NGO Environment Tasmania has filed an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) complaint against Woolworths over its claims that its own-brand salmon is causing harm to the endangered Maugean skate.
The OECD is a global policy forum and intergovernmental organization which has dozens of member countries. According to Environment Tasmania, the OECD complaint is the first of its kind against a major retailer.
The latest effort by Environment Tasmania adds to prior attempts by it and other NGOs to change salmon sourcing at the Australian supermarket chain over claimed impacts to the Maugean skate.
The Maugean skate is endemic to Macquarie Harbor in Tasmania, Australia, and studies of the rare species suggest it is either in trouble with as little as 40 adult skates left or recovering with as many as 4,100 individuals.
Environmental NGOs have placed the blame for declines in the skate’s population on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbor and have heavily criticized the industry and targeted retailers selling salmon raised in the harbor with shareholder resolutions. Environmental groups have also launched protests against Australia’s environment minister in a push to get the government to restrict salmon farming in Macquarie Harbor.
The OECD complaint is the latest effort to get Woolworths to stop selling salmon raised in Macquarie Harbor, claiming that the retailer’s decision to continue to sell the products violates the OECD Responsible Business Conduct Guidelines by misleading consumers with “responsibly sourced” labels and failing to disclose any risk to the environment to shareholders.
“Woolworths continues to use excuses to keep selling Macquarie Harbor salmon instead of taking the actions expected of them under the OECD guidelines,” Environment Tasmania Vice Chair Kelly Roebuck said. “As one of the world’s largest and most profitable retailers and as a major buyer of Tasmanian salmon, Woolworths has a duty to fulfill its obligations under international frameworks and shift procurement away from Macquarie Harbor salmon.”
Environment Tasmania said the complaint is the first filed since OECD guidelines were strengthened in 2023, which added requirements related to due diligence regarding biodiversity involving UNESCO World Heritage Areas and protected species. The Maugean skate is a protected species, and one-third of Macquarie Harbor is a World Heritage Area.
Woolworths has told Yahoo News it needs time to assess the claims being made by Environment Tasmania before responding and that it is “very carefully managing” its salmon sourcing from Macquarie Harbor.
