Atlantic Cod Aquaculture Welfare

Atlantic cod aquaculture is a growing industry with specific welfare challenges related to cod behaviour, health, and production systems.

Key Facts

Norway leads Atlantic cod aquaculture production with growing output since 2020
Cod are cannibalistic and require size-grading to prevent welfare harms in mixed cohorts
Vibrio and Aeromonas bacterial infections are significant health challenges in cod aquaculture
Cod have strong schooling behaviour and require social group maintenance for welfare
Harvest methods for cod require development of welfare-appropriate stunning protocols

Welfare Considerations

Cod aquaculture welfare challenges differ from salmon due to cod's schooling behaviour, cannibalism risk, and different disease profile. Size variation in cohorts requires regular grading, causing handling stress and potential injury. Bacterial infections cause welfare harm and require careful antibiotic management. The development of welfare protocols for cod is less advanced than for salmon, reflecting the relative novelty of the industry. As production scales, establishing cod-specific welfare standards becomes increasingly important.

What You Can Do

Support development of cod-specific aquaculture welfare standards
Advocate for welfare assessment requirements before scaling cod aquaculture
Choose cod from certified sustainable sources with welfare components
Support research into cod behaviour and welfare requirements in aquaculture settings