Atlantic Cod

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Introduction

Atlantic cod is a marine, cold-water fish that is currently being developed as a commercial aquaculture species in Canada. Cod are being raised on a developmental basis in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada's first farmed cod was harvested from a site in Hermitage Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2003. A second harvest of farmed cod occurred in Kelly Cove, New Brunswick in 2006. There is enormous potential for cod aquaculture in Atlantic Canada. The development of alternate species such as cod, halibut and haddock may be the key to the future success of the aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada.

Basic description

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, has a whitish-coloured belly and has a hair-like 'whisker' on its chin called a barbel. The scales are small and smooth, can be grey or green in colour, but may be brown or reddish. The mouth is large with a projecting upper jaw and the gill openings are wide. The lateral line of the cod is pale, and the tail is slightly concave, almost square. The flesh is white, moist and delicate with a mild, sweet taste.

As cod farming is still in development, detailed information regarding the average size and weight of the market-ready cod is not readily available. Based on field research to date, it takes rougly 24 to 28 months for cod to reach market-size once juvenile fish are transferred from the hatchery to sea cages. It is anticipated that market-ready cod will weigh between 3 and 4.5 kg (6.5 to 10 pounds).

Development

Experimentation with cod aquaculture began in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) following experiments showing that post-spawn cod can significantly increase in weight in a short period of time. Post-spawn cod are trapped, held in established farm sites and cared for until they are ready to harvest. This practice is known as "cod grow-out". NL cod grow-out production reached about 230 t in 2002.

Building on the experience from their cod grow-out operations, a NL company initiated research on full-cycle cod aquaculture: developing broodstock from wild cod, and moving to an "egg-to-plate" production in the mid 1990s. Practical efforts to build on this work remained low-key until late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, scientific research and field work have been underway in both NL and New Brunswick to develop cod aquaculture in Atlantic Canada.

There are positive signs for cod aquaculture on the horizon. Directed research has filled many of the biological, environmental, and technical knowledge gaps that will enable the path toward commercialization. Amongst the biological factors important for cod farming, the weaning period where cod learn to go from live feed to dry pelleted feed is very important. After that period, the techniques used for cod farming do not differ significantly from those for salmon or trout farming. A near commercial-scale demonstration to work out costs and day-to-day farm management practices (i.e. husbandry) is the next likely step.

Norway and Iceland began experimenting with commercial cod farming in the 1980s following similar success with their cod grow-out activities. The Norwegian government is expecting farmed cod production to continue to rise (this includes projections of both their cod grow-out and aquaculture activity). A company in Scotland is experimenting with large-scale, organic cod farming.

Background

Aquaculture often relies on wild populations of fish to produce broodstock. Broodstock are mature fish from which milt (sperm) and roe (eggs) are taken and fertilized to produce the next generation of cultivated fish. Fish farmers chose to breed the strongest, healthiest fish to produce the best-quality offspring. This process takes many generations to be successful.

Therefore, in an effort to support the development of cod aquaculture in Atlantic Canada, a multi-partner, $18.2 million collaborative study is underway called the Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Development Project (CGP). This project, led by Genome Atlantic, is fast-tracking selective breeding and subsequent rearing of offspring to pin-point the best broodstock families that produce fast-growing, disease-resistant, high-quality cod in sea cage conditions.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) participation in this project is a prime example of the department's commitment to support the development of a sustainable aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada. This is done in part by investing in scientific research and development, working collaboratively and providing support for industry development programs to expand and diversify the Canadian aquaculture industry. Information gathered through the CGP will also assist collaborative initiatives currently underway with Norway and Iceland who are also working to build cod aquaculture industries.

The CGP project will produce two elite broodstocks, originating from local cod populations, for industrial partners to use to build commercial-scale cod aquaculture operations in both New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Details regarding DFO's contribution in this project are provided below.

New Brunswick

In 2005, researchers at DFO's St. Andrews Biological Station began to focus research on Atlantic cod culture. Working with Genome Atlantic, the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, the Province of NB, the University of New Brunswick, Cooke Aquaculture and others, DFO is providing the facilities and infrastructure for the broodstock and their 50 family offspring. DFO was the first Canadian organization to produce cod families for breeding purposes. A combination of laboratory and field data will be used to assess inherited characteristics for various desirable traits, including length, weight, condition, appearance, maturity, organ weight and fillet yield.

The team is also focused on producing Atlantic cod to supply juvenile fish to the various research programs at the Station. In 2005, fish were supplied to the Station's Finfish Physiology Project for collaborative studies with the University of New Brunswick-Saint John. This multi-year study is looking at cod metabolism and, more specifically, how cod produce and use energy over their early life cycle. Future research will look at how this changes in various environments. Experimental work supported by funding through the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) funding is underway using photoperiod manipulation to delay and reduce the occurrence of sexual maturity of cod in sea cages which will lead to increased body growth and improved fillet quality.

For more details about DFO's work in NB, please read the fact sheet entitled, "Atlantic Cod Research at St. Andrew's Biological Station".

Newfoundland and Labrador

Since 2001, DFO has been working in partnership with Northern Cod Ventures and Memorial University's Ocean Sciences Centre on a project aimed at building a cod aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

DFO's work, with funding support through the ACRDP (see links below for details), focuses on developing an elite broodstock which involves finding parents of cod with the right genes to continue producing strong and healthy cod eggs and fast growing and healthy offspring suitable for a farm environment.

The goal is for the cod farming industry to use this broodstock to continue producing offspring that can be transported to fish cages for continued care until the fish are ready for harvest. The majority of the work being done is at the MUN Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay.

The Ocean Sciences Centre has various stations the hold large, healthy cod for broodstock; the development of the young eggs; and, smaller juvenile cod until they reach a size ready for transport to sea cages.

For more details about DFO's work in NL, please read "'Light Therapy' For Breeding More Fish".

For more information

Laying the Foundations for Cod Aquaculture (October 2007)

Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Project led by Genome Atlantic

Scientific research coordinated under DFO's Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program includes:

• Cod aquaculture - Strategies for improved hatchery broodstock management
• Cod Broodstock Development - Genetic Selection/Pedigree Program
• The effect of photoperiod and light intensity on growth and maturation of Atlantic cod in the Bay of Fundy
• Selective breeding and genetic improvement of Atlantic cod
• Optimization of diagnostic methodologies for the detection and life history pathogenesis studies of Betanodavirus in production and broodstock Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
• Development of diets to promote growth and stress resistance in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
• Utility of continuous light and triploidy to control sexual maturation of Atlantic cod in the Bay of Fundy

News Release - Science Meets Industry:  10,000 Cod Transferred to Sea Cages in the Bay of Fundy

Cooke Aquaculture - "Move over salmon, Cooke's cod squad is making waves" (PDF)
- originated in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, March 10, 2006

"A Future for Cod": Recommendations for Change submitted to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans by the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development (2004 report).

 "Opportunities in Cod Aquaculture": 2005 Seafood in Review (PDF) produced by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

Cod farming in Nordic countries: Reykjavik, Iceland Conference (September 2005)

Aquaculture Association of Canada - 2003 Conference (Victoria, BC)
Abstracts from the Progress in Commercialization of Alternate Species Session (Oct. 30)

• Jonathan Moir - Progress to commercialization for egg-to-plate cod in Newfoundland
• Chris Hendry - Cod growout in Newfoundland - A history and future considerations

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