Aquaculture – salvation of cod in North Atlantic fisheries?

Over the last decades fish resources have declined to a minimum. Although fisheries management systems tried to limit the natural resource access, overfishing is still an ongoing topic. To conserve fish stocks, the alternative of culturing the fish has been experiencing an upswing. The case of cod plays a decisive role in fish farming as it is one of the main commercial fish which is overexploited. Because of the high demand there is a need to stabilize and ensure the cod fishery for future benefit. This paper deals with the progress of aquaculture since the early 1970s related to the conservation of the demersal fish cod in the North Atlantic fisheries. The central questions are: Which effects did build up aquacultures and have impact on the development of cod fisheries? Did aquaculture constitute a useful addition to recovery plans of cod stocks? What were the socioeconomic consequences of fish farming? In fact, the aquaculture of cod cannot substitute the fishing sector (yet or in the coming future). It is linked with employment creation on the one side but fishermen will still have to generate their own proceeds on the other. From the biological point of view special and costly conditions are required to culture cod. The demersal fish is only able to survive in cold waters and therefore linked to designated regions. Species appropriate for cultivation is not easy to achieve. It is a debatable point whether aquaculture can make a contribution to conserve the natural resource cod.