Reflections on Livestock Export and Trade by Sea.
The Problems with Livestock Export by Sea.
On 23 March 2021, the Ever Given created a blockage to one of the busiest trade waterways in the world,[1] causing immense disruption to business - estimated to have blocked 200 ships[2].
In particular, an article by The Guardian noted that ‘at least 20 livestock ships’ were caught in the logjam.[3] This raised severe concerns about the welfare of the animals on livestock ships especially as there were very real concerns the Ever Given would not be able to be dislodged. This followed news that in late February, cattle had been stranded adrift in the Mediterranean and then docked in Spain. Upon their arrival, all cattle were recommended by Spanish government veterinarians to be destroyed.[4]
These two instances have raised greater concerns and bring renewed attention to the debate over live-stock export by sea. Animal welfare groups have expressed long-standing concern over such issue,[5] due to the ‘abhorrent’[6] and ‘hellish’[7] conditions of livestock boats. Livestock involved in the Suez canal log-jam had faced the potential of insufficient food and water if they were confined to the boat due to inability to be unloaded for paperwork reasons.[8] The animals risked ‘starvation, dehydration, injuries, waste build up so they could not lie down [causing fatigue],’[9] overcrowding, and heat stress;[10] there were also difficulties disposing of carcasses [11] Furthermore, in the event that a vessel capsizes, rescue operations are predominantly focused on crew, as exemplified by the Queen Hind, where only 180 of 14,000 sheep survived capsize.[12] The aforementioned cattle stranded in Spain and recommended to be destroyed had been rejected by several countries over fears of bovine bluetongue virus.[13] Wider concerns of inadvertent introduction of infectious diseases during transport and import, which is repeatedly underscored by scientific research has also been a significant concern for many countries.[14]
The Animal Welfare Foundation has highlighted[15] systematic problems that animals transported by sea face, which ‘often have fatal consequences’, including: -
There is a lack of official controls of the animals and the loading procedures in many ports (e.g. the handling of the animals is brutal and even injured animals are being transported)
The animals must often remain on the trucks for hours until they are loaded onto the ship
The infrastructure in the loading and destination ports are insufficient (lack of stables, poor loading facilities)
Unsuitable and outdated ships (e.g. high risk of injury, poor ventilation, animals must lie down in their own excrements)
No medical support for sick or injured animals on ships
There is no official monitoring of the animals for the transport section at sea until their arrival (e.g. number of sick, injured or dead animals)
Dead animals and manure are disposed in the Mediterranean Sea
There has been call for live export by ship to be banned, but due to demand and capitalism, it seemed unlikely that such a ban would ever come into effect. There exists piecemeal regulations across the world controlling livestock transport by sea (e.g. Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock) and EU legislation) but ‘evidence suggests that these standards have not always been adhered to, and in some ways they haven’t gone far enough.’[16] The Office International des Epizooties (The World Organisation for Animal Health) – ‘whose role it is to manage animal health across the world’[17] has also provided recommendations on the transport of animals by sea.
New Zealand leading the way.
However on 14 April 2021, the New Zealand Government announced a ban on live cattle exports by sea, with a two year period to phase out the trade. Figures from Stats NZ show more than 100,000 breeding cattle were shipped to China last year, to the value of $255.89 million. In an announcement, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said New Zealand had to uphold its reputation for high standards of animal welfare.
"The export of livestock from New Zealand has been a feature of our farming system for a long time ... but concerns about the risk to New Zealand's reputation from this trade have been steadily increasing...
"The fact is, once animals leave New Zealand by sea we have very limited ability to ensure their wellbeing before they reach their destination ... that is an unacceptable risk to New Zealand's reputation.
"We must stay ahead of the curve in a world where animal welfare is under increasing scrutiny."
Some animal welfare advocates, including a former head of animal welfare for the Ministry for Primary Industries, have called for an end to the trade- saying the cattle ended up in poorer condition than they would have experienced had they remained in New Zealand. The ban does not apply to animals moved by air.
We must continue to be the voice to speak out for these animals, and to call for more stringent observation of existing regulation, as well as further and better protections of animals transported by sea. It is hoped tht the rest of the world will follow the pioneering and unprecedented step New Zealand has taken to preserve animal welfare.
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young
References
[1] ‘Suez Canal: Effort to refloat wedged container ship continues,’ BBC News (online, 28 March 2021) <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56547383#:~:text=A%20giant%20container%20ship%20remains,on%20Saturday's%20high%20tide%20failed.&text=The%20Ever%20Given%20has%20been,either%20side%20of%20the%20blockage.>.
[2] Sophie Kevany and Michael Safi ‘At least 20 livestock ships caught in Suez canal logjam’, The Guardian (online, 26 March 2021) <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/26/at-least-20-livestock-ships-caught-in-suez-canal-logjam>.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Sophie Kevany and Ashifa Kassam, ‘Cattle stranded on ship in Spain must be destroyed, says vets’, The Guardian (online, 27 February 2021) < https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/27/cattle-stranded-on-ship-in-mediterranean-must-be-destroyed-say-vets >.
[5] ‘Suffering at sea: the debate over the livestock industry’, Ship Technology (Webpage, 9 July 2018) < https://www.ship-technology.com/features/livestock-at-sea/ >.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Kevany and Kassam ‘Cattle stranded on ship in Spain must be destroyed, says vets’ (n 4).
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Noami Larsson and Tom Levitt ‘"Floating feedlots”: animals spending weeks at sea on ships not fit for purpose’ The Guardian (online, 26 January 2020) <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/26/floating-feedlots-animals-spending-weeks-at-sea-on-ships-not-fit-for-purpose>.
[11] Kevany and Kassam ‘Cattle stranded on ship in Spain must be destroyed, says vets’ (n 4).
[12] Larsson and Levitt ‘“Floating feedlots”’ (n 10)
[13] Ibid.
[14] For example, see Napp et al ‘Understanding the legal trade of cattle and camels and the derived risk of Rift Valley Fever introduction into and transmission within Egypt’ 12(1) PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2018) 1.
[15] ‘We demand an end for cruel live transports by road and sea’, Animal Welfare Foundation (Webpage) < https://www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/en/projects/animal-transport/live-exports-by-sea>.
[16] ‘Suffering at sea: the debate over the livestock industry’, Ship Technology (n 5).
[17] Amanda Whitfort and Fiona Woodhouse ‘Review of Animal Welfare Legislation in Hong Kong’ (2010), 8.