Woolworths linked to salmon fish-feed supply chain harms as chair faces shareholder revolt
“Woolworths is now implicated for the second time in concerns about supply chain links to worker deaths, labour rights violations, breaches of fishing regulation, document fraud, pollution and unreported fishing. All through its sourcing of Petuna brand salmon from Tasmania.” - Jess Coughlan, Senior campaigner at Environment Tasmania
Supermarket giant Woolworths has been linked to salmon-farming feed supply chains associated with alleged human rights abuses, illegal fishing and environmental harms. These are the newest findings by non-profit journalism organisation, Outlaw Ocean Project, who overnight added Woolworths to their Bait to Plate platform following damning findings in their Food for Feed investigation.
Environment Tasmania says the revelations intensify questions about Woolworths’ seafood sourcing and board oversight, just weeks before shareholders vote on Chair Scott Perkins’ re-election at the company's Annual General Meeting on 29 October.
The investigation traces the global fishmeal and fish-oil industry supplying feed for farmed seafood. The supply chain concerns identified include worker deaths and labour rights violations, breaches of fishing rules, unauthorised and unreported fishing, document fraud, pollution and serious workplace safety incidents. Woolworths, along with Coles and Hills Street Grocer, is implicated in the investigation through its salmon sourcing from Petuna, which sources fish feed from Skretting Australia, which is then tied to global supply chains – and the alleged harms.
“Consumers see salmon on a supermarket shelf. What they don’t see is the network of fishing vessels, fishmeal factories and feed suppliers behind it,” said Jess Coughlan, Senior Campaigner at Environment Tasmania.
Woolworths already faces an OECD Guidelines complaint brought by Environment Tasmania over its sourcing of salmon from Macquarie Harbour. The complaint alleges inadequate environmental due diligence, risk disclosure and consumer information concerning harm to the endangered Maugean skate and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Australian National Contact Point has accepted the complaint for further examination.
“The Outlaw Ocean findings raise serious questions about whether Woolworths knows enough about its seafood supply chains. Moreover, when harms are identified, does the supermarket take necessary actions to remediate and prevent harms? This question is particularly relevant given Woolworths’ track record of failing to act with urgency on the Maugean skate despite salmon farming being found to be the primary threat to the skate’s survival.”
“Woolworths needs to demonstrate that its sourcing decisions protect people and nature. Policies and certification logos mean little unless they lead to the identification of harm, transparent disclosure and action to prevent it.”
The revelations come as a shareholder campaign coordinated by ethical share trading platform SIX calls on investors to vote against Perkins’ re-election.
Backed by 230 shareholders, the campaign follows two years of strong investor support for resolutions on Macquarie Harbour salmon and the Maugean skate. Campaigners say the board’s inadequate response has prompted shareholders to seek accountability through the chair’s re-election.
“Shareholders have repeatedly asked Woolworths to address the harm associated with its salmon sourcing,” Coughlan said.
“The latest revelations reinforce why board accountability matters. Investors deserve evidence that Woolworths’ due diligence works in practice.”
This is not the first time The Outlaw Ocean Project has raised concerns about Woolworths’ seafood supply chains. Its earlier investigation into China’s seafood industry identified links involving alleged Uyghur forced labour and other human rights and labour abuses.
“Woolworths has the purchasing power to demand change,” Coughlan said. “Its board must ensure that power is used to prevent harm, rather than allowing responsibility to disappear between layers of suppliers or outsourced to flawed certification schemes.”
Media contact:
Jess Coughlan
Senior Campaigner
Environment Tasmania
[email protected]
0431 684 741
Investigation: Food for Feed Bait to Plate: Woolworths | Petuna | Skretting