KALI SAGA

The Kali fishery holds a special place in Croatian maritime history.
For centuries, the inhabitants of Kali have shaped their identity in an inseparable connection with the sea, developing knowledge and skills that, even in the 19th century, made them among the most respected fishermen on the Adriatic. Over time, their voyages became longer, and their fishing horizons expanded beyond local waters.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the fishermen of Kali joined the great Croatian maritime migration and went across the ocean to the coasts of Alaska and the Pacific. There, they worked on some of the most demanding fishing fleets in the world, facing challenging weather and dangerous seas. Their endurance, skill, and adaptability earned them an exceptional reputation, and the name Kali became synonymous with a reliable and courageous fisherman in Pacific waters.
The return to their homeland during the second half of the 20th century marked the transfer of valuable knowledge and experience to the local community. Kali gradually developed into one of the most important centers of Croatian fishing, especially in the application of modern fishing techniques. In the mid-1990s, intensive bluefin tuna farming began, and the fishermen of Kali played a key role. The experiences gained in the Pacific, where tuna was a major fishing species, laid the foundations for today’s internationally recognized Croatian tuna industry.
Today, Kali relies on a combination of tradition and innovation. Fishing remains a strong pillar of community identity, while tuna farming is developing into one of the island of Ugljan’s most important economic resources. Despite modernization, the spirit of peasant and fishing life remains deeply woven into the everyday life of the village, as a lasting memory of the generations of fishermen from Kali who were led by the sea from the Adriatic to the Pacific and back home.