Save the Skate shareholder campaign targets chair of major retailer  

The ‘Save the Skate’ shareholder campaign, the first to challenge major retailers for selling unsustainable farmed salmon, is ramping up for its third year with a new ‘vote no’ tactic.  

Supermarket giant Woolworths is the focus of a shareholder campaign, coordinated by ethical share trading platform SIX, calling on investors to vote against the re-election of Chair Scott Perkins.  

The block of shareholders comprises a range of diverse investors, including Tasmanian residents who call for accountability and due diligence from the supermarket giant when it comes to the extinction crisis facing their unique wildlife. 

The members’ statement was coordinated by SIX and supported by 230 shareholders. It was submitted to Woolworths last week, to be distributed to all shareholders ahead of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 29 October 2026.  

The members’ statement outlines that under Perkins’ leadership the company has: 

• Ignored shareholder voice on material concerns expressed through record high support for resolutions 

• Shown poor judgement by initiating communications with Woolworths’ largest competitor, Coles 

• Overseen a period where the reputation of Woolworths as a corporation has fallen when research suggests nearly one-third of all shareholder value is attributed to reputation.  

Woolworths, as well as Coles, source salmon from Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast which is the only home of the endangered Maugean Skate. One-third of the harbour forms the World Heritage Area and the ancient skate is a species of recognised World Heritage value. Scientific advice indicates that ocean-based salmon farming is the biggest threat to the creature’s survival.  

The campaign follows two years of significant international shareholder pressure calling on the company to end its association with the potential extinction of this 66-million-year-old endangered species. 

In 2024, a huge one-third of shareholders rallied against the board’s recommendation and voted in support of resolutions put forward by the Save the Skate coalition. This support included many of the world’s largest pension funds, representing millions of members, and sent a strong message to the board about investor sentiment. This globally high vote for nature then increased to 34% the next year, demonstrating continued shareholder concern. 

In Australia, shareholders have few tools available to them to express opinions to companies. When shareholders have delivered consecutive world record votes against the board, and that shareholder opinion continues to be ignored, they have few options available to them other than to target director re-elections. 

The campaign is a collaboration between SIX and several ethical funds, trusts, and civil society groups, including Living Oceans. Over the last two years, numerous Canadian pension fund plans have supported the campaign representing millions of members!