Mr. Ashish Kumar

Ashish Kumar is a distinguished expert in aquaculture and inland fisheries, with over 30 years of professional experience in fisheries development and aquaculture management. He holds a postgraduate degree in Zoology from Patna University (1981) and has served in key roles within the Departments of Fisheries in Bihar and Jharkhand, including Deputy Director of Fisheries and Managing Director of JHASCOFISH.

Ashish has led initiatives in reservoir fisheries and aquaculture training, both domestically and in Zambia, and has worked on projects funded by the World Bank, AGR, and Tata Steel Long Products Ltd. His responsibilities have included fish seed stocking, cooperative society formation, government scheme inspections, policy implementation, and the development of aquaculture business plans.

Ashish received specialized training in Open Water Management in China in 1994 as part of a World Bank program that covered Management Audit, Government Budgeting, and Public Communication. Serving as Nodal Officer for the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Cell from 2010 to 2020, he played a key role in planning and implementing projects related to reservoir stocking and fisherman training. In his consultancy roles, he has developed strategic aquaculture interventions, including creating a Business Plan for Aquaculture in Zambia in 2021, providing Cage Culture expertise for the Odisha-World Fish Project in 2017, and leading fisheries development initiatives for Tata Steel Long Products in 2023. Ashish is a member of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Inland Fisheries Society of India, the Indian Fisheries Association, and the Association of Aquaculturists.