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Tuesday 28 March 2023 LOCAL
A10

History of fishing in Aruba

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

Source: Etnia Nativa