Raising cod in a setting that approximated their natural habitat was a rare opportunity to learn about cod behavior. Alongside firsthand diver observations, video cameras streamed real-time footage, and fine-scale movements of several fish were tracked using ultrasonic transmitters and underwater hydrophones. Combining video with biotelemetry revealed surprises about cod behavior. They are clearly most active in the day and unlike many other species that school in circular patterns, cod appear to move randomly and linger along the netting. They also practice moderation when feeding—not always partaking when food is delivered, or not feeding for the entire time it’s available. Biotelemtry continued with the 2006 year class of cod and hundreds of hours of data on movement and physiology have been recorded. A current meter installed inside the cage will help us to correlate the cods’ movements to environmental conditions, and greater video coverage afforded additional cameras will broaden their perspective on biotelemetry data. Such information has been critical in deciding how often and how much to feed cod. It is also informing future cage design and farm site selection—it may even further understanding on how cod behave in the wild.

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