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Thursday 2 March 2023 locAl
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History of fishing in Aruba

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