“Neue Zürcher Zeitung” Reports on Animal Exports from the EU by Sea

A journalist from the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (NZZ) accompanied our project manager, Maria Boada-Saña, on an assignment in Cartagena for his report on the export of live animals by ship. The resulting article provides insight into an otherwise hidden industry in which sentient beings are treated merely as “commodities.”

For several days, the author accompanied Maria Boada-Saña as she conducted her research in the Spanish port of Cartagena, one of the most important departure points for animal shipments by sea from the European Union. The report shows how cattle and sheep from various EU countries are exported via Spain to North Africa—often on old livestock transport ships and under conditions that are highly problematic from an animal welfare perspective.

The article examines the various stages of this supply chain—from feedlots to transport to the port and on to loading onto ships. It also explains why these transports take place in the first place, what economic interests are behind them, and why effective monitoring of animal welfare is virtually impossible once the animals leave European ports.

The report also addresses the problems with the livestock transport fleet that we have been documenting for years. Among other things, the NZZ highlights the use of old ships converted into livestock carriers, documented accidents in recent years, and the lack of transparency regarding what happens to the animals during the sea voyage and after their arrival. 

We are pleased that this often-overlooked issue is being brought to the attention of a broad public through this carefully researched report.

Read the full article (in German) here.