The MV Bahijah exports live animals around the world. Photo: ABC NEWS
The ship, which was carrying about 14,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle, washed ashore. coast of Australia in sweltering heat after the animal was forced to abandon its Red Sea journey, sparking an outcry from people concerned about the animals' welfare.
The ship left Australia on January 5 for Israel, where it was due to unload cargo, but was diverted in mid-January by threats of attack by Yemen's Houthi militia before the Australian government ordered it to return home.
The animals are now in limbo and could be dumped in Australia, where biosecurity rules require them to be quarantined or sent back to sea for the month-long journey to Israel around Africa, avoiding the Red Sea, industry officials said. and the government said.
The grounding highlights the growing impact of militia strikes on shipping in the Red Sea, the main shipping route between Europe and Asia, that have disrupted global trade.
It also highlights the risk to Australia's live animal export industry. which ships hundreds of thousands of animals to the Middle East every year.
“The live animal export trade is rotten to the core.”
Farmer and exporter groups say the animals on board the MV Bahijah are healthy but have a fever. Temperatures are approaching 40C and animal rights activists are terrified.
Josh Wilson, MP for Fremantle, where the ship was loaded, said animal testing shows the live animal export trade is «rotten to the core» souls.”
a one-day voyage for 14,000 sheep on a hot and literally stinking metal boat,” he told 10 News.
«It is very difficult to imagine this meeting the animal welfare standards that Australians expect Animals Australia to apply.»
The Department of Agriculture said it had found no evidence of serious livestock health problems and was working with exporters and industry bodies to ensure compliance with biosecurity and animal welfare standards.
The exporter is the Israeli company Bassem. Dabba asked the Australian government for permission to load more feed and veterinary drugs and travel to Israel around Africa, said Geoff Pearson, head of livestock at industry body WA Farmers.
Reuters could not be reached. Bassem Dabba. The manager of the Korkyra Shipping vessel did not respond to a request for comment.
Canberra said the ship had applied to unload some of the animals before sailing with the rest.
Vinitive market in the Middle East
Australia is a major exporter live animals: over half a million sheep and half a million cattle were shipped in the last year. per year.
Most cattle are sent to Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam, but the Middle East is by far the largest destination for Australian sheep.
Israel is a key market, receiving 86,100 sheep. Trade data shows 10,848 head of cattle valued at $6.5 million and 10,848 head of cattle valued at $14 million shipped from Australia in the first three months of last year.
Australian Labor Government has vowed to outlaw live sheep exports in the coming years but is facing anger. opposition from farming groups who say it will put people out of work and destroy farming communities.
New Zealand has banned the export of live animals after a ship carrying more than 5,800 cattle sank in bad weather in 2020, leaving dozens of reports of missing sailors and dead animals floating in the sea.
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