Page 6 - AHATA

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LOCAL Thursday 7 sepTember 2023

History of fishing in Aruba

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