Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Cod Welfare

Atlantic cod farming is being developed as an alternative to wild fisheries, raising novel welfare questions about rearing conditions and husbandry.

Key Facts

Atlantic cod is farmed primarily in Norway with growing interest in Iceland and Canada
Cod are sensitive to crowding and require carefully managed stocking densities
Spawning aggregation behaviour makes cod difficult to rear at high density
Disease and parasite management are significant challenges in cod aquaculture
Cod are known to be sentient and capable of learning, requiring enriched environments

Welfare Considerations

As cod aquaculture expands, welfare standards informed by cod ethology and physiology are urgently needed to prevent the replication of salmon farming's early welfare failures.

What You Can Do

Support research into cod welfare and aquaculture best practices
Choose cod products with marine certification (MSC or equivalent)
Advocate for welfare requirements in aquaculture licensing