Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: SAFE For Animals
An overladen ship crammed with 15,800 sheep capsized on Sunday off Sudan’s Red Sea coast, just days before Ban Live Exports International Day of Awareness, taking place today. The livestock vessel was heading from Sudan’s port of Suakin to Saudi Arabia when it ran into trouble in the Red Sea, resulting in the deaths of the majority of the animals on board.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said the sinking is just another tragic reminder of the urgency of a total ban on live export.
“We’ve seen tragedy after tragedy involving animals on live export ships,” said Ashton.
“This is not the first ship to sink in international waters, but it should absolutely be the last.”
The New Zealand Government announced earlier last year that live exports by sea will be banned in Aotearoa from 30 April 2023.
However, rather than winding down, New Zealand cattle are still being shipped to China in record numbers. Figures from the Ministry for Primary Industries show 134,722 cows were exported from Aotearoa last year, compared with 109,921 in 2020 and 39,269 in 2019.
The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, which will give effect to the live export ban, is moving to the third reading in Parliament. The Bill divided Parliament’s Primary Production Select Committee, with National and Act members opposing a total ban. The Act Party has committed to overturning the ban if elected to Government.
“Members’ on both sides of the house need to understand that this is a high risk trade. As is evidenced by this latest tragedy, these voyages are extremely dangerous. Even if a ship arrives at its destination, we cannot ensure the welfare conditions for animals, as there are no laws to protect them once they arrive in China.”
“The Government’s proposed ban shows reform is possible. It is imperative New Zealand stands firm as a leader in protecting animals, and follows through on a total ban on live export.”
SAFE is New Zealand’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
– The Government began a review of the live export trade in June 2019. This was after SAFE raised concerns about the treatment of New Zealand cows in Sri Lanka, which was subsequently reported on by ABC News.
– In 2020, SAFE broke the news that the live export ship Gulf Livestock 1 had capsized and sunk off the coast of China. The tragedy saw 5,867 New Zealand cows drown, and 41 crew members, including two New Zealanders, were lost at sea.
– Recent analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels.
– In 2003, Saudi Arabia rejected a shipment of over 57,000 Australian and New Zealand sheep on board the MV Cormo Express on alleged disease grounds and refused to unload them. After two months at sea and the ship being unable to find a port, around 6,000 of the sheep died on board. Following this disaster, the New Zealand Government suspended the export of live sheep for slaughter. In 2007, a conditional prohibition on the export of livestock (cattle, sheep, deer and goats) for slaughter was introduced.
– Under the Animal Welfare (Export of Livestock for Slaughter) Regulations 2016, live animals cannot be exported for slaughter without the approval of the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries. Approval may only be granted if the Director-General considers that the risks to New Zealand’s trade reputation can be adequately managed. There have been no livestock exports for slaughter since 2008.
– Animals exported for breeding purposes and their young will still eventually be slaughtered, potentially by methods that would not be legal in New Zealand.
