| New Zealand chooses not to try Varroa Eradication |
| July, 2000 by Alan Harman WELLINGTON - The New Zealand government stunned beekeepers by ruling out an attempt to eradicate the varroa mite outbreak. Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton and Biosecurity Minister Marian Hobbs said in a joint statement that there wiould be a government-assisted management program announced today. "We considered carefully the views of the beekeeping and other primary sector industries and also of the independent technical group," the ministers said. "In the end we accepted that the chances of successfully eradicating the varroa mite were minimal. A failed eradication attempt would weaken beekeeping and pollination-dependent industries and jeopardize long-term management." "At an estimated cost of $55 million, money was not a factor but all our advice considered the chances of success were low. Eradication would require the depopulation of all managed and feral bees over at least 5,000 square kilometers including rugged terrain from the central North Island to Hokianga. Our advice is that there will be further sites of infestation not yet detected. "Long-term management uses chemicals to kill varroa mites in managed hives while leaving the bees in those hives healthy." The government approved initial expenditure of almost NZ$1.3 million for the management plan which has three stages: * Immediate control over the next 10 weeks. Beekeepers from all infested apiaries and apiaries within a five-kilometer radius of an infested apiary, will be offered free treatment of hives with a registered chemical. * Interim control. A two-year government supported management program which is likely to include financial assistance and support. The aim is to keep the South Island free of varroa for as long as possible and to reduce the effects of the mite in the North Island. A draft operational plan is with the industry for comment. * Long-term control, beyond two years. An agreed long-term management plan under the Biosecurity Act. The statement said the Ministry of Agriculture had been directed to work with industry to finalize an operational plan and to report back to the movernment by mid-September. The Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Agriculture will also, in consultation with the beekeeping industry, review the need for rural sector income support measures. The Fruitgrowers' Federation said its members would face higher pollination costs and in years when bees were scarce because of the mite, crops would be smaller and fruit quality poorer. But Sutton said managing the mite would minimize the impact on industries relying on pollination. National Beekeepers' Association president Terry Gavin said all rural organizations had believed it was better to try eradication and fail than not try at all. The mite ended New Zealand's varroa-free status on April 11 when it was found in four beehives in South Auckland. A subsequent inspect of 3,022 apiaries containing 58,163 hives found 248 infected apiaries containing 4,060 hives. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bee Culture Magazine http://www.airoot.com/beeculture/index.htm |