Australian chain of supermarkets and grocery stores Woolworths' shareholders rejected a proposal at the company's recent AGM to remove from its supply chain industrial Atlantic salmon produced in Macquarie Harbor, a critical habitat for the endangered Maugean skate, ABC reported.

This unique species, found only in the harbor, faces a risk of extinction, with just 40 to 120 adults believed to remain. Environmental groups argue that salmon farming in the area, producing over 9,500 metric tons annually, significantly threatens the skate's habitat.

A small group of shareholders, holding 0.004% of Woolworths' shares, had submitted resolutions calling on Woolworths to cease procurement from the harbor by April 2024 and increase transparency on the environmental impact of its seafood sourcing.

The campaigners, including speakers for the association Neighbors Of Fish Farming (NOFF), Bob Brown Foundation, Environment Tasmania and Living Oceans Society, challenged the supermarket at its AGM in Sydney to take action to help prevent the extinction of Maugean skate in the waterway, according to NOFF.

However, the resolutions required an amendment to the company's constitution, which failed to gain the necessary support.

NOFF president Peter George said the board opposed a resolution led by ethical investment platform SIX that would have ended the supermarket sourcing own-brand salmon from Macquarie Harbour. Shareholders supported the board.

"This was not unexpected," said George. "However, Woolworths, other retailers and their shareholders are now on notice that they cannot deny knowledge of what their supply chains are doing - driving a 60-million-year-old animal towards extinction because of industrial salmon farm practices."

Woolworths defended its practices, highlighting its commitment to ecologically responsible sourcing and ongoing research into the skate's habitat, which is also impacted by climate change and hydroelectric dams.