Listen
Health of Scotland's honey bees
30/09/2008
A strategy to monitor and improve the health of Scotland's honey bees has been published today.
Honey bees are currently under threat from a number of different pests and diseases, including the Varroa mite.
Beekeeping contributes to local food production and also lends support to Scotland's rural communities.
The Honey Bee Health Strategy seeks to address the challenges and ensure a healthy, sustainable bee population for future generations.
The Strategy seeks to achieve its goals through four key objectives:
- Effective surveillance and monitoring for diseases and pests
- High standards of bee husbandry being observed
- Disease control policy being based on sound science and evidence
- Effective communications between stakeholders at all levels
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said:
"Honey bees contribute directly to local food production in Scotland and their contribution to crop production and our environment through pollination is also important.
"However, our honey bee population faces a growing number of threats from pests and diseases, something which has galvanised much public interest.
"This draft strategy seeks to address the current challenges facing beekeepers and provides a plan of action aimed at sustaining the health of bees and beekeeping in Scotland for the next decade.
"Key to the success of the strategy is communication between Scotland's beekeepers and Government. However, we must also ensure we do not lose sight of the need for good bee husbandry and disease monitoring.
"Beekeeping is a small but important sector for rural Scotland, and maintaining a healthy honey bee population will contribute to the sustainable economic growth of rural Scotland."