TİKA Implements a Fisheries Project in Georgia

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) completed the first step of the Fisheries Project in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in Georgia. A specialist from Turkey, who visited the region to investigate fish diseases and deaths, completed the 5-day research and investigation process. TİKA aims to resume the “Fisheries Project” after the evaluations of the specialist and ensure the economic development of the region through a fisheries improvement process.

The fishing industry is one of the most important industries in the field of agriculture in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in Georgia. Many fisheries operate in the districts of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and contribute to the development of national economy. However, factors such as fish diseases and improper care occasionally constitute a major obstacle to the development of this field. Since fish deaths occur frequently in freshwater fisheries in the region for reasons that could not be identified by fish farmers, a veterinarian from the Aquaculture Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey conducted investigations and research in the region upon the request of the government.

The specialist analyzed the fisheries in the villages of the districts of Keda, Khulo, Kobuleti, and Khelvachauri in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, where 55 tonnes of fish are produced each year. As a result of the evaluations of the veterinarian, who completed examining the fisheries, it is planned to organize training courses on fish diseases and trout farming in the region.

Furthermore, a fish diseases laboratory will be built in the region to serve not only Adjara, but also Guria and Samegrelo in Western Georgia. Nearly 50 fisheries are expected to benefit from the project only in Adjara.