A number of sheep stranded on a live export ship off Western Australia's coast have died, as the federal government continues to grapple with the decision over the fate of thousands of remaining livestock onboard.
The MV Bahijah was transporting more than 15,000 sheep and cattle to Jordan when it was ordered to return to Australia last month due to security concerns in the Red Sea.
The ship arrived off the coast of Fremantle on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is yet to make a decision on whether the animals onboard will be re-exported.
The department confirmed some of the several hundred cattle unloaded from the MV Bahijah at the request of the exporter on Friday had also died over the weekend.
Those deaths are now under investigation.
Australia's chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson on Sunday could not provide an exact number of how many livestock had died, but said the mortality rate was low.
"A registered veterinarian is required to be on board the vessel and as part of their responsibility, they do provide daily reports," Ms Cookson said.
"The information that I have, is that there have been a low number of mortalities that remain well below the reportable mortality rate."
A department spokeswoman said there was no suspicion of an exotic pest or disease being involved.
"This does not change our assessment that the livestock on the vessel continue to be in good health," the spokeswoman told the ABC.
Complex decisions
Under the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock, exporters must notify the Department when the voyage mortality rate reaches the notifiable mortality level.
For sheep, that rate is 1 per cent or three animals — whichever is greater. The rate for cattle is 0.5 per cent.
The department's secretary, Adam Fennessy, defended the amount of time it had taken to review the application.
He said the verdict would need to consider export legislation, animal welfare considerations and the requirements of international trading partners.
"I want to emphasise that my department makes decisions on the basis of the application of the commercial exporter," Mr Fennessy said.
"We understand the strong interest in this issue, both from a biosecurity and an animal health and welfare perspective.
"My department must make complex decisions for this unique situation."
The department said it would issue a public statement with the outcome of their assessment of the application as soon as possible.
Time frame slammed
WA Farmers livestock president Geoff Pearson criticised the drawn-out process on Saturday.
"Any disruption to any trade is a bad look," Mr Pearson said.
"Especially when it's in the department's hand to make a decision.
"It puts everything in limbo, we've got livestock banked up ready to go to another market … and the more and more this goes on, the more it jeopardises markets in the future."
Mr Pearson said while he understood it was a difficult task, he did not have full confidence in the decision makers.
"I think they're trying as hard as they can to get their resolution," Mr Pearson said.
"But it's just whether we've got the right people in the department to be making these decisions. I'm not sure."
Earlier this week, the department revealed the Israel-based exporter, Bassem Dabbah, failed to file a plan for the animals until two weeks after they were ordered back.
The ship berthed in Fremantle on Thursday after spending several days off WA's coast.
As of Sunday, the vessel had left port and was situated off the state's coast for routine cleaning.
The exporter's registered veterinarian remained on board the vessel and would continue to report back to the department daily on the health and welfare of the livestock.
Responding to media reports that an option to process the offloaded animals in Victoria had emerged, Mr Fennessy said the idea was incorrect.
"We have no information to support that proposition," he said.
"Any movement of the animals will be subject to appropriate biosecurity requirements."
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