Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 9:00am

Bee strategy is outlined by Minister

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A bee health strategy is being developed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure the bee population does not decline.

The Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew, made the commitment during an Assembly debate on the 'perceived decline' in the bee population.

The No Day Named motion was brought forward by Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Mr. Tom Elliott and fellow MLA, Mr. Leslie Cree, 'That this Assembly notes with concern the decline in the bee population in Northern Ireland and the potential impact this trend may have on agriculture, the environment, and the wider economy; further notes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs" investment in research into bee population decline in England and the publication of a bee health strategy for England; and call on the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development to invest in local research into bee health and to publish a bee health strategy.'

Speaking during the debate on bee numbers, the Minister said: ' The apparent annual decline in bee numbers needs to be properly understood in the context of the annual cycle of a bee hive, which involves a completely natural loss of bees every winter. Beekeepers expect to lose a proportion of their bees every year for this very reason, and losses of between 10 and 20% are considered normal. Average reported over-winter losses here this year were around 22%.'

Turning to the potential impacts of a decline in bee numbers, the Minister continued: 'Honeybees are invaluable to environmentally sustainable farming. The core local industry here that depends heavily on insect pollination is the world-renowned Bramley apple. Bees are the main source of insect pollination, and are the first step in the flowering and then fruiting process in the apple growing cycle. A decline in bee numbers would impact negatively on Bramley yield.

'Bees also support environmental biodiversity and ensure that fruit is produced for the benefit of all wildlife on trees and wild shrubs. If bees were to be removed from this equation, a vital link in plant reproduction would be missing, and the countryside around us, now so full of flowering plants, would quickly change for the worse.

'My Department currently provides support to bee numbers here through its agri-environment schemes. My Department and AFBI (Agri-Sciences-Bio-Institute) also provide support for the beekeeping sector through: inspection and advice services; beekeeping courses; the bee health survey; and the analysis of disease samples submitted by beekeepers.'