The Government of Aruba has initiated an exploratory study on the Aruba fishermen disappearances at sea, as part of its plan to strengthen prevention and emergency response capabilities in such cases. This study is being conducted by the Investigative Council for Safety (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid) at the official request of the Government.
This initiative is part of a broader government effort to identify potential risks and prevent similar situations in the future, while also strengthening rescue mechanisms should such an incident occur.
In this context, Prime Minister Mike Eman, together with Minister of Tourism, Transport, and Labor Wendrick Cicilia, advanced the process after a meeting with Secretary General Robert Candelaria at the end of September in the Netherlands.
In addition to focusing on sea safety, Minister Cicilia also emphasized preventive measures such as the implementation of Fishing Aggregating Devices (FADs). “At the end of the week, two FADs were placed in the sea,” said the minister. These structures are installed to attract fish, allowing fishermen to fish closer to the shore and within Aruba’s territorial waters. This reduces the need to travel long distances or enter foreign waters, consequently reducing risk and contributing to safer fishing practices.
The Investigative Council will evaluate whether it is feasible to conduct a more extensive investigation into the structural safety risks related to these Aruba fishermen disappearances. The goal of such an investigation would be to identify patterns, draw lessons, and improve safety for the future.
During the exploratory phase, dialogues will be held with various organizations and relevant individuals in Aruba, including representatives from the fishing sector and agencies involved in search and rescue operations. Special attention will be given to the profound impact that these Aruba fishermen disappearances have on families and the community.
According to Chris van Dam, President of the Investigative Council:
“We want to understand what happened, what information is available, and which safety questions are most relevant. For this reason, we are starting with an exploratory study as a fact-finding mission. Based on the results, we will assess whether and how we can proceed with a more extensive investigation. The aim of the investigative council is to learn. We want to contribute to improving safety. We are not investigating to assign blame.”
With the initiation of this study, the investigative powers established by the Kingdom law for the investigative council will be applied, allowing independent investigation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
After completing the exploratory phase, the investigative council will communicate its conclusions and decide whether to proceed with a more extensive investigation.
