EARLYCOD

Acronym
EarlyCOD
Title
Early feeding of cod combining cryoplankton and microfeeds to improve fish performance and quality
Code
COMPETE2030-FEDER-01006200 (E!219)
Program
P2030, Aviso MPr-2023-4 – SIID – Internacionalização de I&D EUROSTARS 3 – Call 1
Main Objective
Enhance growth, survival, and quality of cod larvae and juveniles
Beneficiary Entities
Sparos Lda., Planktonic AS (Norway), CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (Portugal)
Leader Institution
Sparos
Approval Date
16 July 2024
Time period
26 June 2022 – 30 August 2025
Total Eligible Costs
495.548,74 EUR
EU Funding
336.070,88 EUR

EarlyCOD aim to develop a novel aquafeed protocol that combines cryopreserved plankton and microfeeds to enhance growth, survival, and quality of cod larvae and juveniles. This approach aims to shorten the live feed phase, reduce mortality and stress, and improve overall juvenile cod quality while lowering production costs.

Project Updates & Highlights

POSTERS

Poster at Aquaculture Europe 2023

Improving livefeedand microdietformulation for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

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Poster at Global Innovation Summit 2024

Early feeding of cod combining cryoplankton and microfeeds to improve fish performance and quality

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Poster presentations at AQUA 2024 – Blue Food, Green Solutions

Alternative microdiets sustain good performance of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae

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Influence of feeding protocols on growth and skeletal anomalies in Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua)

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Poster at larvi 2024, 8th Fish & Shellfish Larviculture Symposium

Feeding protocol impacts on growth, skeletal anomalies and organ ontogeny in larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

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Poster at Aquaculture Europe 2025

Impact of novel feeding protocols on organ development and skeletal anomaliesin atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae

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USER CASE

Presentation at Aquafuture Europe 2025 – Valencia, May 2025

Highlights from our presentation showcasing tailored microdiets for Atlantic cod leading to reduce skeletal deformities.

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ARTICLES

15 October 2025 – Animals 2025

Early Nutrition Impacts on Growth, Skeletal Anomalies and Organ Ontogeny in Larval Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

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Hatchery Feed & Management Vol 13 Issue 2 2025

Improving Atlantic cod quality through tailored early nutrition

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WEBINAR

12 December 2025 – EarlyCOD project Webinar

The EarlyCOD project concluded with a final webinar that brought together an international audience to share groundbreaking results in Atlantic cod aquaculture.

Early weaning of cod larvae

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Novel feeding protocols & microdiets for Atlantic cod larvae

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Partners

Supported by:

This work is part of EarlyCOD project, No. 17205 (E!219), Operation No. COMPETE2030-FEDER-01006200, supported by EUROSTARS-3 program and co-financed by the European Union through ERDF, Algarve 2030 and COMPETE 2030 Operational Programs, in the framework of Portugal 2030.

The Portuguese National Authorities or the European Union cannot be held liable for any use made of this publication.