How Atlantic cod aquaculture is developing and what welfare improvements are being integrated into newer production systems.
Atlantic cod aquaculture is at an earlier stage of welfare development than salmon aquaculture, which means both that current standards are lower and that there is greater opportunity for welfare to be built into the emerging industry before poor practices become entrenched. The lessons from salmon aquaculture development — where welfare problems were identified decades after the industry had established norms that are now expensive to change — should motivate proactive welfare investment in cod farming. Operations that establish welfare-positive norms now, including appropriate density, good water quality, and humane slaughter, create a foundation that benefits the industry's long-term development as well as the welfare of individual fish.