Fishing is not just part of Fažana’s history and collective memory - it is a living tradition that visitors can experience first-hand. Here, on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, you can listen to local fishermen’s stories, savour traditional flavours and discover the heritage that has shaped life by the sea for generations. You can even learn how to salt sardines and mend fishing nets.

This vibrant, community-driven story has now earned European recognition, with Fažana receiving an award at the ECTN Awards - Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism, organised by the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN).

The Small Fishing Academy Pilchard (Mala ribarska akademija Sardela) took third prize in the Creative Tourism and Co-Created Cultural Tourism Experiences category, demonstrating how an authentic local story can reach beyond its place of origin and resonate with audiences across Europe.

More than 20 years of keeping fishing traditions alive
The Small Fishing Pilchard Academy was established in 2004 at the initiative of the Fažana Tourist Board, in cooperation with the Municipality of Fažana, local fishermen, residents and hospitality businesses. Dedicated to safeguarding living fishing heritage, passing traditional knowledge on to younger generations and creating authentic experiences, the Academy invites visitors to become active participants rather than mere observers.

Over the past two decades, it has grown into a comprehensive year-round programme of events and activities. These include the Pilchard Salting School, The Sea on the Table, What Fishermen Know and Rhapsody in Blue, as well as workshops held as part of Traditional Evenings on the Fažana Waterfront. The programme is further enriched by numerous activities in the Fažanski olivari olive grove.

One of the project’s greatest strengths is its close involvement of the local community. Fishermen serve as mentors, sharing their knowledge and skills, while local family farms showcase olive oil, cheese, prosciutto, jams and other local products. Fažana’s restaurants, meanwhile, serve traditional dishes featuring seafood. In this way, tourism provides a platform for sharing knowledge, preserving traditions and generating direct economic benefits for the local community.

This latest international accolade highlights the value of an approach that goes beyond simply preserving local heritage as a relic of the past. Instead, heritage remains a living part of the community - practised, passed on to new generations, interpreted and woven into the visitor experience. The Small Fishing Academy Pilchard continues to reinforce Fažana’s identity as a destination known for authentic cultural tourism, strong community ties and traditions that remain firmly rooted in its contemporary tourism offer.

»» Find out more about the ECTN Awards
www.culturaltourism-network.eu/awards-2026.html

»» Find out more about the ECTN Awards
www.infofazana.hr/lifestyle/carolija-malog-ribarskog-mjesta/mala-ribarska-akademija-sardela/

[September 2026]