Vessel "Darla" remains in port for the time being – our intervention is having an effect

On Wednesday, the livestock carrier Darla was scheduled to set sail for Algeria with almost 8,000 sheep on board – despite bad weather. Our warning to the authorities has stopped the ship for now, but the case shows once again that current EU regulations for animal transport by sea are inadequate, scientific findings are being ignored, and animals remain unnecessarily at risk.

On Wednesday, the livestock transport ship Darla was scheduled to load nearly 8,000 sheep and then set sail for Algeria. When we heard about this, we were immediately alarmed: bad weather had been forecast for the route, with meter-high waves that could be dangerous for both the animals and the ship.

Even under normal conditions, animals suffer greatly on such ship transports: they have hardly any space, often cannot reach the drinking troughs, receive no medical care on board, and are frequently shipped to countries where animal welfare does not exist. In stormy weather and heavy seas, the suffering is dramatically exacerbated: animals can hardly keep their balance, are extremely stressed, and are more prone to injury. This also jeopardizes the stability of the ship.

We therefore immediately contacted the relevant Spanish authorities and sent an urgent letter demanding that they not approve the loading and departure of the Darla as long as the weather conditions were unsuitable.

The result: The ship remains anchored in Cartagena and is not scheduled to be loaded until Monday. Our sources confirm that this is due to our letter. This clearly shows that it is possible to exert direct influence on the authorities. However, the legal basis for this is insufficient!

The gap in the EU Animal Transport Regulation

The current EU Animal Transport Regulation 1/2005 does not contain any specific rules for transport by ship during storms. Although the text states that “animals may only be transported if they are fit for the intended journey and the transport conditions do not cause injury or unnecessary suffering,” this paragraph refers to the transport vehicle and transport conditions and is not an explicit rule requiring weather forecasts to be checked. 

The guidelines and implementing provisions of the competent authorities, for example in the individual member states, interpret certain parts of the regulation in such a way that weather conditions must be taken into account. However, these interpretations refer primarily to extreme temperatures, not stormy weather.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has also determined that all risks that apply to land transport also apply to sea transport – and are often even more serious, as the journey times are much longer. In its statements, the EFSA emphasizes, among other things:

• “Transport in cargo ships increases the risks to animal welfare.”
• “During voyages on cargo ships, movement stress is a highly relevant animal welfare issue, and even if the weather can be predicted, rough seas cannot be prevented due to the long duration of the voyages.”
• “Additional hazards and concerns for animal welfare include (...) movement stress caused by conditions at sea.”

Despite these scientifically proven risks, the European Commission has not included any time limits for sea transport in its new proposal for the Animal Transport Regulation. In May 2020, as part of its Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission had expressly committed itself to updating animal welfare legislation on the basis of the latest scientific findings.

However, the Commission has simply ignored the EFSA's recommendations in its draft. 

Why action is needed now

A recent incident in the Mediterranean shows just how justified our warning was: the livestock carrier Blue Ocean A became unmanoeuvrable in a winter storm and had to be rescued by the coast guard. Fortunately, there were no animals on board.

The situation surrounding the Darla clearly shows that animals are extremely vulnerable at sea, legal loopholes exacerbate the risk, and the competent authorities only react when we apply pressure and highlight abuses.

That is why we are campaigning for strong animal transport legislation at EU level. The Parliament is currently discussing the Commission's draft. Members of Parliament can still push for better laws. 

However, negotiations in the European Parliament are currently stalled – key progress is being blocked by members of the powerful EPP group. Without political pressure, there is a risk of weak laws or even the failure of the reform, even though the majority of EU citizens are calling for stricter rules for the protection of animals.

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