Published 09.02.2022, Updated 07.03.2023.

Cod farming poses a significant threat to Norway's wild fish and unique coastal ecosystems. Escaped farmed cod have already led to genetic contamination and weakened fish populations. Despite past environmental damage, the government plans to allow further growth of cod farming, which could permanently harm wild cod stocks. The Norwegian Environmental Federation calls for an immediate halt to all cod farming to protect native fish populations and ensure a sustainable marine environment.

The government has received an inquiry from the Norwegian Environmental Protection Association, expressing deep concern about the environmental consequences of cod farming, particularly related to escapes and genetic contamination of wild cod stocks. Here is the government's response:

We refer to the email from the Norwegian Environmental Protection Association dated January 25, 2023. The Norwegian Environmental Protection Association expresses concern, particularly regarding the escape of farmed cod and sexually mature farmed cod. The Norwegian Environmental Protection Association supports a proposal to temporarily suspend the processing of new permits and locations for cod farming and requests the cessation of the allocation of free permits for cod farming, as well as the swift emptying and decommissioning of existing facilities.

The government aims to facilitate growth in cod farming. The regulations require that cod farming be environmentally sustainable, and each location application is assessed in light of factors such as environmental impact. Additionally, various regulatory requirements are in place to address environmental impacts at all stages of cod farming production. The Aquaculture Committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the current permit system in the aquaculture industry. Among other things, the committee will assess the objectives of the permit regulations and how they can be adapted to existing and new challenges.

The government clearly doesn't understand the gravity of the risk of genetic contamination from degenerate farmed cod mixing with our wild cod stocks. There have been massive escapes, where the industry has clearly proven that they are not mature enough to manage such an important species as cod. 87,000 spawning-ready farmed cod escaped from a facility in Volda, and in Meløy, large quantities of escaped spawning-ready farmed cod were caught, while the company refused to acknowledge that fish had escaped from their facility. It was only after the Fisheries Directorate tested the cod's genetic material and confirmed it came from Norcod's facility in Meløy that they admitted the fish could have come from their farm. However, they still deny that fish may have escaped from their facility.

It is precisely in this context that the government, in a letter to the Environmental Protection Association on March 7, 2023, states that "the government seeks to facilitate growth in cod farming."It has taken hundreds of thousands of years for cod to adapt, and it only takes a moment to destroy the genetic integrity of wild cod stocks. There is only one acceptable solution, and that is an immediate total ban on all cod farming.

• Se Nærings- og fiskeridepartementets brev til Miljøvernforbundet av 07. mars 2023 (PDF)

The disaster we feared for cod farming has unfortunately now become a reality. In 2022, the largest number of escaped fish along the coast was no longer salmon, but farmed cod. Escapes of farmed salmon have already become a major disaster, as several unique salmon stocks have already been destroyed by the mixing of genetic material from degenerated farmed salmon.

Now, our important cod stocks (cod, skrei, and coastal cod) are at risk of being destroyed in the same way. No fish species has been more important to Norway and its coastal settlements than cod. It has provided food and livelihood for thousands of years and has also been the very foundation of our many coastal communities, as well as an important economic industry for the entire country. For the ecosystems in our seas and fjords, cod is also crucial for maintaining ecological balance. Now, we risk losing our cod.

Thousands of years of adaptation to life in our waters could be lost as degenerated farmed cod now spawn in open pens, escape, and mix with wild cod populations. All of this for short-term profit by an exceptionally cynical industry that, over the last few decades, has proven it is incapable of managing the environmental issues caused by fish farming. The number of escapes shows that this industry is not mature enough to handle fish farming, and now our wild cod stocks are being destroyed as well. Fishermen who encounter escaped farmed cod report fish that look sick, malformed, and some complain that the fish smell like sewage.

The cod being farmed now has many generations of further degeneration from the farmed cod attempted 15-20 years ago. This is absolutely not the type of fish we want to spawn with our wild cod populations. Once farmed genes have entered coastal cod and Atlantic cod, there is no going back. The cod could quickly be destroyed forever.

The issue of farmed cod escapees has once again gained significant attention, with several serious cases illustrating the dramatic consequences this has for Norwegian fjords and wild fish populations.

In one of the largest escapes in recent years, 87,000 farmed cod escaped from facilities in Volda, but only 408 fish have been recaptured so far. There is great concern that these farmed cod will spawn with wild cod and cause genetic contamination. According to a report from NRK (December 14, 2022), this is just one of several cases that have shaken both environmental advocates and fishermen.

In Meløy municipality in Nordland, fisherman Lars-Gøran Ulriksen raised the alarm after his nets were filled with escaped farmed cod. In January, he caught between 70 and 80 kilos daily, and by fishing near a fish farming facility, he managed to catch a total of 1,500 kilos of farmed cod. He contacted the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, which is now investigating the case (NRK, January 18, 2023).

In February 2023, Norcod in Meløy was ordered to cull farmed cod after fish in the cages were found to be sexually mature. This creates a significant risk of uncontrolled spawning and genetic mixing with wild fish. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has demanded the culling of two cages and further monitoring of the rest, but the risk remains high that cod have already escaped and reproduced (Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, February 3, 2023).

Despite genetic testing showing that escaped fish in Meløy originated from Norcod's facility, the company denies responsibility, claiming they have found no evidence of damage to the nets. This pattern has become increasingly apparent in the industry, where escapes often occur without companies admitting or reporting them. Many companies seem to prioritize economic considerations over environmental responsibility, as Norcod itself illustrates by stating that the incident will have "minimal economic impact" (E24, February 19, 2023).

This problem is not limited to farmed cod. In Vadheim, Sognefjorden, an entire 35,000 spawning-ready farmed salmon escaped in October 2022. These fish were also infected with the PD virus (SAV3), which can be transmitted to wild fish. The escape occurred during the spawning season, further exacerbating the risk to wild salmon. By comparison, only 946 salmon were caught in the entire fjord system in 2021, highlighting how catastrophic such incidents can be for the balance of the ecosystem (Firda, November 1, 2022).

The Norwegian Environmental Protection Association has filed reports on several of these incidents, referring to the escapes as severe environmental crimes. The industry's apparent indifference to genetic contamination and damage to ecosystems raises serious concern. As Petter Dass once wrote: «Skulde torsken os feyle, hvad havde vi da?» (If the cod should fail us, what will we have then)

The government and the aquaculture industry now face a choice: Should economic growth in cod farming be prioritized, or should Norway's unique coastal ecosystems be protected for future generations?

The Norwegian Environmental Protection Association (NMF) has consistently reported violations by the aquaculture industry to the police over the years, but the situation has never been more serious than it is now. After the escape of 87,000 farmed cod from the Alida site in Volda municipality – one of the largest escapes in a long time – the Environmental Protection Association has reported both Sunnmøre Torsk AS and Gadus Group AS to the police. Norcod AS, responsible for the escaped farmed cod in Meløy, and Aller Aqua Norway AS for the salmon escape in Flotneset in Sognefjorden, have also been reported.

The gift of audacity from Gadus Group AS
After the massive escape in Volda last fall, Gadus Group AS has chosen to change its name to Ode and has simultaneously been granted permission for a new site for cod farming in Aure. This occurs just months after the company caused the escape of 87,000 genetically degenerated farmed cod into Norwegian fjords. This raises serious questions about the company's environmental responsibility and attitudes. On their new website, they promote high ideals:

«Everything we do is based on sustainable principles. Our vision is long term, and we will continue to produce in harmony with nature.»
– Ode.no

The reality, however, stands in stark contrast to the claims of sustainability and harmony with nature. After contributing to extensive genetic contamination of local cod stocks, the company shows no signs of remorse or willingness to improve. This highlights the validity of the Environmental Protection Association's police report against Gadus Group AS.

New letter to the authorities: Demands a halt to cod farming
The Norwegian Environmental Protection Association sent a new letter to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries on January 25, 2023, once again demanding a complete halt to cod farming. The letter refers to the Norwegian Fishermen's Association's request from January 19, 2023, which called for a temporary suspension of the processing of new permits and locations for cod farming.

In their demand NMF emphasizes:

• The practice of granting free-of-charge concessions for cod farming must cease.
• Existing facilities must be emptied and fallowed as soon as possible.

NMF points out that today's farming methods have not improved since the previous "cod adventure" 15 years ago, which was halted precisely due to escapes and uncontrolled spawning in the pens. The latest major escapes show that the problems remain acute and unsustainable.

NMF has never been clearer in its warnings. The escapes not only threaten wild cod but also entire ecosystems in Norwegian fjords. If action is not taken quickly, the damage to Norwegian fish stocks could become irreversible.

More and more applications for cod farming are now being reviewed by local municipalities. In Senja Municipality alone, there are currently 9 applications concerning cod farming. Even within national salmon fjords, farmers are now seeing opportunities to enter cod farming, as these fjords only have a ban on salmon farming. We are now seeing an example of this, where such farming is being proposed as a new aquaculture area in the Trondheim Fjord, in Levanger Municipality. Here, they are bypassing and ignoring the subsequent environmental problems that farming in open facilities causes, which also affects the conservation values of the national salmon fjords.

Cod farming remains a threat to the environment and wild fish along our coast. The last attempt at cod farming 10-15 years ago faced challenges, including aggressive fish behavior, frequent escapes, and injuries. Proponents of current cod farming claim to have bred these issues out over several generations. However, despite these claims, environmental concerns persist, such as pollution from facilities, disease transmission to wild fish, spread of cod lice, chemical use to remove lice, and genetic impact on local coastal cod due to escapes and spawning directly in the pens.

Breeding in the pens:

Farmed cod are known to spawn in the cages, likely due to unnatural conditions like high temperatures and continuous light. This leads to the release of large amounts of eggs and milt into the fjords, causing a dangerous genetic mix between farmed cod and native coastal cod. Over time, this could lead to the extinction of the unique coastal cod species.

According to reports, a single fish farm can release tens of billions of cod eggs each year, which poses a catastrophic risk to the natural cod population. This genetic contamination could disrupt local ecosystems and lead to the decline of native cod stocks, further endangering the species. The impact on biodiversity from such escapes is significant and concerning.【Kyst og Fjord】. The issue is similar to the genetic contamination caused by farmed salmon mixing with wild salmon populations. Native coastal cod is just as vulnerable to genetic pollution as wild salmon. This contamination can result in the loss of genetic diversity, threatening the survival of native fish stocks.

Farmers attempt to limit cod spawning by manipulating lighting conditions in the cages, but this approach is both technically and humanly vulnerable. Any system failure could lead to significant genetic contamination. Additionally, farmed cod are bred to be "lazier, dumber, and weaker" – traits that do not belong in wild coastal cod populations. This further exacerbates the risk of genetic degradation and threatens the survival of native fish stocks.

Here are the Norwegian Cods (forskning.no)

Escaping:

Farmed cod are known to escape from the cages, a behavior observed in previous farming trials. Even today's selectively bred "calm" cod are prone to escaping, and once they do, they quickly adapt to the local environment. When farmed cod participate in natural spawning, they spread their genes to the wild coastal cod, posing a significant threat to the genetic integrity of the native population. This genetic mixing can have long-term negative effects on wild cod stocks.

Unlike salmon, which must find their way to salmon-bearing rivers to spawn, escaped farmed cod go directly into the fjords – the spawning areas of the native coastal cod. This makes the escape of farmed cod even more devastating for natural cod populations compared to the similar issues with farmed salmon. The potential for genetic contamination and loss of local fish stocks is significantly higher in this case.

Animal Welfare:

Cod farming leads to significant animal welfare issues, as cod are bottom-dwelling fish adapted to lower densities than those in farming cages. The overcrowding results in stress, injuries, and diseases, leading to high mortality rates. Recently, 48,000 cod died in a short period at one farm. These conditions highlight the ethical concerns of intensive cod farming, where the fish's well-being is severely compromised.【Finansavisen】.

Farmed cod show a high rate of deformities, with as much as 50% of the fish developing physical abnormalities, such as deformed jaws ("parrot fish"), skeletal issues, and other defects. These deformities are partly caused by unnatural farming conditions, such as pressure differences when fish stay near the surface. This raises significant concerns about the impact of farming practices on the health and welfare of the fish.

Pollution:

Cod farming cages release large amounts of waste and excess feed, which settle as sludge on the seabed. This degrades the seafloor, reduces oxygen levels, and suffocates local marine life. Coral, seaweed, and kelp are particularly vulnerable to such changes. The pollution spreads to surrounding areas through currents, negatively impacting entire fjord ecosystems. This type of environmental damage highlights the unsustainable nature of cod farming and its long-term effects on marine biodiversity.

Disease:

Cod can be affected by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. While nodavirus has been detected in cod, its impact is not fully understood. There is limited knowledge about pathogens and diseases in cod, and as cod farming expands, new health challenges are likely to arise. In 2004, a bacterial disease caused significant mortality in Norwegian cod farming. As the industry grows, the risk of emerging diseases increases, presenting a major concern for the sustainability of cod farming.

The bacterium Francisella Noatunesis became a major issue in cod farming. It causes disease in cod and cannot be treated with antibiotics, as it lives inside fish cells. No vaccine exists for the disease. The bacteria have been found in escaped cod, with potential risks to wild cod populations. Intensive cod farming may lead to serious infectious disease challenges, including new and more aggressive pathogens. While chemicals may be used initially, this approach is not sustainable long-term.

In open-net pen salmon and trout farming, 16 known diseases cause issues, all of which can spread to wild fish, leading to sickness and death. These diseases are treated with various medications, which enter the sea through fish waste. Additionally, 7% of the feed is lost, and this leftover feed can be consumed by wild fish below the pens. These issues can introduce harmful chemicals and pathogens into the marine ecosystem. (Veterinærinstituttet) (Se vedlagt link til rapport)

In open-net pen salmon and trout farming, 16 known diseases cause issues, all of which can spread to wild fish, leading to sickness and death. These diseases are treated with various medications, which enter the sea through fish waste. Additionally, 7% of the feed is lost, and this leftover feed can be consumed by wild fish below the pens. These issues can introduce harmful chemicals and pathogens into the marine ecosystem.

There is nothing to suggest that cod will not also need to be treated with various medications for a range of diseases, which would create the same risks for wild fish. These fish may consume medication-laden feed that escapes the pens, just as wild fish ingest waste feed from salmon and trout farms, further contributing to the spread of harmful substances and pathogens.

Medicated fish are not allowed to be sold for human consumption until they have "cleansed" themselves of the medication. Wild fish, however, do not have this opportunity before being caught for food. As a result, humans consuming wild fish could also ingest medications intended for farmed cod. NMF is confident that diseases from the fish farms will spread to wild fish, potentially causing deadly consequences for various fish species, as supported by several researchers.

The Bacteria Francisella noatunensis: 

Torskeoppdrett | Havforskningsinstituttet (hi.no)

Report about disease and viruses:

Miljøproblemer i forbindelse med oppdrett av torsk (vetinst.no)

The spread of disease:

Forsker: Ikke tvil om spredning av dødelig virus fra oppdrettsfisk til villfisk | DN

Lice:

Just like salmon, cod are also affected by lice, including both Scutellolice and Cod Lice. Scutellolice, in particular, can spread to other species, making the spread of lice from farmed cod to local wild cod and other species in the fjord a major issue. This could generate the same problems seen with salmon lice. If the lice infestation becomes too severe, cod will also need to be treated with lice chemicals, which could spread throughout the fjord and harm shellfish, affecting the entire ecosystem and human food sources.

Wild fish feed on spills from the farms:

NMF is concerned about wild fish that gather under aquaculture facilities to feed on spilled feed. This leads to reduced fish quality, negatively impacting both local hobbyists and professional fishermen. Studies have shown that around each facility, an average of 10.2 tons of wild fish from 16 different species congregate. The impact on the local ecosystem is substantial.

Fish caught near aquaculture facilities cannot be sold as food by local fishermen due to degraded quality and concerns about medication, lice treatments, and withdrawal periods. Wild fish that feed on aquaculture feed become fat and sluggish, as shown by examples from fish under salmon and trout farms.

Wild fish getting fed by pellets - pisses me off - Newsarticle from NRK Hordaland

Jobs at fish farming facilities:

Fish farmers always entice with promises of many local jobs. However, the numbers they present often turn out to be unrealistic. A typical fish farming facility with 4-8 cages employs only 3-5 people, who usually manage multiple facilities. Most of the work is now digitalized, with automated feeding machines replacing manual labor. Moreover, seasonal workers hired through the EEA agreement are often employed, as they have different wage and working hour requirements compared to Norwegian workers.

One factor that shouldn't be overlooked is that established fish farms also have a negative impact on other industries, such as local fishermen, tourism, etc. These jobs are often affected to such an extent that they are effectively pushed out of the areas. Coexistence between fish farming and other industries is often challenging in practice

Conclution and demands:

Based on this, NMF has demanded that all new applications for licenses to farm cod in open facilities be rejected/forbidden and that existing licenses be required to implement a zero-emission operation. Cod farming adds to the environmental issues we already face along the coast with salmon farming. The ecosystems of the Norwegian coast cannot withstand another 'farming adventure..

NMF is working hard to prevent this from spreading. Our biggest fear is that our prediction will come true: first, they destroyed the wild salmon population, now they will destroy the coastal cod.

• Miljøvernforbundets krav til Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet 25.01.2023 (PDF)

• Nærings- og fiskeridepartementets brev til Miljøvernforbundet av 07.03.2023 (PDF)
• Miljøvernforbundets anmeldelse 13.12.2022 av torskerømningen i Volda, Vestland fylke (PDF)
• Miljøvernforbundets anmeldelse 16.02.2023 av torskerømningen i Meløy, Nordland (PDF)
• Miljøvernforbundets anmeldelse 23.12.2022 av lakserømningen Vadheim i Sognefjorden (PDF)
• Les Miljømagasinet 2-2008 Kjemper mot torskeoppdrett (PDF)