AFTER graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Adrian Lal found himself in a position familiar to many young graduates, qualified, hopeful, but unable to immediately secure work in his chosen field.
Instead of giving up, he took whatever work he could find.
He worked security jobs and did odd work to make ends meet while continuing to search for an opportunity that matched the years he had invested in his education.
“I had to find a job that was worth the school fees, so I tried hard to secure it,” he said.
That determination eventually paid off.
Today, the young man from Waitovu in Levuka, Ovalau, whose mother is from Savusavu, works as a hatchery technician at Growa Fish Limited in Navua, where he has spent the past three years helping breed and raise fish and freshwater prawns that support Fiji’s growing aquaculture industry.
It is a career that not only gives him purpose but also allows him to continue learning every day.
Life inside the hatchery
Adrian lives on-site at the hatchery, making it easier to respond to the demands of the job.
Every morning begins with a routine that leaves little room for error.
As soon as he enters the hatchery, he inspects each Larval Rearing Tank (LRT), ensuring the tiny prawns have enough oxygen and feed while checking for any mortality or other issues.
“Temperature plays a vital role in the larvae culture of prawns,” he said.
“The prawns change into different stages due to certain temperatures, which is around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. They are able to adapt, feed and change well in that kind of temperature.”
Once the temperature is checked, Adrian measures the ammonia levels in the water.
“If the ammonia is high, I have to do a water exchange. If it’s low, then it’s okay.”
He also monitors dissolved oxygen levels before ensuring sufficient feed is available.
“We are feeding our larvae with artemia, which is live feed, and then I update my record sheet.”
Feeding does not stop after the morning checks.
He monitors feeding every two hours throughout the day to ensure the larvae continue developing under the right conditions.
His responsibilities extend beyond the hatchery tanks.
He assists customers purchasing tilapia, helps with general farm operations and is currently involved in breeding goldfish while also working with grass carp, which are used to control weed growth inside and around ponds.
The workload is constant.
“The day here goes really fast,” Adrian said.
“Sometimes we can still be doing something and then you realise it’s already 6pm.”
Growing more than prawns
Although Adrian now works in aquaculture, he admits it was not always the career path he imagined.
“I had thought of a lot of things for my career path, but since I did my bachelor’s in science and Fisheries at Koronivia, I had to look for a job and I happened to come across the advertisement here, so I gave it a try.”
That decision proved life changing for Adrian.
Working under the guidance of Growa Fish Limited owner Avinash Singh has expanded both his practical skills and his understanding of aquaculture.
Each day presents something different.
“Here I’m learning something new every day,” he said.
What started as employment has gradually become something much deeper.
A childhood shaped by the sea
Long before Adrian entered a hatchery, his connection to aquatic life began at home.
Growing up beside the sea sparked a fascination that has remained with him into adulthood.
“I lived beside the sea growing up and I loved it, so coming here became a passion and interest.”
That childhood curiosity has evolved into specialised knowledge of fish breeding, water quality management and larval development, skills that require precision and close observation every day.
Research with a bigger purpose
While working full-time, Adrian is also pursuing a master’s degree at the Fiji National University.
His research focuses on comparing the current strain of macrobrachium rosenbergii, commonly known as the giant freshwater prawn, with a new strain being introduced into Fiji.
The research could have significant implications for local aquaculture.
“That is a huge change for the aquaculture industry in Fiji,” he said.
“We are facing a lot of issues regarding farmers who are struggling with the prawns they are farming.”
“At the end of the day they don’t see much growth – they don’t make profit.”
By comparing the two strains, Adrian hopes the research will contribute to improving productivity for farmers and strengthen the industry’s future.
His work at the hatchery complements his academic research, allowing him to apply what he studies while gaining valuable practical experience each day.
Balancing it all
Life is rarely quiet.
Alongside the demands of full-time hatchery work and postgraduate research, Adrian is also beginning a new chapter in his personal life.
Balancing those responsibilities is not always easy.
“I’ve learned to hang on despite the challenges faced, especially in juggling work, research work and starting a family.”
It is a balancing act that requires persistence, but one he embraces because he understands the opportunities that come from perseverance.
Finding purpose
Looking back, Adrian knows the journey from graduation to stable employment was far from straightforward.
The months spent working security and taking on odd jobs were challenging, but they taught him to be strong and reinforced the importance of continuing to pursue his goals.
Today, as he carefully monitors thousands of tiny larvae, records water quality data and contributes to research that could benefit aquaculture farmers across Fiji, he sees how far that persistence has taken him.
The work demands long hours and close attention to detail, yet Adrian finds satisfaction in knowing that every healthy prawn and every successful breeding cycle contributes to something much larger than himself.
Now the hatchery serves as a reminder that sometimes the most rewarding careers begin only after taking the difficult road.
Andrian explains about the prawn Larval Rearing Tank (LRT). Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
He is currently involved in breeding goldfish at the hatchery. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
Adrian research is focused on comparing the current strain of Macrobrachium rosenbergii with a new strain being introduced into Fiji. Picture: GROWA FISH LIMITED
Avinash Singh, owner of Growa Fish Limited with his hatchery technician, Adrian Lal. Picture: GROWA FISH LIMITED
