Animal welfare activists held a peaceful demonstration at Brittany Ferries’ headquarters yesterday, calling on the ferry operator to cease transporting live animals for slaughter and fattening across European waters.
Compassion in World Farming protesters gathered outside the company’s offices near the port on Saturday (June 14), demanding the firm abandons its live export operations.
The demonstration follows Brittany Ferries’ decision to restart live animal shipments from Ireland to France this year, ending a three-decade pause in the controversial trade.
Activists assembled near a prominent billboard displaying ‘Brittany Ferries: Stop the Cruelty’, highlighting concerns about livestock transportation for commercial fattening and slaughter close to British waters.
Compassion in World Farming, established in 1967 by a British dairy farmer, works to eliminate factory farming practices and promote sustainable agricultural systems.
The protest coincides with new legislation – the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act passed in May 2024 – which prohibits exporting live cattle, sheep, and pigs from Great Britain for slaughter and fattening purposes.
Anthony Field, head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “This Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day we are raising awareness of the scale and impact of these cruel journeys by sea and sending a clear message to the companies that profit from this misery – it is totally unacceptable.
“As the holiday season approaches, we want to make Brittany Ferries’ customers aware of the suffering that animals onboard its ships are subjected to and urge them to avoid travelling with the companies that profit from this appalling trade.”
Brittany Ferries has been approached for comment.
