Police described both sides as “well behaved” as live export industry supporters and those opposed to the trade staged counter protests in Fremantle yesterday.

People dressed in black from the Ban Live Export movement formed a human chain across the Stirling Bridge while a large crowd of live export industry supporters waved signs along the river foreshore below.

WA Police said about 2000 people were involved in the demonstrations. Both sides were kept well separated, with police describing the crowds as well behaved with no arrests made. A Police spokesperson said two traffic infringements and two move-on notices were issued.

A convoy of semi-trailers adorned with pro-live export signs drove slowly across the bridge at one point, and police were reported to have intervened when a small group of young live export trade supporters ran across the bridge to the anger of anti-live-export campaigners.

There were also reports that eggs were thrown at stop live export campaigners from a passing car, and of an incident where an anti-live export protester and her eight year old daughter stood in front of the lead truck in the convoy.

Organisers of the Support Live Export rally said they were gratified by the level of support from rural areas, particularly given that the event fell in the middle of harvest, one of the busiest times of year for WA farmers.

After the event, rally-organiser Michael Trant, a farmer from Geraldton, posted his thanks to supporters on Facebook:

“We are so thankful for everyone who came,” he wrote. “Doesn't matter how well or otherwise something is organised, if people don't make the effort to show, it means nothing. The shock I got when I saw the crowd stretch from the Jetty north of the Left Bank pub down to the Rottnest Ferry can't be described.”

Mr Trant said the rally was held because farmers felt their side of the live export debate had been unfairly represented, and to illustrate the work the industry does to uphold and promote animal welfare.

Two weeks ago Mr Trant said he originally expected about 50 people to turn up but realised it would be much bigger than that when he was inundated with emails of support. He said it was clear that farmers had had a “had a gutful”.

He tweeted before yesterday’s rally that one town had hijacked their school’s bus to transport people to the rally, but then realised they had too many supporters so hired a coach instead.