Today we’d like to introduce you to Nasir Kureshy.
Hi Nasir, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career in aquaculture at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, where I got an M.S. degree. At the time, I worked as a research assistant at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, TX. At the UTMSI Fisheries and Mariculture Lab, we researched many different species of fish and shrimp. Once my thesis was completed, I began working at a Redfish farm in San Leon, TX, which supplied to Texas and Louisiana. I managed the farm for 4 years, after which I took a job with a company in Florida, which was planning to build offshore farms in the Caribbean. While there, I spent time working in the Bahamas, Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Colombia. I built an offshore farm in Panama, which is still in operation. We produced cobia, pompano, and redfish. After 5 years working in Florida and the Caribbean, I decided that I was ready to go into business for myself. My father, brother, and I purchased a 126 acre property on Matagorda Bay, TX in 2008. I secured all the necessary permits, which took a couple of years, and we began construction in 2010. The farm has grown organically, and we finished buildout of the entire property in 2020.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many struggles as we have built our business. Getting off the ground was very difficult. Being a startup, we were not able to secure financing from commercial lending. A lot of sweat equity and family financing went into the company. In 2012, Sajjad Khan came on board as a partner, and gave an injection of capital which helped us to keep growing. By 2016, the company was more stable. In 2017, we sustained damage from Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall just to the south of us. However, we rebuilt and survived, and in 2020, we finished the development of the farm.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a 20-year career in marine aquaculture, beginning with research which led into commercial aquaculture. I have experience with land-based aquaculture in tanks and outdoor ponds, as well as experience in offshore aquaculture in ocean cages. At our current farm, Turtle Creek Aquaculture LLC, we strive to operate with more eco-friendly methods. We intend to go beyond the requirements of the regulatory agencies and enhance our natural ecosystem, instead of just maintaining it. As such, we have reserved 10-15% of our land for the development of marine wetlands. Wetlands provide habitat, sequester carbon, mitigate flooding, and they filter water before it enters our bays. We build wetlands to filter the water from our fish production, after which it can be released back into the bay or re-used. Our constructed wetlands also provide additional habitats for wildlife. Currently, we are working with the Matagorda Bay Foundation to develop a marine wetlands nursery, which will produce plants to construct new wetlands along the Texas coast.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In starting our business, Turtle Creek Aquaculture LLC, my father and I, and then our partner Sajjad Khan, took great risk. My father provided the initial financing, and then Sajjad came on board. I have put 10+ years of sweat equity into this venture. Aquaculture is a risky business to begin with, as you have to care for live animals, which is a 24/7 proposition. I was not an entrepreneur before starting this company. Having taken on this project, I have learned a lot about entrepreneurship and business, and I have become a little more comfortable in taking additional risk. The mantra “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” is true, and one has to take risk to grow – personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Email: kureshy@msn.com
- Website: https://www.turtlecreek.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtlecreekaquaculture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Turtlecreekaquaculture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0w8wPkEQMFBxJqvNR6yUpQ
