November the 20th, 2024 – As the only fishing fair in all of Croatia, the 16th edition of Crofish is scheduled soon in the Istrian city of Poreč.
Over 80 exhibitors from across Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and Spain will present their products at the 16th Crofish fair in Poreč, the only international fishing, fishing equipment, aquaculture and water sports fair in Croatia.
Admission to the 16th Crofish fair is free, and from the 22nd to the 24th of November, more than 4,000 visitors from Croatia and the wider region are expected, during which all interested parties will be able to experience all aspects of Crofish – from professional to expert, educational, gastronomic and sporting.
“The correct valorisation of maritime and fishing is the motivation behind the very launch of the Crofish fair,” revealed Robert Momić, president of the Chamber of Crafts of Istria County, and president of the fair’s organising committee.
“There’s no doubt that fishing and maritime heritage is what the Croatian coast’s foundations lie on. Fishing and shipping have always been among the primary branches of the economy, and Croatian fishermen and sailors are known all over the world. The number of exhibitors at the Crofish fair is growing, as are the number of inquiries for exhibiting, so we’re already thinking about expanding the exhibition space in the Žatika hall for the 17th edition.
This year, we’ve also paid special attention to the educational part of the fair, where the representatives of fisheries administrations and scientists from across Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Montenegro will come together to discuss the state of fisheries, as well as the increasing impact of climate change on fish stocks. This will all be done with the aim of creating sustainable fisheries for future generations,” explained Momić ahead of the opening of the 16th Crofish fair in Poreč.
At the fair’s outdoor and indoor exhibition space, spanning total size of 3,500 m2, visitors will be able to see a wide range of products and various solutions for fisheries and aquaculture. That includes fishing equipment and tools, vessels, protective clothing, fishing and water sports equipment, as well as the complete equipment for shellfish and fish farming.
In addition to the exhibition part of the Crofish fair, a Cooking Show will be held every day, where talented chefs Gianpaulo Sardot, Emanuel Melon, Dean Gluhak & Milena d.o.o., Martin Vižintin, Martin Bukovac, Saša Pribičević, Marko Obradović, Kristijan Kovačević, as well as former Masterchef contestant Gaia Zec and Tuna show by Petar Stojković, will all prepare traditional and modern fish and seafood dishes for visitors. In doing this, they’ll simultaneously connect continental and coastal Croatia.
As such, part of the 16th Crofish fair will also be dedicated to freshwater fish specialities, and the Đurđenovac Sports Fishing Association will be present to prepare the most famous representative of freshwater fish, carp, according to the traditional recipe from eastern Croatia.
All of the programme of the 16th Crofish fair will certainly contribute to the popularisation of fishery products among the population and the tourist market. Nenad Velenik, director of the Poreč Tourist Board, also expressed his satisfaction with this upcoming event which combines tradition and modernity.
“We’re proud that Poreč is once again hosting the Crofish fair, an event that has been gathering experts, enthusiasts and lovers of fishing, aquaculture and fishing equipment from the entire region for many years now. This fair is not only an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences, but also a strong indicator of how committed our city is to supporting the development of economic and professional sectors.
Crofish has become synonymous with excellence and innovation in this area, and its organisation in our Žatika sports hall contributes to strengthening the image of Poreč as an ideal place for high quality events,” said Velenik.
In addition to the indoor and outdoor space of the Žatika hall, the 16th Crofish fair will also extend further to the area of the former Customs Pier on the Poreč waterfront, where visitors will be able to visit and view several different types of vessels and talk to their crews.
These are the vessels of the Ministry of the Interior P-212, and EcoCUBE, a product of the Marservis shipyard from Kaštelir – an autonomous floating collection station for collecting solid waste and wastewater from vessels, as well as fishing vessels specialised in various types of fishing which will also be presented.
The 16th Crofish fair will also offer a children’s corner and educational and creative workshops with animators, as well as free trial dives in the heated pool in front of Žatika. In the waters that lie just in front of Poreč, there will be a sailing regatta and competitions in angling from an anchored boat, angling for juniors with a rod from the shore, and hunting for predatory species with live bait and lures. In addition to sporting and gastronomic events, visitors can also expect over ten professional lectures.
The 16th Crofish fair is being organised by the Association of Craftsmen of the Bujština – Umag, with the support of the Chamber of Crafts of Istria County, the City of Poreč-Parenzo, Istria County, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of the Interior and the Croatian Chamber of Crafts.
The 16th Crofish fair can be visited on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Sunday until 18:00. For more information, click here. The Crofish fair is otherwise being co-financed by the European Union from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme, Measure IV.3 “The Marketing of Fisheries and Aquaculture Products” of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
