Uproar over popular Woolworths salmon product sourced from Tasmania

Woolworths shareholders have voted against immediate action to stop sourcing farmed salmon from waters where an estimated 120 Maugean skates remain in the wild.

A small group of shareholders presented their resolution calling for changes to the company’s bylaws on farmed seafood reporting and farmed salmon sourcing to the Woolworths Group’s annual general meeting, held in Sydney on Thursday. held.

The group of about 120 shareholders was involved in Environment Tasmania, Neighbors of Fish Farms, Eko, Living Oceans and SIX Invest, with about a quarter of the group living in Tasmania.

Their main concern was the fate of the Maugean ray, a prehistoric ray that lives only in Macquarie Harbour, about 300 km northwest of Tasmania.

There are only an estimated 40 to 120 adult Maugean rays left in the wild, with the population nearly halving in the past decade, according to a recent study by the independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) in August.

The federal government continues its assessment of the possible extinction of the Maugean ray.

One of the resolutions proposed by concerned investors was to require the major supermarket to end its purchase of farmed salmon from Macquarie Harbor by April 2025.

Scott Perkins, chairman of the Woolworths Group, told the AGM that the company was waiting for the results of government studies before making any further decision on sourcing farmed salmon from the region.

The Maugean Skate is only found in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbor

“The unsustainability of supply from Macquarie Harbor is a matter we take very seriously,” Mr Perkins said.

‘However, it is a complex issue and there is conflicting evidence on a number of important issues.

“We support federal assessments… and the assessment of the extinction of the Maugean ray.

‘We don’t consider all the scenarios that could emerge from those assessments.

‘We do not take this risk lightly, we do not determine in advance what responses we deem appropriate.

“We believe every action we take should be fully informed.”

Shareholders were informed that the board of directors did not currently support any constitutional amendment in this area and encouraged shareholders to vote against the resolution.

The primary resolution was ultimately voted down, leaving subsequent resolutions null and void because the first resolution was not approved by 75 percent of shareholders.

Woolworths shareholders have voted not to change the constitution when it comes to sourcing farmed salmon

However, Woolworths did allow those involved to ask questions during the AGM about its practices and procedures in protecting the endangered species.

One shareholder said the possible extinction of the Maugean ray meant the company’s decision to source farmed salmon from the area was ‘catastrophic and urgent’.

“It’s a warning that business leaders and all shareholders should heed,” she said.

“It can be a legacy of lasting change, not a legacy of regret.”

Another shareholder said he was shocked to learn that the board had not acted sooner to prevent the possibility of the Maugean skate’s extinction.

“Companies that demonstrate their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance… have a shareholder benefit as they attract a premium in the stock market,” he said.

‘I didn’t think it would be necessary to go as far as a shareholder resolution… to stop the extinction of an animal

‘Surely some board would intervene before it had to be proposed.

“This poses a lot of ESG and brand risk for a small amount (of salmon).”

Salmon farms operate in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbor

Mr Perkins reiterated the company’s belief that it should wait until the final government reports on the matter are submitted. Although Woolworths ‘would like the work to be done sooner’, the company understands that all processes must be met before it is completed.

The shareholder group also wanted the company to report on the impact of its farmed seafood on endangered species.

Mr Perkins said the company was “not aware of any other endangered species” in the vicinity of its fish farms.

The company’s decision comes after Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek confirmed the government was delaying its decision on whether the Maugean ray’s endangered species status should be upgraded to ‘critically endangered’.

Ms Plibersek said the TSSC needed an extra year to review its investigation.

The Bob Brown Foundation condemned the outcome at the Woolworths Group AGM.

“Woolworths must no longer hide behind waiting for an outcome that depends on politics,” said Alistair Allan, campaigner at the Bob Brown Foundation.

‘This week, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek postponed making a decision on the Maugean Skate until after the election.

“Woolworths cannot follow the same path.

‘The chairman of Woolworths acknowledged that their brand has taken a major hit in terms of public confidence. Just wait until the public realizes that they are responsible for the brand’s extinction.’

‘Consumers are being lied to by Woolworths, there is nothing ‘responsibly produced’ about Tasmanian farmed salmon. It is an environmental disaster and is costing Tasmania its lives.

“If you as a shopper don’t want to participate in an extinction event right now, you should refuse to buy Tasmanian salmon.”