Farmed Cod and Haddock Welfare: Demersal Fish in Aquaculture

Atlantic cod and haddock are increasingly farmed as wild stocks collapse. Welfare research for these demersal species is developing as production scales up, with specific challenges around aggression, light, and handling.

Key Facts

Atlantic cod populations collapsed catastrophically in the 1990s; farmed cod is becoming commercially significant.
Cod are cannibalistic at high densities, requiring careful size grading to prevent welfare-harmful predation.
Cod have complex light responses — photoperiod manipulation is used to control growth and maturation.
Haddock are less domesticated than cod and show higher stress responses to handling and transport.
Both species demonstrate nociceptive responses to painful stimuli consistent with pain experience.

Welfare Considerations

Farmed cod and haddock welfare research is in earlier stages than salmon welfare science, partly because production volumes are lower. Key welfare concerns include cannibalism management at high densities, light and photoperiod manipulation effects on behavior, and handling stress during size grading operations. Cod welfare research at the Institute of Marine Research in Norway has identified significant welfare challenges that will need to be addressed as production scales up. Establishing welfare standards before mass production normalizes suboptimal conditions is the most effective regulatory approach.

What You Can Do

Support development of welfare standards for demersal fish aquaculture before production scales.
Follow welfare research from the Institute of Marine Research Norway and Fish Welfare Initiative.
Advocate for welfare provisions to be included in aquaculture expansion permits.
Choose wild-caught cod from well-managed fisheries with low bycatch when welfare-assured farmed options are unavailable.
Engage with aquaculture policy consultations to ensure welfare is considered alongside sustainability.