Crew Member Rescued From Capsized Cattle Ship
A cargo ship with 43 crew and 5,800 cattle on board that overturned during stormy weather in the East China Sea has renewed concern about animal welfare issues in the live export trade in Australia and New Zealand.
The Japan coast guard continued rescue efforts with four patrol vessels and one aircraft Friday, in a bid to find at least 41 crew members who are still missing. There are no plans to halt the search, the coast guard said.
The Gulf Livestock 1 capsized after engine trouble and as a powerful storm swept through the region, according to seafarer Sareno Edvardo, who was rescued Wednesday. A second person was pulled from the water early Friday, according to the coast guard, which was unable to confirm if the man was conscious. The vessel was transporting cattle from New Zealand to China when it entered the path of Typhoon Maysak.
New Zealand on Thursday suspended all live exports in the wake of the incident, local media reported. The government was already reviewing the industry and considering several options for new regulations including a potential total ban on specific types of exports. Any shipments of animals for slaughter already require the approval of the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
New Zealand-based animal rights group SAFE called for a total ban on live exports. “This is a high-risk trade that puts the lives of animals at risk,” campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the families who are missing their loved ones, but we have to recognize the risk to animals that the live export trade brings,” she added in a separate statement.
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