Supermarket Giants Accused of Coordinating on Toxic Salmon Supply

New AFR article reports that former business leader, now fierce campaigner for the Maugean Skate, Geoff Cousins has accused Woolworths Group chairman Scott Perkins of engaging in "a kind of collusion" with Coles Group regarding decisions about farmed salmon sourcing and sales. The allegations centre on concerns that the two dominant supermarkets may be coordinating their approach to sourcing salmon from Macquarie Harbour and messaging, with little public transparency.

The article outlines the growing scrutiny of supermarket power in shaping Australia's seafood supply chains, noting that major retailers can collectively influence environmental outcomes by continuing to stock controversial products like Tasmanian farmed salmon, despite the well-documented ecological risks, including the potential extinction of the Maugean Skate which has existed in the Harbour for around 60 million years.

Importantly, the controversy sits within the broader context of advocacy campaigns—such as those led by the Sustainable Investment Exchange (SIX) which Neighbours of Fish Farming (NOFF) is involved with. These campaigns have targeted supermarket supply chains through initiatives like shareholder resolutions. These campaigns call on retailers to cease sourcing from environmentally damaging operations and increase accountability in their sourcing policies.

Read the full article in the Australian Financial Review.