Investigation in Cartagena: Spain's live export industry by sea

Investigation in Cartagena: Spain's live export industry by sea

Since 2018, we have been documenting the cruel conditions of live exports of European animals to third countries via sea from the Spanish port of Cartagena. In the first half of June, we documented, the loading of cattle and sheep once again. The animals were loaded onto the vessels NADER A, DARLA, ABDULRAHMAN KING and FREEDOM. All were destined for Libya and Lebanon.

During our investigation we observed yet again that animals regularly suffer during long-distance transport, even though Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 is in force, and despite the fact that we reported these problems already in 2018. Furthermore this year, we saw new and even more serious problems affecting severely the welfare of animals.

Cartagena also remains a hell for cattle from South American countries
Our team managed to observe the huge livestock carrier AL KUWAIT loaded with thousands of cattle from Brazil. We observe the exhausted animals in overcrowded conditions and covered on their own faeces. At this point, the animals have already been at sea for about a month and are being further transported to Lebanon. The AL KUWAIT is only refuelled in Cartagena and is only cleaned after the unloading of the animals in Lebanon. Due to the inadequate hygiene of these vessels and long journeys, Europe is exposed to a significant risk of disease.

We urge the Spanish Ministry to ban the shipment of live animals to non-EU countries until all serious problems reported by our teams are solved. Spain, the leader in fattening, must develop a strategy with effective incentives to gradually eliminate all long-distance transport of live animals and replace it with transport of meat products.