ASC opened for certification of Atlantic cod in 2025, when cod was included in the revised ASC Salmon and Cod Standard v1.5. Ode is the first company to have completed a full audit and been awarded a certificate under the new standard.

"This is an important milestone for Ode, our customers and the wider cod industry.  ASC ensures that companies operate according to sustainable principles, prioritize animal welfare, and act in a socially responsible manner. This certification is a strong validation of Ode, the way we operate, and the products we provide our customers. Now consumers and the wider society can have even more trust in farmed cod being a high-quality sustainable product produced in a responsible manner," says Ola Kvalheim, CEO of Ode. He also points to the fact that Ode has worked closely with ASC over several years to develop the standard.

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A demanding audit of both environment and working conditions

The ASC standard sets tough requirements across the entire operation, for both sea-based and land-based production: impact on the seabed and on water quality around the farms, containment and escape prevention, traceability of feed ingredients, fish health and fish welfare, working conditions and health and safety, and transparency towards local communities and authorities. The audit covered both the environmental and the social principles of the standard and included interviews with employees at the sites and a review of documentation from the full production cycle.

"The team at Ode has been working on this for a long time, especially our operations and quality departments, who have developed the systems that enable us to document sustainable operations down to the smallest detail. A certification like this is something you must earn through documented sustainable and responsible operations," says Tor Olav Seim, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Ode.

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Market demand

The certification comes at a time of growing demand for demonstrably sustainable and responsible seafood. Wild fish populations are under pressure, and the United Nations states that significant growth in aquaculture is needed to meet the ever-growing demand. Being part of this global mega trend, Ode is growing and supplying fresh cod year-round to a selection of customers globally.

"For several of the large retail chains and customers, ASC is not nice to have, but rather a table-stakes requirement for being on the shelf. Now we finally have that validation, and it opens doors we have been knocking on for a long time," says Anders Tofte Wilhelmsen, Commercial Director at Ode. He believes the certification carries a value that extends beyond any individual customer agreement.

"Farmed cod is a young, innovative and exciting industry, working in a professional, sustainable and responsible manner — and an independent certification body has now verified that. The fact that the product now comes with independent certification behind it strengthens the position of the entire category," says Wilhelmsen.

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