coral reef to maintain and Curacao up to New shot to catch lionfish from
its health. York. In Aruba, lionfish were a distance. These fish are
discovered in 2009. then put into a collecting
Patrick also shares the ori- tube and taken out of the
gins of lionfish in the Carib- Controlling the lionfish popu- water. Van Brakel not only
bean Sea. It is theorized that lation is challenge, as each catches them himself, but
the introduction of these fish female fish can lay up to also cooks them for locals
in the Atlantic happened in 40,000 eggs a day. Luckily, and tourists at The LionFish
Florida, where people would we have people like van Snack Aruba in Paradera.
buy lionfish from across the Brakel who dedicate their This way, he does his part
world to keep in their aquari- lives hunting and capturing in protecting the local wild
ums. However, lionfish grow, these invasive species, using life. q
and as these buyers realized them for consumption and

Place names in San Nicolas and their origins

(Oranjestad)--If you’re ever Vader Piet, the origin of the
taking a tour of Aruba, San name San Nicolas has so
Nicolas would definitely far two different accounts.
be on your itinerary. From In the literal sense, “San
relaxing on the white, san- Nicolas” translates to “Saint
dy beaches of Baby and Nicolas”, leading many to
Roger’s Beach, to explor- believe that this district was
ing the prehistoric caves of named after a Spanish saint.
Quadirikiri and Fontein, you Though one account does
are taking in a full view of support this with the theory
what San Nicolas has to of- that the district was named
fer. But did you know that after the saint by Spanish col-
you are also passing through onizers, the other account is
areas whose names have much less divine, but does
historical origins? Here are refer to an influential figure
a few place names in San in the area.
Nicolas and their origin story.
Nicolaas van der Biest was a
Sero Colorado successful landowner during
On your way to Baby or Rog- phate industry in the area. nizable sites within this area and beloved for his kindness the time of the phosphate
er’s Beach, you’ll pass by the Matter of fact, there are still includes the Wind Mills and and good treatment of his boom in late 19th century
famous Red Anchor at what underground shafts and pas- the Quadirikiri Cave. The ori- employees, and was there- Aruba. Back then, land-
was once the entrance to sages deep in Sero Colorado gin of this name is part his- fore also called Vader Piet owners (most, if not all of
the Colony residential com- from the time of phosphate torical and speculation, as (Father Piet). However, he them men) were referred
munity and be greeted mining. In 1958, the refinery there are slight deviations was tragically murdered— to as “Shon” by their subor-
with red soiled hills by the at the time, Lago, adopted from what actually hap- some speculate at the hands dinates. So, the district was
coast. This is Sero Colorado. this name for the residential pened. of a slave. For his work and originally named after Shon
Named after the 30-meter, section of its employees. good heart, the area was Nicolaas. Over time, the
deep red, limestone hill, In 1829, Pieter Lampe was a named after him. name evolved into what is
“Sero Colorado” translates Vader Piet planter and the person re- now San Nicolas.q
to “Colored Hill”. Sero Colo- Another well visited area, sponsible for governing this San Nicolas
rado has deep historical ties Vader Piet is located in the remote area. As the story Of course we can’t forget Source: “Aruba: Short History”
with the once-thriving phos- Arikok National Park. Recog- goes, Pieter was well known San Nicolas itself. Much like by Dr. J. Hartog.