Live animal exports resumed from the port of Dover today, amid local protests against the trade. 

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Dover Port was home to the UK live export trade before broken equipment led to its relocation to Ramsgate in 2011. There, local councillors, MPs and pressure groups all vocally opposed the shipments from their port. After an incident last September in which 47 sheep died, exports from Ramsgate were briefly banned by Thanet District Council.

A small group of activists gathered in Dover on Thursday, calling for a ban on live animal exports. Local MP Charlie Elphicke also voiced his opposition to the development, which he claimed was "a step backwards for animal welfare."

Following trials last week and modifications to the ship, MV Jolie, the only transporter currently servicing the live exports trade from the UK, is set to make one journey each week from Dover to Calais.

Though it is deeply controversial, the business remains legal, which Dover Harbour Board highlighted in a statement, adding that it is obliged to facilitate all legal trades. However, the authority added that it "hopes that the significantly shorter sea crossing from Dover, when compared with other ports, will at least bring some relative benefit for the welfare of the animals in the transporters."    

DHB has previously been taken to court by exporters for attempting to refuse them access to the port. In March, a legal challenge against live exports from Ramsgate Port filed by the RSPCA also failed the High Court.  

In a statement made on Thursday, NFU spokesperson Frank Langrish said "This is a perfectly legal, legitimate and valuable trade for English farmers. The MV Jolene will be sailing from Dover to Calais for a significantly shorter journey time, when compared with other ports, and this is a bonus for animal welfare."

However, farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming contested the NFU position. A spokesperson for the charity said the move "could revive a trade that was dwindling in the UK" and added, "Some would say it is better that the trade goes through Dover, as the crossing will be quicker, but the fact is anything that makes the trade easier for exporters can only drive up the number of animals exported, increasing suffering and perpetuating a trade that has no place in modern Britain."