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Once a week, I make a recap of the most relevant and recent Aruba news updates in English. If this is your first time reading my newsletters, welcome!

Aruba News Updates

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Local Fishermen Concerned About Their Future

The department of environment protection wants to introduce a law, which is a list of prohibited fish species that local fishermen aren’t allowed to catch, but the fishermen don’t agree with it!

After a meeting in the parliament the minister of environment protection promised the local fishermen that the law won’t be accepted by the government.  

The local fishermen don’t trust the verbal agreement  by the minister, so they took matters into their own hands by starting a signature campaign seeking support from the Aruban community to stop this law from being implemented.

According to the local fishermen, the list of prohibited fishes is controversial, because it contains species of fish which they sell to the local community in order to make a living. The list also includes a fish called “buni” which they use as bait, which means they practically can’t fish anymore, because they don’t have the “right bait”.

They are demanding a clarification by the department of environment protection why fish species, such as “buni” and many others appear on the list, while they are far from being extinct, according to them.

The president of the local fishing organization explained the concerns they have towards this new law during a press conference and invited everyone who loves fishing to attend a general meeting on October 10, 2017 at piedra plat entertainment center to discuss the current situation.

“We are all surprised by the introduction of the new law by the department of environment protection, without consulting us. They don’t realize what type of impact this decision will have on our economy and  social life” said the president of the local fishing foundation during the press conference.

Although the law hasn’t been officially implemented yet, they already feel the effect of it by local authorities like the coastguard.

The goal of the signature campaign is to support a letter of appeal to the government regarding the new law by the department of environment protection.

Do you like to fish?

If so, join the Bucuti Yacht Club for their annual bill fish tournament.

The tournament will be held on 13, 14, 15 October 2017 at BYC.

For more information and rules about the bill fishing tournament call them at +2975823793.



Aruba Airlines Announces New Flights

Aruba Airlines announced their new flights to Curacao and Bonaire.

Starting on October 23, 2017 with 2 flights everyday. There will be one additional flight on Tuesday and Thursday.

Aruba airline invested into a new airplane, a model Q300 (DH8-300) with a capacity of 50 people, to fly between the ABC islands.  

The exterior of the airplane, has the same design as their Airbus A320, which is completely wrapped in the Aruban flag!

If you want to visit Bonaire or Curacao after enjoying Aruba, call the Aruba Airlines office for more information at +2975838300.

Want to rent a car in Aruba? Ask me for a car rental request!

Planting Mangroves Seeds

Aruba’s national park started a camp called “Arikok Junior Ranger Camp” to teach kids how to protect and conserve the flora and fauna in Aruba.

They kicked off the camp with a project called “plantacion di mangel”, which means planting mangroves in English.

The governor of Aruba joined the junior rangers as a surprise guest and helped them plant mangrove seeds all over the area of Spaans lagoon.

During the first day of the project they managed to plant 36 mangrove seeds, that will grow into big and beautiful green mangrove trees in the future.

Prinses Beatrix visited Spaans lagoon a few months ago to officially transfer the area of under the protection of Arikok.

Spaans lagoon is a nature area in Aruba that has a high percentage of biodiversity, because of the various types of flora and fauna. It’s 1 of the 16 nature areas that is officially under the protection of Arikok, the other 15 nature areas still have to be officially transferred to Arikok by the government.

Aruba news updates

The Governor and park rangers planting mangrove seeds.

Beautiful & Clean Beaches

Over 800 volunteers cleaned up the beach shores, during the Aruba Reef Care Project.

The reef care project is an annual event, which locals and visitors volunteer to clean up the beaches in Aruba.

Different organizations and companies gathered up their staff and gave Aruba‘s nature a helping hand.

Volunteers cleaned the beaches from Arashi, Malmok, Eagle Beach, Palm Beach,Mangel Halto, Baby Beach and the beaches on the southern coast of the island.

A lot of garbage, especially plastic packaging from different products were removed from the beaches, which would of ended up in the water, forming a danger to the fishes and other animals in the sea.

The reef care project ended with a celebratory event and every volunteer received a certificate by Aruba Reef Care Foundation.

Aruba news updates

Volunteers cleaning up the beach.

New Series of Post Stamps

The local post office announced a new series of post stamps titled “paisahenan di Aruba”, which means stories of Aruba.

There are a total of 8 post stamps in this series and they are beautiful.

All the post stamps have been designed by local artist Rogelio Montero.

Take a look at the post stamps and what they represent…

Aruba news updates

New series of post stamps are beautiful!

65 cents – Red Anchor in Sero Colorado

This post stamp represents the red anchor and beautiful beaches in Sero Colorado. According to locals it symbolizes the island’s heritage being anchored.

The red anchor is a part of Aruba’s history and is a must see landmark for visitors and locals alike.

90 cents – The Iguana

This post stamp represents one of Aruba’s native animals, iguana, also known as “yuwanna”.

In the background, you can see a mountain, called hooiberg, which is also a popular landmark on the island. Hooiberg is over 541 feet high.

100 cents – Casibari Rock Formation

This post stamp shows one of Aruba’s natural wonders, Casibari. It’s a formation of huge boulders, surrounded by flora and fauna.

Casibari is one of Aruba’s natural wonders, because no one exactly knows how such a formation came about on a dessert like and fairly flat island.

130 cents – M.S. Antilla Shipwreck

This post stamp has one of the most memorable shipwrecks on the island, the M.S. Antilla.

The ship crashed decades ago near Malmok, and was never removed.

During the years the ship got covered with corals and surrounded by different types of tropical fishes, making it one of the popular spots to snorkel and dive on the island.

200 cents – Hushidibana

This post stamp represents the panoramic view of the area known as Hushidibana.

Take a closer look to notice the cactuses, a prikichi (native bird) and the california lighthouse in the background.

220 cents – Piscado

This post stamp represents a piscado, (which means fishermen in English), as he prepares to go fishing early in the morning.

300 cents  – Art of Fishing

This post stamp shows a fisherman throwing his net into the water, which is a old tradition here on the island by fishermen.

320 cents

This stamp shows a child enjoying a sunset from above while sitting on Hooiberg.

Every sunset on the island is different and beautiful.

All stamps are for sale at the post office in Oranjestad, San Nicolas and St.Cruz.




We Love Food Truck Festival

Next month food lovers can enjoy delicious mix baskets and sandwiches during “we love food truck festival”.

The food truck festival is a new addition to the Love Festival which is taking place on 3, 4 and 5 November 2017.

All food trucks on the island will be stationed on “music boulevard” which is close to the venue “harbor arena” where the love festival will take place.

You can taste different type of platters from Aruba, Mexico, Italy and Netherlands.

Entrance to the food truck festival is free, as well as for love festival goers and the general public.

Want more articles? Read Must Have Beach Items in Aruba




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