Scents of Mediterranean cuisine, fishermen’s stories, educational workshops, music by a DJ, and an important message about protecting the sea, all of this awaits the citizens and visitors of Split at the plastic-free festival “Fishermen and Fishermen’s Tales”, taking place on Thursday, May 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the square in front of Split’s fish market.
The festival is organized by the Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce as part of the Interreg Italy–Croatia project FishNoWaste. The event aims to raise public awareness about sustainable fisheries, reducing marine litter, and preserving the Adriatic’s fishing heritage. Visitors can look forward to a rich programme bringing together fishermen, scientists, chefs, students, entrepreneurs, and sea enthusiasts.
The sea that feeds us needs our care
The festival offers a unique opportunity to meet people who work every day to protect the marine environment. Among the exhibitors will be representatives of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries Split, the Friška riba Fisheries Cooperative from Kaštel Sućurac, the Adria Fisheries Cooperative from Tribunj, the Dubrovnik based association Maritimo Recycling, the Maritime School Split, Provir Design and many others.
Visitors will have the chance to speak with exhibitors, learn more about the issue of waste in fishing ports, and discover how local communities are contributing to marine conservation.
“Although fishing has been part of Dalmatia’s identity for centuries, the sea is now facing numerous challenges, one of the biggest being discarded single-use plastic. It’s time we ask ourselves: if waste has become part of fishermen’s stories, what does that say about our relationship with the sea?”, says Tea Kuzmičić Rosandić, FishNoWaste project manager.
Free tastings and zero-waste cuisine
Alongside exhibitors showcasing their work and products, the festival will feature a food zone where Split restaurants Corto Maltese and Makarun will prepare dishes made from local ingredients while demonstrating the principles of zero-waste cooking.
Visitors will enjoy free tastings and discover how creativity in the kitchen can maximize the use of ingredients, reduce food waste, and still deliver exceptional gastronomy.
“Sustainability doesn’t mean giving things up, it means using the resources we already have more wisely and responsibly. This principle can be applied to almost every aspect of life, not just cooking,” says Tihana Arapović ,expert associate, department of environmental protection and sustainable development at Sunce.
Learning for all ages
The festival is not only intended for adults. Part of the programme has been designed especially for children and young people, who will be able to participate in interactive STEM workshops developed as part of the project Let’s sail through STEM waters – a ticket to 2030.
“Through games, hands-on experiments, and interactive educational activities, children and young people will learn first-hand about marine conservation, the harmful effects of pollution, the problem of microplastics, and the importance of everyday habits that contribute to a healthier environment,” Vana Marta Vukman, educator at Sunce.
The educational experience will also continue through engaging audiovisual content.
“On the wall of the fish market, we will screen nine short videos produced as part of the FishNoWaste project, featuring authentic stories from fishermen and people whose lives are closely connected to the sea. These stories highlight the waste that ends up in fishing nets every day, while also emphasizing responsibility, cooperation, and the ways we can better protect the Adriatic. We will also present the audiovisual projection Voice of the Sea, Posidonia oceanica, created within the BIOPRESSADRIA project, which gives an artistic and emotional voice to Posidonia, one of the most important marine plants in our sea,” says Bruna Tomić, expert associate, department of communications and advocacy at Sunce.
To add an extra dose of fun and inspiration, visitors can also enjoy a Posidonia-themed photo corner. Anyone who dives into the Posidonia installation, shares a story on social media, and tags Sunce will have the chance to win symbolic sea inspired prizes.
Exhibitions that tell the stories of the Adriatic
Festival visitors will also be able to explore two thematic exhibitions celebrating the beauty—and highlighting the vulnerability—of the Adriatic Sea.
As part of the festival, the FishNoWaste informational exhibition “Plastic Nightmare” will present four illustrated panels explaining the challenges of marine litter, how long plastic takes to decompose in the sea, where it comes from, and how every resident and visitor of the Adriatic can help reduce this pressure on marine ecosystems.
At the same time, from May 20 to 24, Marmont street will host the photography exhibition “Adriatic Treasures”, created within the ASPEH – Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of Coastal Areas project. The exhibition features striking photographs by Croatian and Italian photographers, showcasing both the beauty and the fragility of Adriatic species and habitats.
“The goal of the exhibition is not only to show how beautiful the Adriatic is, but also to remind us how sensitive its habitats and species are, and how important it is to protect them. Every species matters, and every habitat counts. Photography is a powerful tool for connecting people with nature and inspiring environmental awareness,” says Tomić.
Come, taste, learn, and support a sustainable Adriatic
One of the festival’s defining features is that it has been organized as a plastic-free event, meaning reusable solutions will be used throughout the programme to minimize single-use plastics.
“What would a sustainability festival be without sustainable event organization? We want to demonstrate that public events in Split can be enjoyable, high-quality, and environmentally responsible at the same time,” says Arapović.
“At a time when climate change and marine pollution are becoming increasingly serious challenges, events like this play an important role in bringing communities together and encouraging changes that begin with our everyday choices,” concludes Kuzmičić Rosandić.
Everyone looking to spend an enjoyable evening by the sea, with delicious food and inspiring stories, is invited to join the festival on May 21 in front of Split’s fish market and become part of the story of innovation in fisheries and marine conservation.
