As Brittany Ferries has ignored our letters urging it to stop exporting live animals, our supporters are sending them a clear message in person this weekend with gatherings at their operations in the UK, France and Ireland.

After a 30-year pause, the company resumed exporting live animals in March this year. Despite calls to reverse this shocking decision, the company has continued to transport thousands of unweaned calves on long sea journeys from Ireland to France.

A European outcry

The outcry against this decision and the response from our supporters has been overwhelming - more than 200,000 emails have been sent to Brittany Ferries by UK and EU citizens to protest.

Completely unnecessary cruelty

Since March, over 170,000 unweaned calves have been forced to endure these long ferry crossings from Ireland to France. The 18-hour sea journey is now operated by Brittany Ferries as well as Irish Ferries. Taken from their mothers, these vulnerable, unweaned young animals can suffer through overcrowding, extreme temperatures, and very limited food and water.

Since the start of March,

Over 75,000 unweaned calves have had to endure the 18-hour sea crossing enroute to Netherlands
Over 61,000 unweaned calves have had to endure the 18-hour sea crossing enroute to Spain
Over 20,000 unweaned calves have had to endure the 18-hour sea crossing enroute to Poland
Over 14,000 unweaned calves have had to endure the 18-hour sea crossing enroute to Italy

This is despite agreement from experts and policymakers that the practice is bad for animal welfare. In Great Britain, a complete ban on exporting live animals for fattening and slaughter was passed last year on the grounds of cruelty. Carrying unweaned calves for extended periods without food is also in breach of EU regulations.

Six months of silence

In March, we wrote to Brittany Ferries with 120 high-profile signatories from across farming, academia, activism and more, calling for a reversal of its decision to restart the cruel practice. Since then, we’ve followed up with a second letter and tireless campaigning efforts.

The trade continues in the EU – but just months ago, the European Commission acknowledged its ‘concern’ for the particularly vulnerable calves who go long periods without enough food or water. Last month, we wrote once again to the EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare, asking him to take action.

Piling on the pressure

Our voices will be heard loud and clear across three countries, this week. In Cork, Ireland, our NGO partners will gather at the port to speak up for the animals carried in lorries and ships as they depart for France.

At Portsmouth International Port, we will remind Brittany Ferries customers of the suffering the company is continuing in the name of profit. And finally in France, we will gather at the Brittany Ferries Headquarters in Roscoff.

Charlotte Reid, our Deputy Director of Global Campaigns, said:
Ferry companies who transport live animals on long sea journeys aren’t just profiting from animal suffering, they’re alienating their customers who care about animals and participating in a practice that is completely unnecessary.

As Brittany Ferries have ignored our letters, we’re gathering our supporters to send a direct message to them this weekend in three different countries to stop this cruelty now and we will continue to campaign until the cruelty ends.

Brittany Ferries: Stop the cruelty now