Atlantic cod aquaculture has been attempted as wild stocks collapsed. The species proves difficult to farm intensively, and welfare challenges have limited commercial viability.
Atlantic cod welfare in aquaculture revealed fundamental incompatibilities between their natural behaviour and intensive production requirements. Cannibalism necessitates intensive grading that itself causes welfare harm. Their stress sensitivity means handling procedures impose greater welfare costs than in salmonids. Dark tank preferences are poorly accommodated in standard open-tank systems. These welfare challenges contributed to the commercial viability problems that caused most cod aquaculture to be abandoned, illustrating how welfare constraints are intertwined with production economics.