Atlantic cod and halibut farming is expanding as wild stocks decline, bringing welfare challenges specific to these cold-water predatory species.
Cod and halibut aquaculture represents a sector where welfare standards are still in early development relative to the scale of production being planned. The decline of wild stocks creates pressure to develop aquaculture alternatives, but the welfare framework governing these new industries is being developed after the fact rather than in advance of scaling. Species-specific welfare challenges including cannibalism management, diet transition difficulties, and appropriate slaughter methods for large flatfish are not trivial and require research investment before they can be adequately addressed. The failure to establish robust welfare standards before scaling cod and halibut aquaculture risks repeating the pattern seen in salmon farming, where welfare problems were identified after the industry had grown to a scale that made reform difficult and expensive.