Havland, one of Norway’s leading cod farming companies, is calling for the development of specialised cod feed to support the future growth of the industry. To help drive that process, the company has partnered with Danish feed supplier Aller Aqua with the shared aim of revitalising large-scale cod farming, introducing new technologies and improving fish welfare.
Chief Production Officer Halvard Hovland, who has led Havland since 2000, says the cod farming sector has reached a critical point. Having witnessed the market’s fluctuations over the past two decades, he believes the wider marine ecosystem is undergoing major change.
“We have an entire ecosystem changing – in part because of overfishing and invasive species like the Russian snow crab,” says Hovland. “Add to that climate change, allowing species like mackerel to swim further north and feed on the cod fingerlings.”
He added that while many continue to predict the recovery of wild cod populations, there is still considerable uncertainty surrounding the future of the species.
Together with Havland’s 45 employees, Hovland is therefore focused on developing a more sustainable approach to producing healthy farmed cod for a demanding market.
“The wild cod stocks are at an all-time low, and cod prices at an all-time high,” he explains. “Here in Norway, farmed cod is now competing with salmon when it comes to prices. Had you predicted this scenario five to ten years ago, people would have said that you’d lost it. All to say that the macro picture for developing cod farming is really good right now.”
According to Hovland, however, unlocking the sector’s full potential will require dedicated work across several areas, including live prey, water treatment, genetics and first-feeding protocols. Feed development has become one of his key priorities, particularly understanding the nutritional requirements of cod throughout its lifecycle.
“For far too long the industry has only talked about ‘marine fish feed’. But what is ‘marine fish’? We are talking about a lot of completely different species with completely different needs,” he says. “It is as if a farmer only had one type of feed for cows, pigs, chickens and sheep. Nobody in their right mind would accept that.”
Hovland believes a broader and more species-specific approach to aquafeed is essential for the future of cod farming.
“The simplification when it comes to feed just won’t do. To have a single-species focus, utilise the full potential in its genetics, and ensure good fish welfare in future stocks at the same time, a full focus on feed is a key priority.”
He also stressed that cod should not be treated as a variation of salmon in feed formulation strategies.
“We need to understand that cod is not a strange kind of salmon. A cod is a cod, and it needs different things to develop, grow and become a healthy adult. But so far nobody has developed tailor-made cod feed.”
To support this shift, Havland has turned to Aller Aqua, the Danish family-owned feed producer with more than 60 years of experience in aquaculture nutrition. The company is known for its emphasis on biological research and species-specific feed development for a range of aquaculture species.
“With Aller Aqua, we have experienced a dedication to developing recipes for cod feed that we haven’t seen in our industry before,” says Hovland.
“In Norway, the main focus is on salmon, and it is all about high volume. In this project, we work with lower volumes and low-fat particles. Aller Aqua has a dedicated species focus and already produces feed for many different fish species internationally.”
Through this collaboration, Havland hopes to develop a unique feed formulation tailored specifically to cod at every stage of life, from fry and fingerlings through to adult fish.
Collaboration supports continued innovation
The partnership with Havland is also proving highly valuable for Aller Aqua. According to Sales Director Lars Rohold, the project represents exactly the type of collaboration the Danish feed company had been seeking.
“Havland is perhaps the most knowledgeable and experienced partner in the world when it comes to cod,” says Rohold. “They supply approximately 80 percent of fingerlings to the market and have been leading breeding development over the past 20 years. In addition, they have the ideal facilities to support the research and development work required to succeed.”
Rohold believes the timing is right for greater investment in cod farming and nutrition. “There is significant potential surrounding cod at the moment, and the species fits directly within our core business,” he explains. “To work with a partner that is equally curious, engaged and dedicated is extremely encouraging.”
