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OPINION: It seems more than absurd to me that dozens of dead New Zealand cows are now floating in the East China Sea.
On September 2, 5,867 cows perished when Gulf Livestock 1 capsized and sank west of Amani Oshima in Japan. Forty-three crew members were on board, including two New Zealanders. So far, only two people have been rescued.
The images of bloated dead cows floating in a turquoise sea are desperately sad.
Nobody wanted this to happen, but it happened. And since it happened, we have an obligation to make sure it never happens again.
The only way to do this is by a total ban on the export of live animals in New Zealand.
We must see this not only as a tragic one-off accident, but also as a risk inherent in the transport of livestock. It’s one of the many concerns this industry raises.
READ MORE:
* Export of live animals should end, says former ship vet
* Political parties influence exports of live products after the collapse of Gulf Livestock 1
* The Green Party calls for the immediate cessation of exports live
Cattle boats are notoriously controversial due to the dire conditions the animals must endure. Ships have been converted from cargo ships. They place these animals like sardines one on top of the other.
Heat stress, wet stool build-up, uncomfortable ship floors, constant movement, and population density can lead to injury and death.
In New Zealand, the export of live animals for slaughter was banned in 2003 after the terrible death of 6,000 sheep on a ship bound for Saudi Arabia. Despite this, there is a loophole whereby it is still legal to export these animals for breeding purposes.
In the end, the animals will be euthanized in their new country. And they can be killed by methods considered too cruel to be legal in New Zealand.
Graham Flett / AP
Almost 5,900 cows perished when Gulf Livestock 1 sank and sank west of Amani Oshima in Japan.
There is no guarantee that the animal welfare standards that we have in New Zealand for animals will apply in the countries they are shipped to. In 2019, hundreds of cows shipped to Sri Lanka from New Zealand and Australia died from disease and poor conditions. Agriculture Minister Damian O’Connor reviewed the export of livestock due to the undeniable suffering of the animals and the impact it would have on the New Zealand brand.
In 2020 there has been an increase in livestock exports from New Zealand, presumably to overcome possible restrictions that could arise after the review is complete.
The drowning must have been a real life horror story. As the ship pitched and plunged into the storm, the cows would have been thrown into their pens. When the ship capsized and sank, they drowned.
And now they are popping up like puffy daisies in the East China Sea. It is a far cry from the images of happy New Zealand cows in grassy meadows that the dairy industry broadcasts to the world.
Personally, I think what happened to those 5,867 cows is indefensible. And yet some of our political candidates and dairy farmers are now defending it. For example. Northland dairy farmer and ACT party spokesman Mark Cameron has said it would be wrong to ban the export of livestock because it has so many economic benefits.
Cameron also said that emotion should not get in the way of any decision on whether to ban the export of livestock or not. Easy for him to say.
You are right in a sense. Emotions alone should not govern fundamental decisions made on a serious matter. But emotions can and should help guide our decisions by shaping our thinking about what is fair. A sense of injustice towards those cows is perfectly justified given what they have endured.
I am angry and disappointed that the government has not taken seriously the concerns of many people about the export of live animals.
In October 2019, a petition was presented to the government to ban the export of live animals with more than 30,000 signatures. The government has also received thousands of submissions in support of a total ban on the export of live products.
I don’t want to get into a discussion about the economic pros and cons of exporting livestock. It is simply an academic exercise in the wake of the significant suffering the animals endured. Nothing justifies it. Also, I’m pretty sure someone is benefiting somewhere or this wouldn’t be happening. But if profits are always the last word in any decision that is made, then it is a sad indictment for our society.
Decisions must always be made not only on the economy but also on equity, justice and democratic processes. This has not happened with the export of live animals in New Zealand.
Now is the time to think deeply about whether the export of live animals reflects our core values in New Zealand. Because right now it’s a crazy world and we have to change.
