Atlantic cod farming has faced significant technical and welfare challenges, but advances in husbandry and genetic selection are improving both viability and fish welfare.
Cod are intelligent, active predatory fish with complex behavioral repertoires. In crowded farm conditions, they show high levels of aggression and cannibalism that cause both physical injury and chronic stress. Their sensitivity to handling and crowding means welfare standards appropriate for other species may be insufficient for cod. The welfare challenges of cod farming require species-specific solutions including appropriate stocking density limits, injury monitoring, and enrichment strategies that reflect the predatory nature of this fish.