100 Opheto-participant Kèncho explained to us what kind of object we are dealing with here. “This large hook is a tool that fishermen used to pull large fishes into their boats. The hook is placed through the gill and then pulled on board.”

The waters around Curaçao reach great depths after only a mile. You will find deep-sea fish throughout the year such as barracudas, blue marlin and bonitos. All powerful fish that usually do not let themselves be hoisted on board without a fight.
Historically, Curaçao fishing has been especially important for the poor.

After the abolition of slavery on July 1, 1863, fishing was one of the few alternative forms of employment. Despite this, most former enslaved people were forced to continue working on the plantations, now for minimal pay. Fishing also yielded little. In fact, the great economic inequality after slavery has always persisted. With the advent of the refinery in 1914, prosperity did increase. But it was the affluent and skilled foreign workers who benefited the most.

Still fishing is a meager source of income. Local fishermen are under pressurw from tourism and large foreign trawlers. They still fish in the traditional way. There is no money to invest in modern vessels.