804 The first record of the Piran salt-pans. The Placitum of Risano relative to the discussion by delegates of Karl the Great at Risano/Rižana about the Pag salt-pans. At that time, there were several small salt-pans in Piran owned by monasteries.
933 The towns of the eastern Adriatic sign an agreement on compulsory sale of salt to the Venetian Republic, which during its struggle for the economic supremacy in the Mediterranean destroyed salt-pans in the west, while in Istria and in the Northern Adriatic it gradually enabled the municipalities, in order to retain its influence, even a partial independence in the production of salt.
1358
In order to increase the economic effect of salt-making, the salt-making procedure was modernised in Piran following the Pag salt-pans example.The latter yielded white salt made on gypsum substratum, with microbiological elements, which constituted the so-called petola.
1460 During the new wave of salt-pan destruction in the Mediterranean, with which the Venetians once again wished to strengthen their power, the Piran salt-pans remain untouched and become the largest as well as the most significant pans in the northeastern Adriatic and in the entire Venetian Republic. With ample town income, the Piran people carry out some great infrastructural works in their salt-pans. At the end of the 14th century they begin to build regular shaped basins in successive order of evaporation and crystallisation basins. There follows and almost 300 years long golden age of the Piran salt-pans, which is here and there disturbed only by natural disasters and a blind wish by certain individuals to get rich.
1797 The Venetian Republic goes to ruin, and the Istrian salt-pans are taken over by the Austrian administration
1814 The Austro-Hungarian monarchy proclaims salt a state monopoly.
1903 The Austrian Government purchases salt-fields from small owners and opts for a more intense management in order to defeat the competitors. It introduces the use of Beaume's aerometer and strengthens the protective embankments. At Lera, it joins several crystallisation basins into one in the centre of the pans, surrounded by basins of different evaporation grades. It orders salt to be gathered every 7 to 8 days (which was later again abandoned and daily gathering reintroduced) and carted off by wheelbarrows.
1918 After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the Piran salt-pans are taken over by the Italians. They reconstruct them, which has a positive effect on the quality and quantity of produced salt.
1945 This was the time of the Free Territory of Trieste and good seasons with high utilisation of the pans.
1957 In the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Piran salt-pans are quickly subjected to the so-called »final reconstruction«. The Dragonja river is redirected and joined with the St. Odorik stream to prevent the floods in the area. In spite of the exuberant manpower and favourable weather conditions, which could certainly bring success, especially considering that during the best season no less than 40,000 tons of salt was harvested, the wider interest was channelled into salt-mines.
1960 The origin of the project of a thorough reconstruction of the Piran salt-pans for the purpose of industrial production of salt. The permit to exploit mineral raw materials at Fontanigge, Lera, Fazan and Strunjan is obtained by the firm Piranske soline, Portorož. A year later, a concession for a permanent use of land and buildings of social property in this area is acquired by it as well.
1967 The company Piranske soline merges with Droga Portorož.
1968 Owing to the exuberant production and maintenance costs, production of salt is permanently abandoned in the sectors of Fontanigge and Fazan (at Lucija).
1976 The beginning of the decade, in which several studies are made, in which the pans' infrastructure is improved and economic measures implemented to increase the pans' utilisation, but with no great success.
1988 Setting up of the firm SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o., daughter company of Droga Portorož.
1990 Municipal decree on proclamation of Sečovlje and Strunjan Salina Parks.
1992 In the Act regarding the succession of the Republic of Slovenia as far as conventions ratified by the former state are concerned, the Sečovlje salt-pans are included on the List of wetlands of international importance under the auspices of the Ramsar Convention.
1993 In the resolution on the significance of Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, the Piran Executive Council expresses its interest in Droga Portorož managing the Nature Park and functioning as a principal of salt-production in this area. The decree on conditions of spatial arrangement at the same time defines the area to be also used for maricultural purposes and health tourism.
1999 On the basis of the Law on nature conservation, Droga Portorož cedes the production of salt to the company SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o.
2000 SOLINE Pridelava soli d. o. o. takes part in the public invitation to bid for the manager of Sečovlje Salina Nature Park and eventually becomes its manager.
2001 The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopts the Decree on Sečovlje Salina Nature Park with intention to protect this area of great natural values and to conserve the high biodiversity of this typical saline ecosystem.
2002 SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o. becomes the property of Mobitel d.d.
