The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has launched a 30-day public consultation to consider including Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in its certification and labelling programme. The consultation begins today, 20 May, and seeks input on the environmental and social impacts of cod farming.
To accelerate certification, ASC plans to add Atlantic cod under the existing ASC Salmon Standard v1.4. Cod will remain under this standard during a transition period before being fully incorporated into the broader ASC Farm Standard, which becomes mandatory in May 2027.
The move comes as wild Atlantic cod stocks continue to decline and farmed cod gains importance in global seafood supply. Cod farming shares multiple traits with salmon farming, including production systems and environmental challenges such as dependency on fishmeal and fish oil. In Norway, both species are regulated under the same framework, supporting ASC’s decision to use the salmon standard as an interim measure.
The consultation focuses on issues such as Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR), sea lice management, and the role of fingerling suppliers. ASC is particularly interested in feedback from Norwegian stakeholders due to the country’s role in cod farming.
ASC Director of Standards and Science Michiel Fransen said the similarities between salmon and cod farming allow the council to bring cod farmers into the programme sooner, enabling a quicker response to market needs.
Responses to the consultation are open globally and can be submitted via ASC’s website.
