Atlantic cod aquaculture has expanded as wild stocks have declined. As a relatively new farmed species, cod welfare science is developing rapidly, identifying key challenges around aggression, cannibalism, and stress management.
Cod aquaculture welfare science is in a formative stage, which creates both risk and opportunity. Early decisions about housing standards, density limits, and handling protocols will shape industry practices for decades. Cod are not simply scaled-up salmon — their social dynamics, aggressive tendencies, and physiological characteristics require species-specific welfare approaches. Investment in cod welfare research during this developmental phase is significantly more impactful than retrospective reform of established practices. The lessons learned from salmon aquaculture — particularly around the welfare costs of early management decisions — should inform cod aquaculture from the outset.