W.RDE.0031 - Managing effluent waste from livestock export vessels for environmental sustainability
Did you know that the washing of pad and faecal materials from livestock vessels is an important component of effectively managing animal welfare and biosecurity?
| Project start date: | 27 June 2023 |
| Project end date: | 30 June 2024 |
| Publication date: | 14 March 2024 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | International |
Summary
The livestock export industry involves the transport of livestock by sea to overseas markets and the washing of pad and faecal materials from the vessel is an important component of effectively managing animal welfare and biosecurity. Ship-owners and masters ensure that these processes are done in accordance with international maritime requirements. However, the livestock export industry has the opportunity to proactively investigate how it could better manage these processes to minimise environmental risk and communicate / demonstrate that it is meeting or ahead of community expectations.
Objectives
Objectives include:
• Clearly identify and document the existing regulations applying to effluent management and discharge at sea, internationally and if applicable domestically.
• Assess international or other industry approaches to effluent management and discharge into waterways (human and animal waste).
• Assess livestock management practices and sample effluent from livestock vessels to understand the composition and any potential contaminants of concern contained with it.
• To undertake a critical assessment of effluent disposal on marine water quality, taking into account the role of key factors such as ship speed, discharge rate and mixing zone, on the dilution of effluent solids and potential contaminants.
• Provide advice on best practice, within current limitations, to minimise the potential impacts on marine water quality / the oceanic environment and future R&D opportunities to consider over a longer-term program of work.
Key findings
The project was terminated due to under-resourcing of research partner.
Benefits to industry
Would benefit industry by:
• Demonstrating that it is proactively working to minimise environmental risks from the discharge of effluent at sea.
• Taking initial steps to address rapidly growing community expectations around environmental sustainability and stewardship.
• Communicating this project as a key platform of its environmental improvement credentials to banks and other institutions.
• Identifying practices that could support improved environmental outcomes during livestock exports.
MLA action
No further action at this stage.
Future research
No further research at this stage.
More information
| Project manager: | Rashelle Levonian |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
