Presenting the project “Preservation of the Tradition of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Novigrad, Obrovac and Starigrad – OTARNOS”

OTARNOS is an acronym for the project entitled “Preservation of the Tradition of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Novigrad, Obrovac and Starigrad”, which aims to ensure the recognition of the area of the Fisheries Local Action Group Three seas (FLAG Three seas) among locals and visitors to the area of Novigrad, Obrovac and Starigrad.

With the OTARNOS project, we want to emphasize the importance of local stakeholders in the area – hard-working mussel and oyster farmers and fishermen, who supply us with healthy food from the sea and local small touristic enterprises that do boat tours, who take us on picturesque tours through the Zrmanja canyon and the Three seas.

What kind of three seas are these?

The area of operation of FLAG Three seas is located in Zadar County in the central part of Adriatic Croatia. The administrative areas of seven local municipalities are included, namely the City of Obrovac and the Municipalities of Jasenice, Novigrad, Poličnik, Posedarje, Ražanac, Starigrad. These areas include the Adriatic, Novigrad and Karin Seas (Three Seas) and have been declared a part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000.

Misija

In order to present mussel and oyster farmers and fishermen as quality representatives of the traditional Mediterranean way of life, which is characterized by a harmonious relationship with nature and activities based on the postulates of sustainable growth and development, we have planned many activities throughout the project!

• Workshops / round tables with mussel and oyster farmers and fishermen
• Educational programme for pupils of primary schools in Novigrad, Obrovac and Starigrad and High School Obrovac
• A trip with pupils to mussel farms to see first hand what and how our hardworking farmer work
• Educational photo exhibit
• Story collection book “Three seas tell untold stories of mussel and oyster farmers and fishermen”, which will be made by students of the High School Obrovac
• Setting up an educational trail in Novigrad

The project was submitted to the FLAG tender for the award of project support under Measure 2.2. Support for the evaluation, protection and promotion of cultural – maritime heritage and the tradition of fisheries and aquaculture and contains the priorities and objectives of the Operational Program for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2014-2020.

The total value of the project is HRK 361,134.28 and is co-financed by the European Union from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) in the amount of HRK 306,964.14 or 85% of grants, while 15% is co-financed from the state budget in the amount of HRK 54,170,14 kn.

We are implementing the project in a public-civil partnership with the Municipality of Novigrad and the Obrovac High School.

The contents are the sole responsibility of the Marine Explorers Society 20.000 leagues and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.