Transport of animals by sea.

The author briefly describes the development of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Guidelines for the transport of animals by sea. The paper provides details about the membership of the OIE Ad hoc Group on the sea transport of animals, the terms of reference of this group, the process followed and the consultations that were undertaken in developing and reviewing the guidelines. An outline of the guideline contents is also provided. In addition, the author outlines the programme of research undertaken into the causes of sheep and cattle deaths during sea transport from Australia--the world's largest exporter of sheep and cattle by sea. The main findings of these investigations are summarised.