BUZZBAIT
CONSERVATION: Future
fishers learn by doing. PHOTO: GEORGIA KAYAK FISHING FOUNDATION
[C O N S E R VAT I O N]
Team Green A
re kayak anglers conservationists? Is the sky blue?
For Atlanta, Georgia’s Tony Narcisse,
the role of kayak anglers as conservation- ists goes beyond the obvious. Narcisse is out to make the sport a symbol of sus- tainable development and responsible behavior in the outdoors—tenets written into the mission statement of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Foundation (GKFF). “Te intimacy of kayak fishing creates an ap- preciation and ultimately a bond with the natural environment,” says Narcisse, the GKFF’s executive director. “We spend a great deal of effort introducing kayak fish- ing to Georgians. We’d miss a wonderful opportunity if we didn’t teach the neces- sity of responsible stewardship of the re- source while we have an audience.” Conservation guidelines and steward-
ship goals are written into the rulebooks of many North American kayak fishing tour- naments and organizations. For example, Kayak Fishing Classics, a 10-tournament angling event held annually in U.S. states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, operates on a no impact philosophy mandating strict catch and release regulations, and catch data-sharing with marine research groups. Portions of tournament proceeds are do- nated to the Florida Coastal Conservation Association and a marine research labo- ratory based in Key West, Florida, among others. Similarly, groups such as the Or- lando Kayak Fishing Club organize shore- line clean-up events to spark a conserva- tion ethic in members.
16… KAYAK ANGLER FALL/WINTER 2010
KAYAK ANGLERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONSERVATION MOVEMENT BY CONOR MIHELL
GKFF, a non-profit, was created solely
with conservation and outdoor education in mind. Tat started four years ago, by introducing at-risk youth to kayak fishing and the state’s countless waterways. In 2011, Narcisse says the founda-
tion is launching a series of water quality programs focused on river environments that are specifically tailored for younger audiences. “Georgia is crisscrossed with literally thousands of miles of warm- and cold-water rivers,” he says. “Kids who ex- perience rivers will fall in love with them. Tey will learn about pollution and its impacts first-hand. In our opinion, that’s better than showing them commercials or billboards that say ‘don’t litter.’” Meanwhile, by encouraging youth to
become board members, Narcisse says he is “actively seeking to include the next gen- eration’s leaders in decision making roles.” For instance, one of Narcisse’s executive board members, Zach Yurchuck, “is an 18- year-old college freshman who serves as a critical member of our board and point man on many of our initiatives.” Narcisse says his organization still
supports and coordinates river clean-up events, but he ultimately believes in a more proactive approach to halt the degrada- tion of aquatic environments. “We see the value in clean-ups, but long-term changes in humans’ lifestyles are better than just cleaning up the trash. Our attitude is, let’s teach people not to pollute and damage fisheries in the first place so we don’t have to clean up aſterward.”
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