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Thursday 16 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 line tank, lights and some
fish and other sea creatures of groupers like the mero, food and beverages. For
such as turtles, octopus jeanpao and the wowo di bait he uses sardines, squid
squids, conch and many boyo. 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- Fisherman Gregory Wernet 8 o’clock at night or even the adrenaline it brings with
Gregory Wernet is a well- sometimes from 8 at night it but also just sitting there
known fisherman from San- till 5 in the morning. The listening to the sound of the
ta Cruz. His father taught day before they prepare waves and enjoying the
him fishing when he was all their fishing tools such as marvelous view that nature
a small child. Gregory has the Lines, lures, spears, and has to offer is all worth it. q
two sons, Jordan and Jor- load their boat with fishing
danny, which he taught reels, batteries, fill the gaso- 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