Aquaculture Stewardship Council CEO Chris Ninnes.
Photo: ASC
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has today announced plans to add Atlantic cod to its global certification programme later this year, following a successful stakeholder consultation. The move comes amid growing demand from farmers, retailers, and consumers for sustainably farmed cod, the certification body said.
During the 30-day consultation period, held from 20 May to 20 June 2025, ASC gathered data-driven feedback and comments from stakeholders, including cod producers. The majority of responses came from Norway, currently the main region for Atlantic cod farming.
“The certification of Atlantic cod marks an important milestone for ASC, demonstrating our ability to respond quickly to market demand for new species,” said Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO.
“By certifying Atlantic cod, ASC is helping to improve farming practices, promote environmental responsibility, and support fair working conditions - delivering positive change across this growing sector of aquaculture.”
Atlantic cod farming in Norway.
At present, Norway has a small but expanding cod farming sector. According to the ASC, integrating cod into the ASC Salmon Standard will allow producers to immediately seek certification, providing them with a clear pathway to meet sustainability requirements and market demand.
Tor Olav Seim, Head of Business Development and Founder of Ode, Norway’s largest cod producer, said the move would give his company "a clear pathway to meet market demand for responsibly farmed cod."
"It’s an exciting opportunity to grow our business while promoting environmental responsibility and high welfare standards in cod farming," he added.
Beyond Norway, ASC said it expects the new certification to attract interest from producers in Iceland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, the wider Nordic region, and Canada, especially given recent reductions in wild cod quotas.
Initially, cod will be certified under a modified version of the ASC Salmon Standard. After a two-year transition period, the species will be fully integrated into the ASC Farm Standard V1.1, giving producers time to adapt to the updated requirements, the ASC said.
"Many criteria in the ASC Salmon Standard are directly relevant to cod, making it a logical addition. The programme will address key sustainability issues, including biodiversity loss, ecosystem impacts, disease management, and resource use, ensuring responsible and sustainable cod farming," the organisation explained.
The news comes in the same week ICES has released its fishing advice for North Sea cod, advising zero catch, and warning that even with a complete closure of the fishery, the risk of the southern North Sea cod population dropping below critical limits by 2027 is still predicted to be 44%.