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Demonstration of Sustainable Atlantic cod
(Gadus morhua) farming, from egg to grow-out, in Maine
 PROJECT FUNDED BY THE NOAA
SALTONSTALL KENNEDY FUND, 2003 TO 2005
Funding:
NOAA SK: $358,022
Matching Funds: $187,883
Principal Investigator: Nick Brown, UMaine, Center for
Cooperative Aquaculture Research
Co-investigators:
Linda Kling, UMaine, School of Marine Sciences
Denise Skonberg, UMaine, Food Science
Jamie Gaskill, Stolt Seafarm Inc
Graduate student: William Palmer (Masters candidate)
Contact: npbrown@maine.edu
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project will bring together University of Maine aquaculture
scientists and the leading marine aquaculture company in the State of
Maine to determine the economic feasibility of on-growing juvenile
Atlantic cod in net pens in Maine. Production parameters necessary to
develop an economic model will be collected throughout the study. Ways
to optimize on-growing techniques will be determined. Quality
attributes and consumer acceptance of the processed fish will be
assessed. In addition, a Best Management Practice (BMP) for cod
broodfish will be developed with State regulators and broodfish
quarantine facilities will be established at the University of
Maine-CCAR for the production of pathogen-free cod eggs. The results of
the work will be disseminated to interested people via presentations to
local and regional meetings as well as posting the results on the
University of Maine websites.
The proposed project will help to ensure a reliable egg supply for the
emerging industry and will enable a major salmon growing company to
test the economic and practical feasibility of growing Atlantic cod on
net pen sites in the Gulf of Maine.
 Overall Goal I - Assessment of
the economics of Atlantic cod production in net pens in Maine.
Specific Objectives for Goal I:
a) To establish growth rate, survival, feed conversion rate of Atlantic
cod grown in cages in the Gulf of Maine.
b) To assess the suitability of salmon net pen design for the ongrowing
of cod.
c) To optimize cage grown cod feeding systems and management.
d) To characterize quality attributes and assess consumer acceptance of
farmed raised Atlantic cod.
e) To develop an economic model for the commercial farming of cod in
net pens in the Gulf of Maine.
f) To compare the environmental impact of farming cod to salmon.
g) To train personnel in commercial cod farming techniques
h) To disseminate the projects findings at local and national forums.
Overall Goal II - Establishment of a
disease free industry source of Atlantic cod eggs.
Specific Objectives for Goal II:
a) To develop a best management practice for broodstock quarantine
protocols.
b) To develop a quarantine facility for broodstock screening and
recruitment.
c) To collect and quarantine additional wild cod broodstock for
recruitment to existing population.
d) To test disinfection practices for Atlantic cod eggs and assess
their effects on viability.
e) To disseminate protocols for quarantine and findings on egg
disinfection.
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