Protesters want end to Woolworths selling Tasmanian salmon

Protesters outside Sandy Bay Woolworths stood united with a strong message urging the supermarket giant to stop selling Tasmanian salmon. Take our poll >>

Jenny Weber from the Bob Brown Foundation. Anti-Tasmanian salmon farm protest outside Sandy Bay Woolworths. Picture: Bob Brown Foundation

Environmental groups have taken their fight to protect Macquarie Harbour’s Maugean skate to the supermarket checkout on Wednesday, launching simultaneous protests at Woolworths stores across the country against the retailer’s ongoing sale of farmed Tasmanian salmon.

The coordinated action by organisations including the Bob Brown Foundation and Neighbours of Fish Farming came a day before Woolworths shareholders were expected to vote on an annual general meeting resolution to cease procuring salmon from Macquarie Harbour.

Speaking outside the Tasmanian protest at Woolworths’ Sandy Bay store, Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager, Jenny Weber, said the sale of fish produced in Macquarie Harbour salmon leases was driving the endangered skate closer to extinction.

Anti-Tasmanian salmon farm protest outside Sandy Bay Woolworths. Picture: Bob Brown Foundation

Ms Weber said Woolworths customers currently had no way of knowing which fish were sourced from Macquarie Harbour, because all salmon was labelled the same way.

“The science has said that the Macquarie Harbour salmon farms are having a catastrophic impact on the Maugean skate, so we just need to take the fish farms out of there,” she said.

“We have met with Woolworths directly, and while they did show their concern they are still failing to remove salmon from their supermarkets.

“The problem with the supply of salmon in Tasmania is that they can’t actually prove whether or not it’s coming from Macquarie Harbour or not.

“We want people across the country to pressure Woolworths to say that we can’t possibly eat salmon if it’s going to lead to the extinction of the Maugean skate.”

Environment Tasmania vice chair, Kelly Roebuck, said Woolworths was not the only major retailer being targeted over the procurement of Tasmanian farmed salmon, with a shareholder resolution also planned for the Coles AGM in November, and action being taken against the ALDI chain.

Ms Roebuck said the shareholder resolution addressed what she alleged was Woolworths’ failure to disclose that their actions in selling Tasmanian salmon was having an impact on the skate population, and asking them to cease sourcing fish grown in Macquarie Harbour.

“These resolutions will send a strong message to the Board that this is what consumers are expecting,” Ms Roebuck said.

“We will also present a 60,000 signature list from shoppers requesting that Woolworths stop selling Macquarie Harbour salmon to save the skate.”

A Woolworths Group spokesperson told the Mercury that with fish shops, restaurants, and other retailers also selling salmon from the same Tasmanian producers, the company was unsure why protesters were only focused on its stores.

“We take the concerns relating to the Maugean Skate very seriously, and we are mindful that any action to stop sourcing salmon from Macquarie Harbour could have serious negative impacts on jobs and the local community – which is why any decisions need to be fully informed by all the information available,” the spokesperson said.

“Independent scientific research is still underway to gain a more accurate picture of the skate population and salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, in addition to a federal government review.

“As a large retailer, we believe it is only responsible to wait for the outcome of the scientific research and government review currently underway.

“We continue to engage with community groups, regulators, governments, environmental groups and research bodies on this important topic.”

Originally published as Protesters want end to Woolworths selling Tasmanian salmon