However, as cod farming is still in its infancy some of the production methods outlined herein may change, or at least be refined, in the future and interested parties are advised to keep abreast of these developments. The History of Atlantic Cod Culture Atlantic cod have been reared in captivity for over 100 years in both Norway and Canada. Up until the 1970s operations aimed solely at producing yolk-sac fry to restock local wild populations. Interest in farming cod to market size developed in Norway in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1977 cod were reared from eggs to mature fish in captive conditions for the first time.
Seawater is pumped into the mesocosm to provide the cod larvae with a source of planktonic food.
Variations in the amount and quality of the plankton, along with the potential for the introduction of diseases has largely curtailed the use of these systems. The production of sufficient numbers of juveniles remains the biggest problem facing cod farmers. Today, through improved technical knowledge, the industry is much better placed to make commercial-scale cod farming a financially viable proposition. The Farming Opportunity in Shetland Cod are naturally found in the waters around Shetland. Cod grow well at the seawater temperatures experienced in Shetland which makes it a highly suitable environment for farming this species.