• Tasmanians will raise their concerns about the plight of the endangered Maugean skate directly with the Woolworths board at the company’s AGM in Sydney on October 31. 
  
  
• Salmon farming is a “catastrophic” threat to the skate’s survival. Only 40 to 120 adult skates are left in Macquarie Harbour, the skate’s last remaining habitat.
  
  
• The resolution is urging Woolworths to stop buying salmon from Macquarie Harbour by 30 April 2025 to help save the millenia-old skate. 

Jess Coughlan, local Tasmanian with NGO Neighbours of Fish Farming, said “While the Woolworths board are making decisions from their boardroom, our communities are witnessing first hand the destruction of our waterways and risk of extinction for the Maugean skate.”

“While Woolworths executives meet regularly with foreign-owned salmon companies, they have resisted discussions with local community organisations like ours. We have had no choice but to become shareholders in order to get the attention of the board.” said Coughlan.

Kelly Roebuck, another local and Environment Tasmania Vice Chair and Living Oceans representative said “Despite the current risk to the skate Woolworth’s failed to mention it at all in its Sustainability Report. Woolworths needs to stop relying on flawed certifications, take responsibility for their salmon supply and their direct role in contributing to an extinction emergency. The skate doesn’t have time for Woolworths to be dragging their heels.” 

Leading NGOs Neighbours of Fish Farming, Environment Tasmania, Living Oceans Society and Ēko have supported a shareholder resolution lodged by ethical investing platform SIX on behalf of 121 Woolworths shareholders. The resolution is also supported by leading ethical advice groups Ethinvest, Ethical Investment Advisers and Tasethical. Almost a quarter of the shareholders who filed the resolution live in Tasmania. 

Today, in the lead up to the AGM, the Tasmanian-based Bob Brown Foundation voiced their opposition to Woolworths sourcing farmed salmon from Macquarie Harbour with a national day of action with volunteers outside Woolworths stores around the country.

Anisha Humpherys, Ēko campaigner, said “more than 60,000 concerned consumers have signed the petition calling on Woolworths to stop buying salmon from Macquarie Harbour. We call on the Woolworths board to listen to Tasmanians, shoppers and their own shareholders tomorrow and step away from being part of an extinction event.” 

For further comment:

Jess Coughlan, Campaigner, Neighbours of Fish Farming, 0431684741, [email protected]

Kelly Roebuck, Living Oceans | Environment Tasmania, 0432660064, [email protected] 

Anisha Humphreys, Ekō, 0423505321, [email protected] 

Note: Representatives will be available for the media at 9:30am before the AGM starts at 10am. AGM location: Woolworths Group Support Office, 1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista, NSW.