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local Tuesday 25 July 2023
History of fishing in Aruba

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