New research funding for cod farmers

Norway’s growing cod farming industry is in line to receive substantial extra research funding, it has been announced.

A consortium of research institutions, along with a number of cod farming businesses, have been told by the Research Council of Norway they will receive almost NOK 9.67m (almost £800,000) which will be used to fund the development of new feeding strategies.

Companies involved include Arctic Cod, Statt Torsk, Skretting AS along with the research and educational organisations Nofima and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).

The purpose of the project is to develop a feeding concept that takes into account cod’s environmental response, eating behaviour and nutritional potential.

It is hoped this work will contribute to more profitable and sustainable production through better fish health, more efficient feed consumption and increased control of sexual maturation.

The project will run over four years, focussing on new methods for feeding and changing the composition of the feed.

Thor Magne Jonassen from Akvaplan-niva, the project manager, said there has been an incredible amount of important work that will now be able to take place thanks to the extra research funding.

Julianne Jacobsen, Head of Fish Health at Norcod, added: “It is great to see that research funding is now being allocated to farmed cod, and this is a clear signal that there is again faith in cod farming.

“We look forward to getting started with the project to gather knowledge that can help optimise fish welfare in cod farming.”