As cod farming develops as a commercial aquaculture sector, what welfare challenges and standards are emerging for this historically important species.
Atlantic cod aquaculture is at an early stage where welfare standards could be built in from the beginning rather than retrofitted after problems are established. Cod are active, visually-oriented predators whose natural behavior involves extensive territorial movement - conditions quite different from high-density tank culture. Early life stage cannibalism creates significant welfare problems requiring management solutions. Temperature sensitivity means that warming seas create both welfare and viability challenges for open-sea cage farming. The opportunity exists to develop a new farmed species with good welfare standards from the outset.