Today (28 September), we gathered outside Brittany Ferries headquarters in Portsmouth, to call on the company to reverse their appalling U-turn – resuming the inhumane live export of farmed animals from Ireland to France after a 30-year hiatus.

September marks six months since the company resumed transporting vulnerable animals – including unweaned calves that are just a few weeks old – on 18-hour sea journeys.

A deeply troubling policy change

Actress and animal welfare activist Miriam Margolyes, who is backing the action said:

Brittany Ferries’ decision to begin exporting animals once again this year – alongside Irish Ferries and Stena Line – undermines progress and flies in the face of public, scientific, and ethical opposition. I urge Brittany Ferries to reconsider this deeply troubling policy change. In May 2024, live exports were finally banned from Great Britain, yet despite this, Brittany Ferries, which operates from British shores, has chosen to resume profiting from this unethical income stream.

Customers don’t want cruelty

More than 40 protesters joined the rally that coincided with a ferry crossing – enabling us to raise awareness to Brittany Ferries customers of their involvement in this awful trade.

A demonstration also took place yesterday (27 September) in Cork, Ireland where our NGO partners gathered at the port to speak up for the animals carried in lorries and ships as they depart for France. Supporters will also gather at the Brittany Ferries Headquarters in Roscoff, France tomorrow (Monday 26 September) to condemn the company’s thoughtless policy reversal.

Complicit in this cruelty

The company continues to remain silent despite direct correspondence. To date, Brittany Ferries has failed to respond to an open letter signed by over 100 signatories from NGOs, thought leaders, celebrities and scientists which was sent in March this year.

A letter from the President of the EU Integroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals has also not received a reply.

Anthony Field, Head of our UK Office, said:

We are here today to send a clear message to Brittany Ferries: this cruelty cannot continue. Their silence makes them complicit in this cruelty. While animals suffer on their ships, the company cannot look the other way. Brittany Ferries’ customers and the wider public deserve to know the truth about the suffering going on below deck - it’s simply unforgivable.

Keep up the pressure

Over 200,000 emails have been sent by concerned citizens from across the UK and the EU, since March, calling on Brittany Ferries to end their involvement with live animal exports. If you haven’t yet please keep the pressure up and email them today.

Activists gather at Brittany Ferries HQ to oppose ‘cruel cargo’