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Thursday 23 February 2023 locAl
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History of fishing in Aruba

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