Very disappointed with four corners, very biased reporting and well below their usual standard. This was more on the level of a crap 60 minutes program. I was keen to watch this and had a very open mind. I only invest in environmentally sustainable stocks and was considering selling my Tassal shares if necessary. Having seen the show I won't be selling Tassal and I certainly won't be buying Huon.
Huon, with a poor environmental, record pointing the finger at Tassal with WWF and ASC accreditation ... what a joke. And yes, Tassal do have to pay to use those logos. Everyone does. You still have to meet the very stringent criteria and to imply anything else was bordering on slander. If food has a heart health logo, an Australian Kangaroo label, Halal accreditation etc it all has to be paid for. That does not mean it is not accurate.
The mussel farmer who lost his court case because it was proven Tassal had nothing to do with his problems, which was a naturally occurring fungi, then coming out with completely unfounded accusations. Yes they paid him not to keep accusing them, even though he lost the court case ..... just good business practice to avoid inaccurate and unwanted media attention.
Next we have the local people who don't want anything to do with someone farming in their waters, because they "know" Tassal is not going to stick to the planned operations. The worst bit was when, after interviewing a group of people who wanted to block any development, the reporter later meets with another group of locals who are all for Tassal's expansion into their area. Their opinion is no good apparently because they are all like minded people invited to speak on the topic.... although she had just done that earlier with the opposition and hung on everything they said without asking any even handed questions.
I loved the bit in the states, interviewing the guy about which fish he buys, wild or farmed. Apparently we should all buy wild caught fish only. No mention of sustainability, over fished oceans, ever growing human populations with more food needed. Now that really sh!ts me. That is a complete joke (the "chemical" added to the fish food is completely safe, allowed and a component we consume every time we eat crustaceans.)
I could go on but I won't. Wonder if the four corners reporter has shares in Huon? Or maybe she is madly buying up Tassal as we speak after her ridiculous down ramping.
TGR Price at posting:
$3.75 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held