Page 10 - aruba-today-20230512

Friday 12 May 2023 locAl
A10

History of fishing in Aruba

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