Rediscovering Our Rivers

The country of Georgia, located on the frontier of Europe and Asia, is what geographers and political scientists call a transcontinental country. The country sits within the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Ranges and between the Black and Caspian Seas. Its people have strong aspirations for their country to integrate with and join the European Union and to have closer political and economic ties with the U.S. and U.K. Sadly, for those with such aspirations, there are other countries that do not support this idea. These actors want to keep Georgia under their sphere of influence. The matter is often a subject of debate on the world stage of geopolitics.

One thing nobody debates, however, is that Georgia has one of the most unique natural landscapes and cultures on our planet. Georgians are people of mountains and rivers.

Freedom of the hills

Locals joke that they are not famous for fishing on the sea because historically, Georgia was excluded from the Black Sea. We were often subject to conquest and domination by regional powers. The Classical Greeks, Persians, Mongols, Ottoman Turks, Safavid Iranians and Russians all exerted their influence over Georgians. However, the mountains and rivers always belonged to us. In those environs is where Georgians felt free and independent.

Fishing on rivers is a national tradition in Georgia. It is a popular outdoor activity, probably second only to running and hiking. Our rivers are not only rivers; we consider them masterful works of the Creator. They’re beautiful, stunning and offer no shortage of adventures— as do the natural landscapes that surround them. Many Georgians like to think that our national identity is blended into our rivers, mountains and landscapes.

Hard history

These rivers are historical habitat for four genetically-unique species of brown trout, however, in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia experienced a tragic turn that was devastating for our native trout and the rivers and natural systems they inhabit. Like other neighbouring republics which experienced turmoil in the void of the stabilizing influence of the Soviet Bloc, Georgia entered a decade of political and military conflict, failure of state institutions and economic depression. Environmental mismanagement, pollution, industrial impact and illegal fishing resulted in fish populations plummeting in our rivers. Some research suggests that fisheries declined by an astonishing 80 per cent or more.

Scientists say that trout first occurred in fresh waters of Georgia two million years ago. That was when land emerged on this small corner of the planet, with the Caspian and Black Seas forming separately from the Mediterranean. River systems which connected the two seas were birthed. Ever since, unique genetic forms of brown trout have been spawning in these rivers, providing food and recreational opportunities for the communities that emerged on their banks.

Present priorities

Today, many of those communities— and communities across this country— are working hard to stop the decline of fresh water fish populations. They are aiming to restore healthy, historicallytypical populations of fish in these rivers, with the ultimate goal being the management of sustainable fisheries over the long-term. Local recreational fly fishing communities are on the front lines of this effort.

These communities are trying to raise awareness of recreational fishing values. They are also trying to advance arguments for correcting the current mismanagement of rivers and the elimination of poaching. The latter issue is most pressing, because unfortunately, some forms of illegal fishing (electrical, blasting) have for some people become a “recreational” pursuit. These people seem to be ignorant of the fact that such practices bring material environmental, social and economic damage.

More than 10 years ago, Georgian fly fisherman Shota Jokhadze formed a local club and helped organize an endemic trout breeding (hatchery) project. Today, Jokhadze runs an endemic trout population restoration project sponsored by the Government Wildlife Management Agency. A few dozen fly fishermen assist him and a much larger group of spin fishermen are actively raising awareness about recreational fishing and catch and release culture.

Value added

A few months after we first took our fly rods in our hands, a friend and member of Fly Fishers International (FFI), Austin Kane from Atlanta, GA, recommended reaching out to FFI. To our delight, the organization responded with keen energy. FFI’s David Peterson, Tom Logan and Kuni Masuda extended a warm and welcoming invitation to join FFI, which we gladly did.

I joined this conservation effort a year ago together with few friends, and it still amazes me that it was fly fishing that brought us here. We soon discovered the fun and pleasure fly fishing brings is about much more than just good fishing. Over time, we began to understand that protection and proper management of healthy rivers which support robust populations of fish not only helps ensure a much healthier environment for ourselves as we live and work, but that conservation also makes our country a much more attractive place for tourism. Lastly, protecting these waters helps connect our rivers and mountains to our roots, heritage, values and hopes for the future.

Catching the drift

At the same time, we coordinated a small campaign to encourage our government to open some of Georgia’s national park rivers for catch and release-based angling. The government received our proposal positively and suggested proceeding with a pilot project to evaluate whether such an initiative could give a strong boost to recreational fishing and promote a catch and release culture. The project was also intended to evaluate whether recreational fishing could generate an important revenue stream for local economies and whether it could help support Georgia’s management of fresh water fish populations.

We held a planning workshop with a local fly fishing club that has longadvocated initiatives such as those which we propose. We then held meetings with members of Georgia’s parliament and the heads of sports, environmental, agriculture and economic development committees. These meetings were arranged by MP Viktor Sanikidze, a supporter of outdoor recreation and former professional basketball player. Documents which presented the biological rationale, with economic considerations which justify our proposal, were prepared with assistance from FFI.

Taking flight

The meetings were successful and the Agency of National Parks (Protected Territories) of Georgia has approved a pilot program to allowed fly fishing and spin fishing in Kintrishi National Park, on a 5 km-long portion of the Kintrishi River. That section of the Kintrishi River opened to fishing on January 1, 2022, requiring catch and release practices with barbless, single hooks and artificial lures/flies for catching native trout. Data will be collected to document the recreational fishing that occurs, evaluate any effect on the fishery and river and help serve as basis for expanding the project to other rivers and fisheries.

Our corps of fly fishers working on this initiative is now organizing a new non-for-profit entity, Georgia’s Outdoor Alliance, which will become an International Affiliate Club of FFI. The new organization will be led by aspiring fly anglers; its goal will be to promote and advocate the conservation of clean rivers and healthy fish populations. The club’s primary focus will be fly fishing, but the group will promote sport fishing in general as a way to connect with and protect fish, wildlife and healthy natural landscapes, for benefit of all.

Future freshwater

Our intent, with the assistance of FFI, is to expand the presence and influence of fly fishing clubs, communities and institutions in Georgia and to continue working with our government agencies to implement more pilot projects in other national parks of our country. Additionally, we also will work to encourage municipalities and investors to create recreational fishing sanctuaries outside of national parks. These will be special river areas designated for recreational fishing that will generate revenue to protect and manage rivers and fish populations. We hope this concept will eventually extend to the Black Sea territory. Our expectations in coming years are to see healthier waters, returning fish populations, more fly fishers (local and visitors) and all that goes with it: fly shops, cafés, clubs, schools, guides and new jobs with small businesses.

Soon, there will be more territories with good fish populations in our country and we hope to fish with other FFI members here in Georgia. And someday, perhaps, Georgians will be proud that our fishing culture extends to the Black Sea—or at least the fresh watersheds which surround it.

Lado Sakvarelidze

FFI Member and founder of FFI;s International Affiliate club, Georgia’s Outdoor Alliance. Entrepreneur, New Born (Self Taught) Fly Fisherman & Environmental Enthusiast.