Atlantic cod aquaculture has developed more slowly than salmon farming but raises similar welfare questions about stocking density, feeding, and the welfare of juvenile fish during early rearing.
Cod aquaculture welfare sits at an earlier stage of development than salmon welfare science, reflecting the sector's smaller commercial scale. The welfare challenges including cannibalism in juvenile stages, density management, and escape prevention are addressable but require investment in species-specific research. The potential for cod farming to relieve pressure on wild populations is a conservation argument that must be evaluated alongside welfare considerations for both farmed and wild cod. Escape prevention is critical given the genetic conservation importance of recovering wild populations.