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Top 10 Under 40: Aslam Pathiri

After encountering aquatic resources on a coconut farm in India, Aslam Pathiri became interested in using them to make sustainable animal protein for human consumption. He saw a potential for inland aquaculture, bioconversion efficiency and a rising economic value of freshwater resources.

Pathiri, 37, is passionate about looking for fish behaviour under newly subjected variables and imparting knowledge to newbies in the industry. “From that, I can get the drive, grit and spirit to recharge my mind and soul faster,” he said.

In his 15 years as an aquaculture professional, he has worked at the Government of India’s Kerala Ministry of Fisheries and has done assignments overseas. He currently works as a general manager of hatchery and Grow Out Operations at Oceanpick. PVT. LTD in Sri Lanka.

(Photo: Aslam Pathiri)

An experience Pathiri won’t forget in a hurry was when a viral epidemic caused his team to lose 95 per cent of their newly stocked fingerlings. But they came back stronger, successfully creating a new method to immunize fish against that viral infection before placing them in sea cages. It took many attempts but, in the end, it worked.

His advice to people new to the hatchery business is to put in the work, get familiar with all the sectors in the industry, and get knowledge from others in the industry.

“In order to succeed in a hatchery, you should approach every aspect with creativity, be willing to take risks or challenges in the worst-case scenarios, maintain composure under pressure, be proactive rather than reactive, and develop your problem-solving abilities through ongoing learning about all hatchery activities.”