Bergen, Norway: A viable organic farmed cod market has taken a big step forward with the UK government's approval of one certifier
organic standards for farmed cod

The UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs officially recognized the Organic Food Federation's standards for the production of farmed cod late last month, the first standard of its kind in the UK, according to OFF Director Julian Wade.

The approval opens the door for UK producers to rear and sell their farmed cod as certified organic cod.

OFF, which certifies salmon farms in Ireland and the Shetlands, first developed the cod standards in early 2004.

The news is a big boon in particular for Shetland-based Johnson Seafarms, which has been raising its cod under OFF's standards for the past year.

Wade said the firm would likely have its current crop of farmed cod officially certified before its Aug. 2005 harvest, though he said that there will be further inspection of the farm to ensure that the fish meet the standard.

Wade said OFF will continue to look for interested parties, including aquaculture, feed and hatchery operations in the UK, but added that it would also cast its gaze overseas as well.

"There are other people who are interested," Wade said.

Wade said he and other certification groups have been invited to meet with one cod producer in Molde, Norway next week to discuss interest in organic farmed cod in that country.

Drew Cherry, IntraFish