Live exports: Maritime officials block shipment of 65,000 sheep to the Middle East

Updated

A scandal-plagued live export ship slated to take 65,000 sheep to the Middle East has failed to satisfy an inspection and must provide evidence of improvements before maritime officials will allow it to set sail with livestock on board.

Key points: Sheep were to be sent to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar in the coming days

The inspected ship was linked to 2,400 sheep deaths during a voyage last August

Industry says it will take steps to strengthen accountability and reduce risks

The concerns relate to airflow in pens where sheep will travel.

Inspectors from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spent hours inspecting the Awassi Express after it docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, on Sunday.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party air flow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," an AMSA statement reads.

To carry livestock, a ship must have a certificate for the carriage of livestock.

The inspected ship, used by Emanuel Exports, is the same vessel linked to 2,400 sheep deaths during a voyage to the Middle East last August.

The Department of Agriculture investigated that incident but scandal erupted after footage of the sheep surfaced, reportedly showing livestock being mistreated.

The vision, broadcast on Channel Nine on Sunday night, showed hundreds of sheep crowded into a small space, workers throwing dead sheep overboard, and faeces-covered pens where animals stood panting or collapsed on the ground.

It remains unclear what will happen to the sheep and 250 cattle Emanuel Exports plans to send to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar in the coming days.

Emanuel Exports was also responsible for a July 2016 consignment, in which an estimated 3,000 sheep died from heat stress during a voyage to the Middle East.

Animal welfare checks needed before ship can set sail

Emanuel Exports director Nicholas Daws apologised to farmers after the footage was broadcast.

"Animal welfare failures resulting in high mortalities, like the footage we've seen from the August 2017 Awassi Express shipment, in which 2,400 sheep died, are heartbreaking for our company and the producers whose livestock we export," he said in a statement.

Mr Daws said his company had made changes since that shipment and would implement the additional welfare requirements the Department of Agriculture has requested for the shipment due to leave this week.

"These conditions include a 17.5 per cent reduction in loading volumes compared to regulatory standards and the presence of a Federal Government observer on the voyage [in addition to an Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian] as required for all voyages to the Arabian Gulf," he said.

"We have also agreed to employ extra accredited stockpersons for the shipment and to adjust the voyage schedule so that Kuwait will now be the first port of discharge, ahead of Qatar.

"The ship is due to unload approximately 24,000 sheep in Kuwait approximately 14 days after its departure from Fremantle, and will then discharge the remaining 33,000 sheep in Qatar approximately three days later."

Separate to the AMSA inspection on Sunday, the Department of Agriculture also imposed special conditions Emanuel Exports needed to meet in order for the next shipment to proceed.

Those conditions include the company guaranteeing the sheep would have access to feed, water and appropriate ventilation and are loaded at a stocking density below industry standards.

Emanuel Exports would also need to prove to officials that there will be sufficient number of vets on board, trained animal handling staff and regular cleaning of decks.

The Department of Agriculture is also insisting that an independent observer will travel with the sheep and provide daily reports, including photos, so officials can monitor the shipment from Australia.

Along with AMSA approval, the shipment needs approval from the head of the Department of Agriculture for it to set sail.

After the August 2017 incident was revealed last week, Emanuel Exports' Graham Daws said the incident had prompted the company to change its protocols.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who viewed the footage last week, said he would be meeting with animal advocates and members of the live export industry on Monday.

"There's no point complaining about the footage. The footage wouldn't exist if the conditions on the boat were good for those sheep," he said in a statement.

ALEC determined not to let farmers down

Mr Littleproud said those who do the wrong thing should be "nailed, not slapped on the wrist" and ruled out a ban on the industry.

"The live export trade is important for our farmers," he said.

"I will support live exporters who do the right thing."

The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) said they would take steps to strengthen accountability and reduce risks to animals during exporting.

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These included investigating reducing stock density on trips to the Arab Gulf through high-risk periods, additional training for on-board vets and stockpersons, and additional independent on-board personnel.

"Farmers put their faith in us to sustain and grow the live sheep trade, which is worth $250 million annually, and we are determined that we will not let them down," ALEC chief executive Simon Westaway said.

Animal activists said the live export trade is untenable and have described the footage as "truly stomach churning".

"This shows that the way in which sheep are being exported does not meet the requirements of Australian law — that is clear," said Dr Bidda Jones, the chief scientist with RSPCA Australia.

Dr Jones said long haul live exports cannot meet health and welfare requirements, and that, "farmers have been betrayed by the live export industry".

"The evidence is damning in terms of the pain and suffering and death that are occurring on board," she said.

Farmers have said they were disappointed their animals were enduring deadly conditions and welcomed live export industry calls for new standards governing animal welfare on ships, especially when travelling during the peak of the northern hemisphere summer.

Topics: rural, livestock, livestock-welfare, trade, government-and-politics, animal-welfare, agribusiness, fremantle-6160, qatar, australia

First posted</s>A ship carrying 65,000 sheep has been stopped from sailing after failing a safety inspection as harrowing footage of distressed animals was shown on TV.

Live export ship Awassi Express, which last year saw 2,000 sheep die on a similar voyage, was stopped by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) yesterday and will not be allowed to sail unless airflow to the animals is improved.

Trainee navigator Faisal Ullah covertly filmed footage, which shows sheep crammed into filthy pens, fighting for food and experiencing heat stress, for 60 Minutes and Animals Australia.

Carcasses are shown piled up and Ullah claimed crew members often slit the throats of lambs and threw them into the sea.

This is the first time conditions onboard an Australian live export ship has been caught on film and has caused shockwaves across Australia and its farming industry.

The animals were on their way to the Middle East.

Agriculture minister, David Littleproud, described the conditions revealed in the film as shocking despite them not breaking Australian law.

He told 60 Minutes: ‘Quite harrowing; to be honest it shocked me to the core.’

However, Vets Against Live Export spokesman Dr Sue Foster told Guardian Australia the filthy, cramped and hot conditions are not uncommon on live export ships.

She said: ‘This happens every time one of these ships go the Middle East in summer. If we look at the footage that everyone’s all carrying on about that ship is stocked according to Australian law. That is how every ship goes out of Fremantle.’

Ullah’s footage depicts the voyage when the Panama flagged Awassi Express left Fremantle on August 1 with 63,804 sheep on board heading to Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

By the end of the voyage 2,400 sheep had perished, mostly by heat stress, which was 3.76% of the total load, when the maximum mortality rate is 2%.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority statement said: ‘Amsa has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party air flow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued.’

ABC reported Minister Littleproud said: ‘So the line in the sand has to be drawn now. And I’m committed to making sure we do that and put those sheep, if we do go on Monday morning, in the safest possible hands I possibly can..

Nicholas Daws, director of Emanuel Exports, which charted the ship, said: ‘The footage televised by 60 Minutes is simply devastating and Emanuel Exports apologises to farmers and the broader community for these absolutely unacceptable outcomes.’

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MORE: Three British holidaymakers injured after double-decker tour bus crashes in Malta</s>Live exports: Maritime officials block shipment of 65,000 sheep to the Middle East

A scandal-plagued live export ship slated to take 65,000 sheep to the Middle East has failed to satisfy an inspection and must provide evidence of improvements before maritime officials will allow it to set sail with livestock on board.

The concerns relate to airflow in pens where sheep will travel.

Inspectors from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spent hours inspecting the Awassi Express after it docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, today.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party air flow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," an AMSA statement reads.

To carry livestock, a ship must have a certificate for the carriage of livestock.

The inspected ship, used by Emanuel Exports, is the same vessel linked to 2,400 sheep deaths during a voyage to the Middle East last August.

The Department of Agriculture investigated that incident but scandal erupted after footage of the sheep surfaced, reportedly showing livestock being mistreated.

The vision, broadcast on Channel Nine on Sunday night, showed hundreds of sheep crowded into a small space, workers throwing dead sheep overboard, and faeces-covered pens where animals stood panting or collapsed on the ground.

It remains unclear what will happen to the sheep and 250 cattle Emanuel Exports plans to send to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar in the coming days.

Emanuel Exports was also responsible for a July 2016 consignment, in which an estimated 3,000 sheep died from heat stress during a voyage to the Middle East.

Separate to the AMSA inspection, the Department of Agriculture also imposed special conditions Emanuel Exports needed to meet in order for the next shipment to proceed.

Those conditions include the company guaranteeing the sheep would have access to feed, water and appropriate ventilation and are loaded at a stocking density below industry standards.

Emanuel Exports would also need to prove to officials that there will be sufficient number of vets on board, trained animal handling staff and regular cleaning of decks.

The Department of Agriculture is also insisting that an independent observer will travel with the sheep and provide daily reports, including photos, so officials can monitor the shipment from Australia.

Along with AMSA approval, the shipment needs approval from the head of the Department of Agriculture for it to set sail.

After the August 2017 incident was revealed last week, Emanuel Exports' Graham Daws said the incident had prompted the company to change its protocols.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who viewed the footage last week, said he would be meeting with animal advocates and members of the live export industry on Monday.

"There's no point complaining about the footage. The footage wouldn't exist if the conditions on the boat were good for those sheep," he said in a statement.

ALEC determined not to let farmers down

Mr Littleproud said those who do the wrong thing should be "nailed, not slapped on the wrist" and ruled out a ban on the industry.

"The live export trade is important for our farmers," he said.

"I will support live exporters who do the right thing."

The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) said they would take steps to strengthen accountability and reduce risks to animals during exporting.

These included investigating reducing stock density on trips to the Arab Gulf through high-risk periods, additional training for on-board vets and stockpersons, and additional independent on-board personnel.

"Farmers put their faith in us to sustain and grow the live sheep trade, which is worth $250 million annually, and we are determined that we will not let them down," ALEC chief executive Simon Westeaway said.

Farmers have said they were disappointed their animals were enduring deadly conditions and welcomed live export industry calls for new standards governing animal welfare on ships, especially when travelling during the peak of the northern hemisphere summer.

Animal activists have said the incident is further proof live exports need to be banned.</s>Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has launched an extraordinary review of his department after shocking revelations of cruelty to sheep revived calls for Australia's live export trade to end.

The industry is under pressure after whistleblower video footage emerged showing dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat in August 2017.

Mr Littleproud announced an audit of the Agriculture Department's capability, powers and culture, saying the independent regulator needed the right tools to ensure exporters do the right thing.

He said the department's report into last year's voyage had not matched the footage exposing cruelty onboard the ship where about 2400 sheep died after leaving from Fremantle.

"That is quite disappointing to me. I have some real difficulty around that," he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

The Emanuel Exports ship will have to satisfy authorities it's made improvements before it is allowed to set sail on its next trip to the Middle East after concerns about the airflow in sheep pens.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspectors visited the MV Awassi Express on Sunday and were concerned about the airflow over some pens.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party airflow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.

Mr Littleproud praised the person who exposed the cruelty and said a new whistleblower hotline would be established by the end of the week.

He also foreshadowed bigger fines and possible jail time for company directors, in addition to measure in a bill before parliament which doubles existing penalties.

"I'm horrified and shocked by what I saw and I know every Australian is horrified by those images of cruelty to sheep," Mr Littleproud said.

But he resisted calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, saying that would punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.

Animals Australia and the RSPCA are adamant the industry should be shut down.

"There is every reason to believe that what we saw on those five voyages last night is typical of what occurs on every voyage that takes place from Australia's shores," RSPCA chairman Gary Humphries told reporters in Canberra.

About 200 protesters gathered outside the West Perth offices of Emanuel Exports on Monday, chanting "save our sheep" and "get the sheep off the ships".

Western Australia's Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan called for a summer ban on livestock exports and older live export ships to be phased out.

The Agriculture Department says it will add an independent department veterinarian to the upcoming voyage to the Middle East.</s>A distressed sheep shot onboard Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, from Australia to the Middle East, captured over five voyages last year.

SYDNEY - An export ship due to carry more than 50,000 sheep to the Middle East has been blocked from leaving Australia after secret footage emerged of distressed animals dying and struggling to breathe in filthy conditions.

Australia's live animal export trade, worth more than Aus$800 million (S$806.3 million) annually, has been under scrutiny in recent years after footage shot at offshore abattoirs showed cattle being mistreated.

The latest images, shot onboard Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, showed large numbers of sheep packed together in small, stifling pens, covered in or surrounded by excrement. Many were dead.

The footage, captured over five voyages last year to Qatar, Kuwait and Oman from Australian ports, was released by activist group Animals Australia.

"They just died in front of us," Faisal Ullah, a graduate from Pakistan's Marine Academy who shot the videos, told broadcaster Channel Nine which first aired the vision on Sunday.

"Just one by one. One after another... I mean, you are just putting live animals into the oven."

Channel Nine said the sheep were stacked 10 storeys high in the ship and forced to stay standing for three weeks, often in "blast-furnace" northern hemisphere summer conditions.

Ullah said lambs born to pregnant sheep, which are not supposed to be exported, died on the vessel and were thrown overboard.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said on Monday (April 9) that thousands of sheep died.

The same ship, which was due to depart Fremantle on Australia's west coast this week, reportedly headed for Qatar and Kuwait, was blocked from leaving by AMSA after an inspection "raised some concerns about air flow over some pens".

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said on Monday he had held "constructive" talks with the industry and welfare groups to strengthen the standards in livestock trade.

Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week so people to "call out bad behaviour".

"It is important we get integrity into the live system and those people doing wrong need to be held to account, whether that is a company or an individual," he told reporters.

Emanuel Exports, which uses Awassi Express, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it had made changes to welfare requirements, such as lower loading volumes and a government observer on board its ships.

Australia previously suspended live shipments to Egypt for several months in 2013 after abattoir footage showed "horrific" mistreatment of cows.

Trade to Indonesia was also temporary halted in 2011 on cruelty concerns.</s>SYDNEY
• An export ship due to carry more than 50,000 sheep to the Middle East has been blocked from leaving Australia, after secret footage emerged of distressed animals dying and struggling to breathe in filthy conditions.

Australia's live animal export trade, worth over A$800 million (S$805 million) annually, has been under scrutiny in recent years after footage shot at offshore abattoirs showed cattle being mistreated.

The latest images, shot on board the Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, showed the sheep packed into small, stifling pens, covered in or surrounded by excrement. Many were dead.

The footage, taken over five voyages last year to Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, was released by activist group Animals Australia.

"They just died in front of us," Mr Faisal Ullah, a graduate from Pakistan's Marine Academy who shot the videos, told Channel Nine which first aired the footage on Sunday. "Just one by one. One after another... I mean, you are just putting live animals into the oven."

The broadcaster said the sheep were stacked 10 storeys high in the ship and forced to stay standing for three weeks, often in "blast-furnace" northern hemisphere summer conditions.

Mr Ullah said lambs born to pregnant sheep, which are not supposed to be exported, died on the vessel and were thrown overboard.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said yesterday that thousands of sheep died.

The same ship, which was due to leave Fremantle on Australia's west coast this week, reportedly headed for Qatar and Kuwait, was blocked from leaving by AMSA after an inspection "raised some concerns about air flow over some pens".

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud yesterday said that he had held "constructive" talks with the industry and welfare groups to strengthen the standards in livestock trade.

Mr Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week.

Emanuel Exports, which uses Awassi Express, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it had made changes to welfare requirements, such as lower loading volumes and putting a government observer on board its ships.

Australia in 2013 suspended live shipments to Egypt for several months after abattoir footage showed "horrific" mistreatment of cows. Trade to Indonesia was also temporarily halted in 2011 on cruelty concerns.</s>WHO says Australia exported listeria-tainted melons to Kuwait

SYDNEY: An export ship due to carry more than 50,000 sheep to the Middle East has been blocked from leaving Australia after secret footage emerged of distressed animals dying and struggling to breathe in filthy conditions. Australia’s live animal export trade, worth more than Aus$800 million (US$615 million) annually, has been under scrutiny in recent years after footage shot at offshore abattoirs showed cattle being mistreated.

The latest images, shot onboard Panama-flagged livestock carrier Awassi Express, showed large numbers of sheep packed together in small, stifling pens, covered in or surrounded by excrement. Many were dead. The footage, captured over five voyages last year to Qatar, Kuwait and Oman from Australian ports, was released by activist group Animals Australia. “They just died in front of us,” Faisal Ullah, a graduate from Pakistan’s Marine Academy who shot the videos, told broadcaster Channel Nine which first aired the footage Sunday. “Just one by one. One after another… I mean, you are just putting live animals into the oven.”

Channel Nine said the sheep were stacked 10 storeys high in the ship and forced to stay standing for three weeks, often in “blast-furnace” northern hemisphere summer conditions. Ullah said lambs born to pregnant sheep, which are not supposed to be exported, died on the vessel and were thrown overboard. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said yesterday that thousands of sheep died. The same ship, which was due to depart Fremantle on Australia’s west coast this week, reportedly headed for Qatar and Kuwait, was blocked from leaving by AMSA after an inspection “raised some concerns about air flow over some pens”.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said yesterday he had held “constructive” talks with the industry and welfare groups to strengthen the standards in livestock trade. Littleproud ruled out banning the live export trade but said he was taking other measures, including establishing a whistleblower hotline by the end of the week so people to “call out bad behavior”. “It is important we get integrity into the live system and those people doing wrong need to be held to account, whether that is a company or an individual,” he told reporters.

Emanuel Exports, which uses Awassi Express, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation it had made changes to welfare requirements, such as lower loading volumes and a government observer on board its ships. Australia previously suspended live shipments to Egypt for several months in 2013 after abattoir footage showed “horrific” mistreatment of cows. Trade to Indonesia was also temporary halted in 2011 on cruelty concerns.

Separately, melons contaminated with deadly listeriosis bacteria were exported to at least nine countries from Australia, where an outbreak has killed seven people and caused one miscarriage, the World Health Organization said yesterday. The rockmelons, or cantaloupes, were sent to Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and may also have gone to the Seychelles, a WHO statement said.

Between Jan 17 and April 6, Australia reported 19 confirmed and one probable case of listeriosis, all of whom were hospitalized. Seven died. The Listeria monocytogenes bacterium has a potentially long incubation period, usually one or two weeks but possibly up to 90 days, so more cases may be reported, the WHO said. “Cases in the affected countries may still be identified,” it said. The Australian melon producer, which the WHO did not name, recalled the fruit on Feb 27. On March 2 Australian authorities discovered the firm’s melons had been exported, and they sent detailed notifications through the International Food Safety Authorities Network to the countries concerned.

“It is believed that the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental conditions and weather contaminating the surface of the fruit, with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process,” the WHO said. “The grower continues to work closely with the relevant authorities and has returned to supply rockmelons (during the week starting 2 April) after testing cleared the property.”

Listeriosis can come in a mild form that causes diarrhoea and fever in healthy people within a few days. But it also has a severe form that can cause septicemia and meningitis among more high-risk people, such as pregnant women, infants, old people, and people having treatment for cancer, AIDS or organ transplants. The severe form has a 20-30 percent mortality rate. As well as unwashed fruit, high risk foods include dairy products made of unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, deli meat products, ice creams, raw seafood, crustaceans and shellfish. A separate listeriosis outbreak in South Africa killed at least 180 people earlier this year, sparking a class-action lawsuit against South African food producer Tiger Brands.</s>Footage of hundreds of Australian sheep, cramped together and dying aboard a squalid live export ship, has shone the light on 'shocking' failures of the industry.

The sector is now being pressured to meet higher standards - or face a blockade.

The video, filmed by a navigation officer aboard multiple voyages from Australia to the Middle East, reportedly shows thousands of animals packed into ship's pens - panting in the extreme heat.

More than 1300 sheep allegedly died in two days during an intense heatwave in the Persian Gulf.

The navigation officer told Nine Network's 60 Minutes program that crew fainted while the sheep, unable to leave the boat, were essentially being 'put in an oven'.

Crew members are seen tossing carcasses from the boat into the sea while others fight for food or collapse and die in filth below deck.

It is alleged Emanuel Exports was behind one of the recorded journeys.

Industry regulations forbid pregnant sheep being exported on the ships but the footage shows young lambs crammed in with the flock.

'I have seen a lot of little young lambs die - they've been crushed under the feet of other animals,' the officer said in a video diary aired by 60 Minutes.

Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said he was 'shocked and deeply disturbed' by the vision.

'This is the livelihood of Australian farmers that are on that ship - that's their pride and joy,' he said in a video statement posted on Twitter.

'And it's total bulls*** what I saw taking place.'

The minister has requested an urgent briefing from his department and the industry.

He said he would take 'strong action' against exporters, regulators or crew who failed to fulfil their responsibilities.

An Emanuel Exports ship carrying 65,000 live sheep and 250 cattle to the Middle East will be blocked from leaving Australia if the export company fails to meet strict new conditions.

The Agriculture Department wants the amount of stock on the ship to be reduced, and independently gathered video and photographs of conditions sent to the department every day after it sets sail.

Emanuel will need departmental approval to export its current shipment, which is due to leave Fremantle for Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar on Tuesday.</s>A live export ship docked in Fremantle will have to satisfy authorities it's made improvements before it's allowed to set sail after concerns about the airflow in sheep pens.

The decision by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority comes as animal welfare groups call on the federal government to end the live export trade.

AMSA inspectors visited the MV Awassi Express on Sunday and were concerned about the airflow over some pens.

"AMSA has advised the master and ship operator that they will have to arrange a third party airflow verification report to prove compliance with air flow standards before an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock can be issued," a spokesperson told AAP on Monday.

The authority noted 2400 sheep died on a voyage between Australia and Qatar in August 2017 - a mortality rate of 3.76 per cent above the Australian standards of two per cent.

The ship, which is used by Emanuel Exports, is the same vessel in the spotlight after the Nine Network's 60 Minutes program aired whistleblower video footage showing dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is "shocked and deeply disturbed" by the vision.

"This is the livelihood of Australian farmers that are on that ship - that's their pride and joy," he said in a video statement posted on Twitter.

But the minister is resisting calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, saying that would punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.

But the RSPCA says there is an irreconcilable conflict between animal welfare and the live export trade.

"There is every reason to believe that what we saw on those five voyages last night is typical of what occurs on every voyage that takes place from Australia's shores," the society's chairman Gary Humphries told reporters in Canberra.

The RSPCA's Dr Bidda Jones described the footage as "stomach turning". Sheep were "cooking" on board in the region's high temperatures.

"We are concerned that from what (Minister Littleproud) has said so far he may not see the significance of this," she said.

The Agriculture Department says it will add an independent department veterinarian to the upcoming voyage to the Middle East.

"This vet will monitor and record the health and welfare of all animals on board, send back daily reports and images and will also be able to issue directions on the vessel to ensure the welfare of the sheep," it said in a statement.</s>A sheep-filled live export ship travelling to the Middle East has been halted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for squishing hundreds of sheep into confined spaces — making it difficult for the animals to breathe. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has called for an end to live animal exports after the ‘appalling’ footage was released.

THE Australian live export industry is under fire after footage of Australian sheep, cramped together and dying aboard a squalid live export ship, has shone light on the “shocking” failures of the industry.

The video, filmed by a navigation officer aboard multiple voyages, shows dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat.

The officer told Nine Network’s 60 Minutes program that crew fainted while the sheep, unable to leave the boat, were essentially being “put in an oven”.

Some of the footage, shown on the program on Sunday night, allegedly came from a voyage by market giant Emanuel Experts, which is now the focus of a potential blockade.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud told Today the footage “shocked me to the core” but could not guarantee another ship that failed an inspection was set to leave Australia.

“This is outside my realm. Unfortunately the department who is the independent regulator gets to make the determination and I’m asking serious questions about making sure there is enough comfort around any further shipment going out,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The ship I understand is at Fremantle. There are around 50,000 sheep waiting to be boarded on to that ship once approvals have been granted, but approvals have not been granted at this stage.”

Today host Karl Stefanovic said the footage was “disgraceful and it is an embarrassment, not just to this country, but surely an embarrassment to the people looking after those ships”.

He then said the people responsible for the cruelty should be “run out of town.”

Mr Littleproud responded: “Karl, I’ve been Minister for three months. This is the first one of these incidents I have had.

“I intend to make sure we are a fair country, everybody gets a fair go, but the reality is as I said earlier, if standards haven’t been breached here today, then really the standards aren’t good enough.

“If they are not, I intend to work collaboratively. I’m meeting with Animals Australia and the RSPCA and the industry today to get a way forward.”

Crew members are seen tossing carcasses from the boat into the sea while others fight for food or collapse and die in filth below deck.

“It’s so distressing.” Animals Australia, which investigated the footage and took the case to regulators, said the conditions have been accepted by the industry for decades.

“Sheep producers will be mortified to discover that animals born into their care have ended up literally being cooked alive on live export vessels,” Animals Australia’s Lyn White said in a statement.

Mr Littleproud said he was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the vision.

“This is the livelihood of Australian farmers that are on that ship — that’s their pride and joy,” he said in a video statement posted on Twitter. “And it’s total bulls*** what I saw taking place.”

The minister has requested an urgent briefing from his department and the industry.

He said he would take “strong action” against exporters, regulators or crew who failed to fulfil their responsibilities.

An Emanuel Exports ship carrying 65,000 live sheep and 250 cattle to the Middle East will be blocked from leaving Australia on Tuesday if the export company fails to meet strict new conditions.

The Agriculture Department wants the amount of stock on the ship to be reduced, and independently gathered video and photographs of conditions sent to the department every day after it sets sail.

The minister resisted calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, noting it would primarily punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.

An Emanuel Exports ship carrying 65,000 live sheep and 250 cattle to the Middle East will be blocked from leaving Australia if the export company fails to meet strict new conditions.

The Agriculture Department wants the amount of stock on the ship to be reduced, and independently gathered video and photographs of conditions sent to the department every day after it sets sail.

They will need departmental approval to export its current shipment, which is due to leave Fremantle for Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar on Tuesday.
A ship due to carry 65,000 sheep to the Middle East fails an Australian Maritime Safety Authority inspection after docking in Fremantle, Western Australia and is denied permits for the voyage. The government is investigating newly emerged footage of conditions on the ship, where thousands of sheep died during a similar voyage last year.