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Thursday 12 OcTOber 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-
ate fishermen on the island The Arubans were mainly
that go out every day in engaged in coastal fishing,
search for fish to feed their using rowing-boats or small
families and serve our local sailing-boats, and lines or
market. One of these fisher- dragnets and canisters in
man is Gregory Wernet. shallow water. When fish-
ing with deep-sea lines just
The so-called Continen- over the bottom of the sea
tal Bank between Aruba the boat is kept in place by
and the opposite coast means of a piece of rock
reaches a depth of about serving as an anchor. The
650 feet. The sea is very rich two most important species
in fish here. Since the time of fish by far caught in this
of the indigenous native manner are the pargo or
people fish and other sea red snappers and a variety
creatures such as turtles, of groupers like the mero,
octopus squids, conch and jeanpao and the wowo di market to local restaurants. jack. They usually fish for
many type of crustaceans boyo. 15 hours a day, but now The fish they catch they
have formed a means of Fisherman Gregory Wernet due to the covid-19 mea- take home to their families
subsistence for the native Cruising off the coast the Gregory Wernet is a well- surements they go fishing and they also sell it to their
Aruban inhabitants. Espe- Aruban fisherman patient- known fisherman from San- from 5 in the morning until clients. Gregory is proud to
cially along the west coast ly waits for a fish willing to ta Cruz. His father taught 8 o’clock at night or even be a fisherman. It is a hon-
of the island where the fish- snap at the bait on the him fishing when he was sometimes from 8 at night est and humble job but
ing grounds are settlements drag-line, in nets and traps. a small child. Gregory has till 5 in the morning. The with it he is able to feed
of fishermen. Until the ar- Veritable giants are some- two sons, Jordan and Jor- day before they prepare his family even during hard
rival of the oil -industry Aru- times caught. Barracudas danny, which he taught all their fishing tools such as times. It is a very dangerous
ban fishermen could supply weigh from 9 to 44 pounds fishing too, when they were the Lines, lures, spears, and job and you have to spend
Aruba’s wants. and measure from 3 to al- only 3 years old and he load their boat with fishing many hours on the sea,
most 7 feet. The king-fish takes them fishing with him. reels, batteries, fill the gaso- waiting patiently and risk-
As a source of income, how- has a weight from 22 to 44 Fishing has been a fam- line tank, lights and some ing your life while fighting a
ever, fishing did not amount pounds; the moclat may ily tradition for quite a long food and beverages. For big fish and big waves but
too much. In the beginning tip the scales at 155, whilst time and even his grand- bait he uses sardines, squid the adrenaline it brings with
of the 1900’s approximately garfish, having a length of son Willvion of 7 years old and the small fish known it but also just sitting there
160 people earn their living nine feet, weigh over 132 is following his grandfather in Aruba as piskechi. The listening to the sound of the
in this branch of this indus- pounds. steps. This is the sixth gen- have two boats they use waves and enjoying the
try. Rancho, which stands eration of fishermen in their for fishing. ‘Virgen del Val- marvelous view that nature
for a shed, nowadays east Most fish caught is used family. le’ which is parked at the has to offer is all worth it.q
Oranjestad, was the head for their own consumption, They go deep sea fishing. pier by the Seaport and
quarter and remains the to feed their families and There they catch red snap- ‘Padrot’ which they have Source: Etnia Nativa
fishermen’s settlement. Sa- some are being sold in the per, grouper and amber- at home.