Supermarkets defend salmon supplies with skate on skids

Coles and Woolworths said they were aware of complaints about their Tasmanian salmon products. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Coles and Woolworths have defended the ongoing sale of salmon from a harbour where fish farming is threatening an ancient species.

The supermarkets have adopted a wait-and-see approach as authorities work to save Tasmania's Maugean skate from extinction.

Salmon farming has contributed to a severe lack of dissolved oxygen in Macquarie Harbour - the only place on earth where the ancient skate still exists.

Current interventions include a captive breeding program to boost the remaining population of fewer than 1000 fish, and efforts to artificially pump oxygen into the harbour's depths.

Federal conservation advice for the skate had urged a reduction in farmed salmon loads before last summer, but that didn't happen.

On Friday, Coles and Woolworths told a greenwashing inquiry they were aware complaints had been made to the consumer watchdog about their Tasmanian salmon products.

Groups including Neighbours of Fish Farming have complained the supermarkets' own-brand salmon carry unqualified claims like "responsibly sourced" with the potential to mislead consumers about the environmental harms of Tasmanian salmon.

An endangered Maugean Skate in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Authorities are working to save the Maugean skate, whose only habitat is Macquarie Harbour.

The complaint also alleges the supermarkets are omitting significant information about the extinction risk salmon farming poses to the skate.

NOFF campaigner Jessica Coughlan told Friday's hearing there were a range of certification standards for Tasmanian salmon.

But two - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the RSPCA - no longer certify salmon from Macquarie Harbour on environmental grounds.

She said the retailers had "shopped around" for others that would certify salmon farmed in the harbour, allowing them to continue to make claims about responsible sourcing.

Duncan Leadbitter from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council told senators there were no longer any ASC-certified salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour.

He said salmon producers Tassal and Petuna used to hold ASC certificates in Macquarie Harbour but the companies walked away from them.

"They were withdrawn because they were starting to breach the dissolved oxygen requirements of our salmon standard - excessively," Mr Leadbitter said.

"And so they withdraw the certifications that they had for their farms in Macquarie Harbour."

ASC still certifies salmon from other Tasmanian locations.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked why Coles and Woolworths did not display the logos of the independent certification schemes they use on the packets of their own-brand Tasmanian salmon.

Farm-raised salmon
Salmon farming has contributed to a severe lack of dissolved oxygen in Macquarie Harbour.

She said they instead used their own logos declaring the products to be "responsibly sourced" but it was entirely unclear to consumers who'd verified that.

Woolworths' chief sustainability officer Rachel Elliott said its "responsibly sourced" logo was about giving consumers an overview "around the due diligence approach that we have undertaken with respect to seafood".

"This particular claim does reflect careful due diligence in respect to our seafood is third-party certified, through approved certification bodies."

She said links were provided on the back of packs to help customers understand what the logo means, and that third-party certification schemes are involved.

Brooke Donnelly, the general manager for sustainability at Coles, said its own-brand salmon products must be certified to the standards set by is certification partners, which include ASC.

But she said the issue was complex and evolving.

"Those standards and certifications that are fit for purpose at this particular point in time will need to evolve over time."

She said Coles had reviewed its own-brand salmon sourcing strategy.

"The intention ... is to better understand what the near, medium and long-term options to diversity our salmon sourcing approach is, and explore future opportunities."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store