Protecting bees helps protect primary industries

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
02/07/2009
Protecting bees helps protect primary industries

QUEENSLAND'S beekeepers and the community are battling to protect the state's billion-dollar bee industry from an exotic threat.

The chair of the Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Ministerial Legislative Committee, Wayne Wendt MP, praised the industry and the public for their efforts since an outbreak of Asian honey bees was first detected in Cairns two years ago.

At the Queensland Beekeepers' Association's (QBA) 105th Annual General Meeting and Conference in Cairns, Mr Wendt, Member for Ipswich West, said the Asian honey bee posed a serious threat to the State's wax and honey industry.

"The response to the incursion of Asian honey bees demonstrates how industry, government, local government and the community could work together effectively," he said.

"Honey production and honey products are worth about $16 million a year to the Queensland economy.

"But the bee industry contributes much more than finances, the honey bees play an important role in Queensland agriculture.

"The value of pollination services to horticulture and other crops in Queensland is about $1 billion annually."

Mr Wendt said Asian honey bees could potentially carry and spread the varroa mite that could destroy feral and hobbyist hives.

"An outbreak of the varroa mite would have a significant economic impact on the commercial bee industry, pollination of commercial crops and the environment," he said.

"Fortunately, no varroa mites have been detected in Queensland as part of the Asian honey bee incursion.

"But we can't risk the Asian honey bees already in Australia becoming future carriers of the mite.

"The support from the community is crucial in maintaining a clean and healthy bee industry.

"A good example of the effectiveness of public support is the recent destruction of four infestations at Gordonvale and suburban Mooroobool within one week.

"Even if reports are false alarms, Biosecurity Queensland will investigate each and every one of them."

Mr Wendt said he was particularly impressed with the arrangement with Skyrail Rainforest to establish surveillance stations along the Skyrail route.

"So far we haven't detected any Asian honey bees within the rainforest up to Kuranda," he said.

The MP said another pest causing concern in the Queensland bee industry was the small hive beetle infestation, which can turn honey into slime.

"Researchers from Queensland Primary Industry Fisheries have been working with QBA to research methods of biological control and trapping of the small hive beetle," he said.

"The research findings would be presented at the conference.

"The greatest threats facing the honey bee industry are incursions of pests and diseases.

"Working together we reduce the risk of incursions and can detect pests early enough to allow effective eradication ."

Mr Wendt thanked the QBA and the 80 beekeepers attending the forum for helping to maintain Queensland's reputation as a quality provider of agriculture and apiculture products.

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Publish Date: 02 Jul 09