At a time when the fast pace of life and modern dietary habits increasingly distance children from the traditional, healthy table, the company Cromaris d.d. and the “Petar Lorini” Elementary School from Sali on Dugi Otok have launched a project called “Morski pjat”. This joint project, with a total value of 15,711.20 euros, is co-financed by European Union funds through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Program within the FLAG “Plodovi mora” tender.
Over the past months, the project has brought together students, teachers, parents, and the entire local community on the island with a noble goal – promoting healthy eating habits, increasing fish consumption among children, and raising awareness of how crucial the sea, fisheries, and aquaculture are to life in island communities.
Although it sounds unbelievable, living on an island does not automatically guarantee that fish will regularly be featured on children’s menus. Recognizing this challenge, the “Morski pjat” project decided to break prejudices and present fish to children in a completely new, creative, and appealing way. The path to children’s hearts and plates began in the school kitchen, where special attention was paid to gastronomic education and the popularization of fish dishes. Joining forces, a professional chef and the school cook designed imaginative recipes tailored to children’s tastes. Under the expert guidance of a Cromaris nutritionist, a model for a new school menu was created, in which fish, as a traditional ingredient, shone in a modern guise – demonstrating that healthy can indeed be delicious.
The entire story concluded with a final event and tasting session called “Morski tanjurić”, during which students had the opportunity to taste dishes prepared with Cromaris fish. The menu featured fish burgers and fish nuggets made from meager, sea bream, and sea bass. The event brought together children, parents, and teachers, demonstrating how fish can be appealing and delicious to the youngest generations.
Alongside the delicious bites, the project also included an educational component through two age-appropriate workshops for the students. The children had the opportunity to learn about fish species in the Adriatic, the importance of fish in nutrition, and the preservation of the marine environment. Following the educational sessions, practical and creative workshops were held, where the students, divided by age group, put their acquired knowledge into practice. The youngest participants took part in creatively making fish out of paper plates, symbolically connecting with the project’s very name. On the other hand, more advanced practical activities were organized for older students; they were divided into groups to analyse potential marine pollution scenarios, with the goal of designing creative solutions for these ecological challenges themselves.
This collaboration also carries deep symbolism, as the school in Sali proudly bears the name of Petar Lorini, the founder of modern Croatian marine fisheries. Through this project, a long-standing successful partnership has continued, aiming to motivate children to consume fish more frequently and better understand its importance, while also bringing the sea closer to them as a key part of their identity and island life. Sali is a place to which Cromaris always gladly returns and with whose community it feels a strong connection. That is precisely why the emphasis was placed on creating projects that leave a lasting value, helping children develop healthier eating habits, a greater awareness of the importance of marine conservation, and a stronger bond with the environment in which they grow up.
Duration of the project: 2 February 2026 – 30 June 2026
The project “Morski pjat” is co-funded by the EU’s European Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
