Isha Sharma
“When I was studying much of it was in labs, and then suddenly I was in the field, cleaning pens, and closely observing fish behaviour. I loved it.”
Early Life Stage Supervisor - New Zealand King Salmon
Raising the next generation of salmon
As an Early Life Stage Supervisor with New Zealand King Salmon, Isha Sharma oversees the most delicate phase of a salmon’s life — from egg to around 11 grams in weight.
She looks after around two million feeding fry, and it’s work that demands deep knowledge, focus, and care.
“I see them as my babies,” she says. “They need constant attention — temperature, oxygen, water flow, light — everything has to be just right.”
Isha monitors the fish through incubation, first feeding and into tanks and raceways, witnessing every stage.
“I see them developing, and you can tell when they are happy, and when they are ready to move on. They start jumping out of the water.”
Isha’s journey into aquaculture began far from Nelson. With a Master’s in Zoology and a Bachelor of Education, she was a university lecturer in India.
“I was more into animal science— I didn’t know anything about aquaculture,” she says.
She was introduced to the field at an education seminar and not only decided to move from animals to aquaculture but also relocate to the other side of the world.
“It was a big change — a new industry and a new country.”
Isha completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture at NMIT in 2017, where she felt well supported by lecturer Dr Mark Burdass: “I was very lucky. Whenever I need help, he is there for me.”
Following a brief return to India, in 2019 Isha found employment with NZKS as a hatchery operator.
“When I was studying much of it was in labs, and then suddenly I was in the field, cleaning pens, and closely observing fish behaviour. I loved it”
In her search for more knowledge about salmon, she read extensively and learned from experts. Her zoology background became especially valuable when she was promoted to hatchery technician, and later, in 2025, to Early Life Stage Supervisor.
“I can tell when eggs are healthy — the colour, size, the eyes, even the spine. It’s very detailed work.”
Isha leads a small team and enjoys sharing her knowledge. “I want to help grow talent. I love seeing people really appreciate the fish.”
“I’m a finfish person — a salmon person,” she smiles. “I really love the fish. When they don’t make it, I cry. The science matters, but the emotion is there too.”