Cod farmer gets approval for a further 3,500 tonnes

Cod farmer Ode has received approval to start its sixth location, adding a further 3,500 maximum allowable biomass tonnes to production capability.

The location is near Støylen, north of Bergen in Volda municipality.

Ode was known as Gadus until it changed its name in February. The company said the new site would help it achieve its growth plan and provide more flexibility, increasing its biomass capacity to 25,000 tonnes.

The decision also makes up for the disappointment of being turned down in August by Nordland county council for a similar sized farm further north in Bindal municipality, even though the local municipal authority had given the plan its backing. No reason was given for the refusal.

Ode CEO Ola Kvalheim said: “We already serve our customers with fresh cod every day, 52 weeks per year, and this new farming site will further strengthen our ability to support the growing demand for fresh farmed cod

He added: “We are experiencing very strong demand for our products despite a challenging macro environment in some markets, making increased production imperative to meet the market’s growing appetite for fresh farmed cod.”

Ode is one of a growing number of cod farmers in Norway who see an increasing future for the sector, as cod catch quotas are regularly reduced due to pressure on wild stocks.

Farmed cod is becoming increasingly popular with southern European seafood buyers and this trend is likely to continue.

CEO Kvalheim said the company was experiencing very strong demand for its products despite some challenges.

Ola Kvalheim, CEO Ode