Wild cod — the fish that built fishing industries and became the default white fish in chip shops, restaurant kitchens, and supermarket freezers — is running out. Not eventually. Now.
At Oceanpick, the company behind Round Island Fresh, we have spent years building the alternative: premium Barramundi, ocean-farmed in the pristine waters of Trincomalee Bay, Sri Lanka.
What’s Happening to Wild Cod
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommended zero commercial cod catches across the entire Northern Shelf for 2026. Not a reduction — zero.
The Numbers Behind the Global Cod Crisis
Global cod stocks continue to face significant pressure due to declining populations, reduced fishing quotas, and increasing market demand.
| 61% Decline Southern North Atlantic cod stocks over the past decade. |
| 285,000 MT 2026 North-East Arctic quota — the lowest since 1991. |
| 44% Reduction North Sea cod quota compared with the previous year. |
| 20% Price Increase Cod prices increased during 2025 due to tightening global supply. |
Source: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and industry market reports.
Scientists describe these as structural stock collapses, occurring simultaneously across every major cod-producing region. The Barents Sea — the last great cod refuge — is under growing pressure, and Baltic stocks are effectively at zero for directed fishing. No credible recovery timeline exists within any commercially relevant horizon.
Geopolitics adds further strain. Norway and Russia together produce most of the world’s cod, and sanctions on Russian shipping, the U.S. ban on Russian seafood, and tariffs on Chinese-processed fish have made an already tight market more volatile.
The market is no longer asking which cod is cheapest. It is asking whether any cod is available at all.
Meet Barramundi: A Premium White Fish in Its Own Right
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), known commercially as Asian Sea Bass, is not a cod substitute. It is a premium white fish that matches or exceeds wild cod on the dimensions buyers care about.
Taste and texture. Mild, clean, white flesh with a firm yet flaky bite. It performs like cod in every method — battered, grilled, baked, poached, pan-fried — with near-identical consumer acceptance in blind comparisons. If your customers love white fish, they will love Barramundi.
Nutrition. A 100 g serving delivers around 20 g of high-quality protein, beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, and consistently low sodium — independently verified by Symbio Laboratories, Australia. Responsibly farmed, it also maintains consistently low mercury levels, making it an excellent choice for health-conscious buyers and consumers alike.
Sustainability You Can Certify
This is where Round Island Fresh stands apart from almost every other white fish on the market. Our Barramundi is:
- ASC Certified — the gold standard for responsible aquaculture, equivalent to what MSC represents for wild fisheries
- BAP 4-Star — covering hatchery, farm, feed mill, and processing facility
- BRC, HACCP, and ISO 14064-1 certified
- Rated “Best Choice” — the highest available rating — by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
Our feed conversion ratio is approximately 1.3:1, significantly more efficient than farmed salmon, and our fish-in-fish-out ratio is below 1:1 — meaning we produce more fish protein than we draw from wild fisheries. Explore our sustainability commitments.
Why Trincomalee Bay
Location determines quality in aquaculture, and the quality of the water determines the quality of the fish.
Trincomalee Bay, on Sri Lanka’s northeast coast, is one of the world’s deepest natural harbours — continuously refreshed by clean, oxygen-rich Indian Ocean currents, far from industrial pollution and far from the geopolitical instability that defines North Atlantic supply chains.
We farm in open-ocean pens, not enclosed tanks or land-based systems, so our fish grow in real ocean conditions. The result is the firm texture, clean flavour, and consistent quality our customers depend on. Learn more about how we farm.
Barramundi vs Cod: The Sourcing Decision
| What You Need | Round Island Barramundi |
|---|---|
| Year-round availability | 365-day supply, no seasonal gaps or quota cuts |
| Stable pricing | Predictable farm-gate pricing, no market volatility |
| Supply chain security | Zero quota risk, zero geopolitical dependency |
| Sustainability credentials | ASC Certified, BAP 4-Star — ready for ESG reporting |
| Culinary performance | Mild, flaky white flesh, identical to cod in all preparations |
| Traceability | Full farm-to-fork transparency from Trincomalee Bay |
In 2026, wild cod cannot reliably offer any of the above. Round Island Barramundi offers all of it, every day of the year.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Founded by Irfan Thassim, Oceanpick was built to prove that commercial aquaculture and ocean conservation are the same goal — a vision recognised with a UNIDO One World Sustainability Top 5 global finalist placing and the Presidential Environment and Export Award in 2025.
Whether you’re a seafood importer, distributor, retail buyer, or foodservice operator, Round Island Barramundi is available for sampling, specification review, and long-term supply partnership discussions.
Contact our team today to request a sample or start a supply conversation.
