Ethical Farming Ireland has been campaigning for many years against live export. We have repeatedly urged Stena Line to stop transporting unweaned calves from Rosslare port in Ireland to Cherbourg port in France. Since campaigning began, we have attended two meetings at the HQ in London, submitted a petition, and sent many emails and letters.
Stena Line’s legacy in supporting animal suffering
Every year, tens of thousands of calves – as young as 15-days-old – are sent on long journeys to mainland Europe. Most end up in inhumane veal farms in the Netherlands. Calves travel from Rosslare to Cherbourg in crowded trucks. While being transported, unweaned calves cannot be fed because they are dependant on milk. It is acknowledged that it is impossible to feed them milk in a truck that contains around 300 calves.
The ferry journey alone takes 18 hours. When this is also factored in with loading and unloading times, journeys to and from ports, and waiting times at feeding stations, calves end up routinely deprived of feed for around 30 hours, sometimes more.
These journeys are incredibly cruel from a welfare perspective. The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that such journeys are also in breach of EC Regulation 1/2005. This regulation exists to protect animals during long-distance transport. It is a welfare regulation that is routinely flouted by Stena Line because basic feeding requirements are not being met.
Stena Line knows this, they have been informed. Instead of doing the right thing, however, they continue to profit from a trade that causes immense suffering to very young and vulnerable animals.
Open letter from NGOs regarding welfare violations
In July 2024, an open letter was sent to Stena Line CEO Niclas Martensson signed by 24 NGOs. The letter expressed concern regarding Stena Line’s continued support of the export of unweaned calves from Ireland to France. Stena Line refuses to acknowledge the EC’s assessment, that the trade is being carried out in breach of EU animal welfare legislation. In September 2024, EFI attended a meeting at the HQ in London. We followed up with a letter in November, but have yet to receive a response.
Stena’s animal-friendly PR image far from reality
The lack of concern for young vulnerable animals is at odds with the image Stena Line likes to portray. That is of a company that cares for both humans and animals alike. Ironically, in the past few years, Stena Line has launched pet-friendly cabins. This is a move that is blatantly hypocritical, as it continues to profit from the suffering of very young animals through live export. Stena Line is also propping up an industry that is not operating in a sustainable manner. Change is being stifled in Ireland rather than encouraged.
Stena Line refuses to prioritise Irish animal welfare
Today, we send another open letter to Stena Line, once again urging them to stop transporting calves. Shockingly, thirty years ago, Stena Line stopped transporting animals from the UK. Ireland is now the only country from which Stena Line continues to export animals. In recent years, Stena Line has been repeatedly and publicly linked to animal suffering, in relation to the transportation of young and vulnerable animals.
EFI strongly urges Stena Line to follow the lead of other ferry companies that have prioritised animal welfare by ending their involvement with the live export trade. We are fully committed to putting an end to this inhumane trade, and will continue to challenge Stena Line’s involvement in live exports from Ireland.
Our message is simple, do what is right for the animals and the environment.
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