Animal Welfare Heavy Weight Calls For A Ban On Live Export – SAFE
In an interview with RNZ Checkpoint yesterday, Dr John Hellstrom ONZM described his first-hand experience seeing New Zealand cattle suffer overseas which, in his view, meant a ban on live export is necessary.
Dr Hellstrom was formerly Chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), and once served as Chief Veterinary Officer to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. Most recently he played a role on the winter grazing task force.
SAFE Campaign Manager Marianne Macdonald says his comments carry significant weight.
“For someone with Dr Hellstrom’s mana and credentials to make such a statement is a big deal,” says Macdonald. “He makes a persuasive case to ban live export.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries has been reviewing the live export trade since June last year. The export of live cows is currently suspended following the capsizing of Gulf Livestock 1 last week, which was carrying 5,867 cows to China.
Yesterday Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor told NZ Herald he’s concerned the conditions on livestock vessels aren’t up to the standards that he’s been led to believe.
“MPI’s live export review has dragged on for over a year. We’re seriously concerned the Agriculture Minister is still unaware of the realities on livestock vessels,” says Macdonald.
“We know that animals suffer on livestock vessels. The voyage reports on MPI’s website even lists deaths attributed to heat stress.”
“As Dr Hellstrom has rightly pointed out though, it’s how these animals suffer in their destination country that’s of most concern, and why we must ban live exports.”
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 stevadores union representative said the ship was not surveyed fully for fitness, and had a mechanical problem as it left Napier Port with a ‘list’ 2 to 3% degrees, so someones culpable for this ‘lack of ship seaworthiness’.
Where is the accountability. And even if they are more $$$$$$$$ oriented than concerned for animal welfare, there were MILLIONS of dollars worth of NZ cattle lost when that listing ship went down. Again, where is accountability when it comes to the “Big Money Players”? Why is it only ever the smalltime shoplifters that end up in the courts, or go to jail? And, why the reluctance to hold Govt Ministers to account for their Stuff-ups? For their oversight, for their negligence?
– A converted container ship (in 2015 to its new superstructure).
– History of deficiencies.
– Sailed straight into the eye of the typhoon.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/09/06/satellites-track-final-journey-of-cattle-ship-heading-straight-into-eye-of-typhoon-maysak/?fbclid=IwAR3ZBSi6OeQXhLqgcnAg0A7kiUOxsT6kbPV2Y2mE35prtLpnVo04EgEbVLQ#5cf1df9f10d8
Conditions for animals on live export ships.
https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/whats-it-like-on-a-live-export-ship.php
Exploitation of migrant workers needs to be investigated.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/world/outlaw-ocean-thailand-fishing-sea-slaves-pets.html
https://gcaptain.com/ever-wondered-what-its-like-to-work-on-a-livestock-ship/
No comprehensive records and monitoring of routing from departure farm-gate to final destination are existing.
The owner, an investment holding:
https://www.gulfnav.com/q3_2019/
“On cost structure front, the Company has restructured its operations and reorganized its subsidiaries to ensure continuity of its operations and enhanced its productivity at the lowest possible costs for the near future. The Company is also looking to outsource its ship management function to optimize its cost structure and enhance governance.”