Atlantic salmon producer and exporter
One of Australia's largest vertically integrated seafood producers. Tassal collects 40,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon annually in five marine farming zones, four freshwater hatcheries and four processing facilities. It also produces 5500 tonnes of Australian Black Tiger Prawns, raised in two hatcheries, three pond farms, and processing facilities. Acquired by Canadian aquaculture giant Cooke in 2022.
Company Ownership
Tassal Group Ltd
AUS
Cooke Inc
owns 100% of Tassal Group Ltd
CAN
Aquaculture & seafood
Founded in Canada in 1985, today they have operations in 9 countries. Vertically-integrated corporation with salmon farming operations in Atlantic Canada, the United States, Chile and Scotland as well as seabass and seabream farming operations in Spain. The company also includes seafood and wild fishery divisions.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Aug 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Tassal Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2024)
Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification
This company has achieved Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for all of their salmon farming operations. Tassal worked with WWF since 2012 to develop their responsible aquaculture production to meet the requirements of the ASC Salmon Standard. However Environment Tasmania has expressed a number of concerns about WWF's certification scheme. (www.et.org.au/salmon_faqs)
Source: ASC
(2020)
Salmon farming criticism
Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan's 2021 book "Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry" produces a range of allegations against the Tasmanian salmon sector - relating to feed ingredients, pollution and political skullduggery. These include the use of poultry by-products in feed, as well as the addition of ethoxyquin, which he says is potentially carcinogenic, to stabilise the feed.
Source: The Fish Site
(2021)
'Say No' rating at GoodFish
Tassal operate salmon farms in Tasmania. GoodFish, Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide recommends you 'say no' to farmed Atlantic salmon (Red rating). It's website states: produced in sea cages; carnivorous species that is dependent on wild caught fish that is manufactured into fish feed. While the amount of wild caught fish in feed has been reduced over recent years, the amount of wild-caught fish used in feed is currently more than the weight of salmon produced; localised impacts from salmon farming effluent are minor and short-lived; impacts of the industry on a broader ecological scale are less well understood; producers have reduced the use of antibiotics.
Source: GoodFish
(2023)
15/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 15/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2021)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of E.
Source: Monash University
(2021)
Salmon farming concerns
Fish farms maintained by this company in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania are causing dire environmental and fish health impacts. Environmental problems with salmon farming in the area include nutrient pollution and dead zones, use of 1.7kg of wild fish to produce 1kg of farmed salmon, overcrowded sea cages, minimal monitoring and marine debris. Leaked documents tabled by the Greens reveal repeated breaches of licence conditions by this company, disease outbreaks and pollution.
Source: ABC
(2015)
Four Corners: Big Fish
ABC's Four Corners investigates the business of Tasmanian salmon production, including intensive farming, chemical colouring, salmon under stress and pristine waterways suffering. Also raised Tassal's payments to WWF-Australia and to an independent auditor to achieve ASC certification of Tassal's production process. (Oct 2016)
Source: Four Corners
(2016)
Sustainability Award 2015
In 2015 this company won an Australian Business Award for Sustainability, which recognises organisations that execute initiatives that demonstrate leadership and commitment to sustainable business practices.
Best Aquaculture Practices certified
This companies has facilities which meet the Best Aquaculture Practices standards.
Source: BAP
(2022)
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
This company is a member of the Australian chapter of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
Source: SAI Platform Australia
(2023)
Sustainable Aquaculture partnership with WWF
From 2012 to 2018, WWF worked with Tassal to offer expert advice on its sustainability strategy and guided the company on its commitments to standards of sustainable practice. Under the guidance of WWF, Tassal became the first salmon company in Australia to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for a farm site, and the first company globally to achieve this standard across its operations in 2014.
Source: WWF Australia
(2018)
Sustainability claims
This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website, including efforts in the areas of third-party certifications, transparency and community support.
Source: company website
(2021)
How green and clean is Tasmanian salmon?
Transcript from the ABC's 7:30 Report (2009). Issues raised include use of antibiotics, damage to marine environment, use of 4kg of wild fish to produce 1kg of farmed salmon, being called the "battery hens of the sea". Please note however that reliance of wild caught fish has reduced in recent years.
Source: ABC
(2009)
Farm Transparency Project profile
The Farm Transparency Project Repository is a public repository/gallery for videos, photos, documents and campaign materials relating to the animal rights movement in Australia. Follow the link to see their profile on this company.
Source: Farm Transparency Project
(2022)
No tax paid in 2019-20
According to data released by the Australian Tax Office in Jan 2022, this company was one of many local and foreign-based companies that paid no tax in Australia in 2019-20. Please note however that companies pay income tax on profits, not revenue (total income). While some companies use tax havens and loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Australia, other companies that paid no tax have perfectly legitimate reasons.
Source: ATO
(2022)
FAIRR Protein Producer Index
The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index is a comprehensive assessment of how this sector is managing critical sustainability risks factors: GHGs; deforestation and biodiversity; water scarcity; water pollution; antibiotics; animal welfare; working conditions; food safety. This company was rated as medium risk.
Source: FAIRR
(2022)
Cooke Inc
Praise
Criticism
Information
0.5/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 0.5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Tier 6 in farm animal welfare rankings
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) 2023 Report ranks global food companies on their farm animal welfare policies, practices and performance. This company appeared in tier 6, "No evidence on the business agenda", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW
(2023)
2.5% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #296/350, with a total score of 2.5/100.
0.3% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #747/816, with a total score of 0.3/100.
7.3% in Seafood Stewardship Index
The 2023 Seafood Stewardship Index ranks the world's 30 largest seafood companies across four measurement areas: governance and strategy, ecosystems, traceability and social responsibility. This company ranked #27/30, with a total score of 7.3/100.
Best Aquaculture Practices certified
This companies has facilities which meet the Best Aquaculture Practices standards.
Source: BAP
(2022)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website
(2022)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
583 million AUD
(2021)
Employees:
1,700
(2021)
Subsidiaries:
De Costi Seafoods (Holdings) Pty Ltd
Seafood
Operates both retail and wholesale seafood operations, and 3 processing sites, sourcing seafood from Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. Acquired by Tassal in 2015.
Contact Details
Address:
Level 9, Marine Board Building, 1 Franklin Wharf, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
Phone:
03 6244 9099
Freecall:
1800 620 685
Website: