A group of shareholder activists has failed in its bid to prevent Woolworths from sourcing farmed salmon from Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.
At Woolworths’ annual general meeting (AGM) in Sydney on Thursday, activists introduced resolutions urging the retailer to cease sourcing salmon from the harbour and to report on the environmental impact of its farmed seafood.
Despite support from groups such as Environment Tasmania and the Bob Brown Foundation, the resolutions did not proceed to a vote after an initial proposal to amend Woolworths’ constitution failed to receive the required 75% shareholder approval, according to Australian broadcaster ABC News.
The Maugean skate, an endangered species found only in Macquarie Harbour, is at risk of habitat degradation from various sources. Conservationists estimate that only 40 to 120 adult skates remain in the wild.
The federal environment department’s August report highlighted salmon farming as a key contributor to the skate’s habitat decline, but noted other factors, such as hydroelectric dams and climate change, that could also affect the skate’s survival.
In response to the resolutions, Woolworths’ board recommended shareholders vote against them, citing existing sustainability practices and third-party certifications for its seafood.
“Our policy requires own-branded seafood sold in Australia to be third-party certified or independently verified as ecologically responsible,” the board stated. Woolworths Chair Scott Perkins added that the company awaits further scientific research on the skate’s condition, emphasizing that the AGM was “not the place for a scientific debate.”
The failure of the vote comes as Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek delayed a decision on whether to upgrade the skate’s conservation status to “critically endangered.”
Environmentalists and industry leaders have expressed frustration over the delay, fearing it may prolong discussions on the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
Meanwhile, similar shareholder resolutions will be presented at Coles’ AGM on November 12.
Salmon Tasmania, representing salmon producers in the region, dismissed the resolutions as a “stunt” orchestrated by a small group of activist shareholders.