The Fonda fish farm lies in the Piran bay at the southern most point of the Slovenian sea. To the southeast lies the coast of the Savudrian cape and to the south and east, the coast of the Sečovlje salt pans. This part of the sea is distinguished by the clean and deep water and a strong sea current. Thus it is quite understandable that this is the only region of the Slovenian sea where free-living fish can be found in abundance.
We decided to breed the best farmed fish in the world.
We began with the careful selection of young fish spawn. We raise them in free floating meshed cages in open water in the middle of the fish reserve. The regular replacement of fresh sea water, continuous movement, characteristic local climate and lower salt content of the sea in this part of the Piran Bay favourably influence the quality and robustness of the fish meat. The fish are fed manually using only the highest quality (and most expensive) food on the market originating exclusively from sea animals and plants. All the aforementioned enable the PIRAN SEA BASS to be a superior fish – in accordance with our aims and expectations.
The excellent natural conditions alongside our fish farm are also ideal for raising mussels, which have been bred in this part of the Piran Bay for over 30 years. Our mussels are farmed on ropes that float freely in the sea, attached to buoys.
The location of the fish farm in the Piran Bay enables the fish and mussels to arrive from the sea to any part of Slovenia, southern part of Austria and north-western parts of Italy within only a few hours.
The sea bass, known to experts as the green-grey knight of the sea, is one of the most elegant and highly valued sea fish. Its meat is white, firm and delicious, making fresh sea bass a real culinary treat.
The sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is a natural predator that feeds mainly on smaller fish, as well as on crabs and small invertebrates. It has a preference for brackish water, so it can often be found near submarine springs of fresh water and river mouths. The Piran Bay is an ideal home for the sea bass. It tends to travel in small schools of just 2 to 3 fish. The sea bass is a very curious fish, making it a frequent target for underwater fishers. It spawns from January to March.
Rich in easily digested proteins and omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, these black and blue mussels are traditionally highly valued in our diet. The distinguishing features of the Piran mussel are a slightly emptier shell and absolutely delicious meat.
Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) are edible mussels known as “pidoči” or “pedoči” in the Slovenian Primorje region and “dagnje” in Dalmatia.
In nature, mussels live in the intertidal zone where they attach themselves to a solid object such as a wall, pier, column, buoy or anything else that offers suitable conditions for life. Mussels feed on plankton that they filter from the water.
Mussels cultivated at mussel farms live in highly controlled conditions. They are attached to a system of ropes and nets suspended from floats that are organised into neat mussel farming fields. The location for a mussel farm is carefully selected: it should be quite far from the shore in a very clean part of the sea with just the right sea currents. Because cultivated mussels are constantly submerged and therefore enjoy better living conditions, they are of much better quality than wild mussels. Farmed mussels also have more meat compared to wild mussels of the same size.
The Fonda family are passionate about the sea and dedicated to breeding the finest Piran sea bass with love and attention. Now you have the opportunity to visit their marine fish farm. Situated in the magnificent nature of the Slovenian Istria, in the middle of the Piran bay, in the heart of the fishing preserve and the Sečovlje salina nature park, the Fonda fish farm promises to deliver a truly unforgettable experience of the freshest and finest sea fish for lovers of the sea, sun and seafood.
Visit us and discover what makes the Fonda Piran sea bass so special and gives it such high culinary, trade and marketing value. We’ll share all of our secrets: the selection of young fish spawn and the right type of feed, manual feeding and all aspects of caring for the environment, health and growth of several generations of the Piran sea bass.
