Published 09/11/2009

Celtic Link Ferries announce no live animal exports for slaughter through Portsmouth.

Celtic Link Ferries' initial proposal to open a live farm animal transport route from Portsmouth, Hampshire to France was met by regular demonstrations and high profile opposition. Over 1,500 of Compassion in World Farming supporters sent emails to Celtic Link in protest of the exports and local demonstrations were held regularly since news of the proposal broke.

Compassion in World Farming understand that the shipper, Celtic Link, has bowed to pressure from animal group supporters, local residents, Portsmouth Port Management, Portsmouth Council and Portsmouth MPs who all opposed the exports and that the ferry company has now agreed not to allow any shipments of 'livestock for slaughter on its service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg in either direction.'

Sarah Halevy, Campaigns Co-ordinator for Compassion in World Farming said "Compassion condemns the cruel trade involving hundreds of thousands of calves, sheep and other animals being transported long distances across Europe each year. We congratulate Celtic Link in their decision to respect public opinion and end farm animal exports out of Portsmouth.

Scientific evidence shows that these animals suffer from heat, thirst and exhaustion during these long journeys. We thank our supporters and local groups for their commitment and determination to end the unnecessary suffering of live animals during export."

For years animal welfare organisations and the European Parliament have called for a maximum limit of 8 hours to be placed on slaughter journeys. Compassion believes the long distance transport of live farm animals should be abandoned and replaced by a trade in meat and carcasses.

Mike Hancock, Portsmouth South MP says 'This is great news. I have been campaigning on this issue for over 30 years and we have again been successful in ensuring a ferry company will not take part in this inhumane trade of live animals. I am pleased Celtic Link Ferries have committed to end their involvement in animal exports from Portsmouth Docks.'

Although Celtic Link live animal exports have been stopped from Portsmouth, exports continue out of Irish ports to the continent. Compassion in World Farming in Ireland is also campaigning to end this cruel practice by Celtic Link Ferries out of Rosslare.

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