Farmed Atlantic Cod: Welfare Challenges in an Emerging Species

Atlantic cod aquaculture is being developed as an alternative to wild capture. Understanding the welfare challenges specific to this species enables better standards from the outset.

Key Facts

Wild Atlantic cod populations have collapsed due to overfishing across the North Atlantic
Cod aquaculture is in development in Norway, Iceland, and Scotland
Cod are highly aggressive and develop strict dominance hierarchies at high densities
Growth variation leads to large size differences that increase aggression and competitive exclusion
Spinal deformities occur at higher rates in farmed cod than wild populations
Cod require specific temperature and oxygen parameters that differ from salmon needs

Welfare Considerations

Farmed cod welfare challenges differ from salmon in important ways. The species' aggressive nature at commercial densities creates chronic subordination stress for smaller individuals. Growth heterogeneity means size-grading - a stressful procedure - is required repeatedly. Early-stage welfare research has identified spinal deformity rates that require genetic and husbandry solutions. Establishing welfare standards for cod aquaculture from the outset is preferable to retrofitting them after industry has scaled.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards development for cod aquaculture before the industry scales
Advocate for independent welfare research to be required alongside aquaculture licensing
Choose cod from sustainable wild capture until farmed cod welfare standards are established