Woolworths’ Policy falls short of global best practice and has proven unsuccessful in identifying serious threats to biodiversity evidenced in its farmed salmon supply chain.

Woolworths sells Macquarie Harbour salmon using certifications that claim responsible sourcing. The certifications Woolworths relies on, Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and GLOBALG.A.P. (GGN) are facing calls from more than 80 global conservation groups to decertify Macquarie Harbour salmon. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) states that none of the 11 salmon farming sites in Macquarie Harbour complies with their standards.

This, along with other initiatives such as the mandatory EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct highlight the failings of voluntary certifications to prevent environmental and social harm. There is a growing global expectation that companies take responsibility for finding and addressing real or potential adverse nature impacts in their supply chains.

The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions is a global community of over 185 organisations across 30 countries. Members include civil society groups, certification schemes, academics, and businesses including major retailers and seafood suppliers. Nearly all North American and European major retailers have sustainable seafood policies based on Alliance guidance.

It recently updated its Guidance for Companies on Environmentally and Socially Responsible Seafood (“Guidance for Companies”) that outlines processes and principles to assist companies create and implement a due diligence-based sustainable seafood policy.

The Guidance provides examples for large retailers who rely on certifications to meet their sustainability commitments. Should retailers find adverse negative impacts on nature they should work with the supplier to find alternative seafood sources. If that is not possible, the company can cease sourcing that species from the supplier. This suggested approach provides the flexibility to review cases of supplies causing harm while using certifications to support implementing sustainable sourcing policies.

The Guidance recommends embedding this into sourcing policies, which would help Woolworths achieve its vision of “nature positive outcomes by partnering with suppliers to adopt sustainable practices”.