Environmental activists have slammed Woolworths after around 70% of shareholders voted against a motion to stop buying Tasmanian salmon from Macquarie Harbour.
The decision has led the Bob Brown Foundation to accuse the supermarket giant of “inaction” and “complicity” in the decline of the endangered Maugean skate, found only on the West Coast.
Foundation Marine Campaigner Alistair Allan claimed Woolworths is ‘lying’ to customers and called the state’s salmon industry an “environmental disaster”.
“Consumers are being lied to by Woolworths, there is nothing ‘responsibly sourced’ about Tasmanian farmed salmon,” he said.
“Woolworths must no longer hide behind waiting for an outcome that is dependent on politics.”
The foundation argues that salmon farming in the harbour is directly contributing to the decline of the species, which the state government claims is “misleading”.
“The science is clear. Salmon farming can co-exist with the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour,” Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Eric Abetz said.
“It is pleasing that fact and commonsense have held sway despite the ongoing campaign of misinformation from groups like the radical Bob Brown Foundation.”
“It is a matter of extreme disappointment that anti-salmon activists continue to use misleading claims to advance their agenda, disregarding settled science.”
“Their actions are a direct attack on regional Tasmanians jobs and communities.”
The federal government is currently considering listing the Maugean skate under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, a move that could potentially impact the local salmon industry.
Earlier in the week Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek deferred a decision on the listing for 12 months, frustrating locals.
“This hypocritical decision simply continues the uncertainty for Tasmanian salmon workers on the West Coast and their families,” Abetz said.
“In contrast to Federal Labor, the Greens and their activist base, we make no apology in standing up for salmon jobs.”
