abc.net.au/news/honey-bee-industry-for-varroa-mite-management-not-eradication/102869722Calls to move away from eradication of varroa mite are growing louder and more unified, with the peak industry body now supporting management of the bee parasite.
"Over the last week or so, we've seen some significant developments in the response, a number of new detections, but some growing"We're also seeing a huge number of hives that are now caught in red [biosecurity eradication] zones and, if the response continues, would be euthanased, which would be quite significant to the NSW industry."
"At the moment, it's quite messy, very stressful and emotional for those guys, and they're unable to really see a clear pathway forward for their future."Almond Board of Australia chief executive Tim Jackson said while "eradicating varroa would have been a far better outcome", the board did not believe eliminating the pest was still viable and also backed the move to management.
Crop Pollination Association of Australia president and Grafton beekeeper Steve Fuller has been pushing for a management strategy for the past six months."We have not made any dent in the eradication in the Newcastle cluster. It keeps growing, so it's only fair to say, 'Look, if you can't make eradication in one area within 15 months then we need another plan, we need to go to management'," he said.
Mr van Weeghel said the eradication strategy also put in place bee movement bans, which would damage beekeepers' businesses and the industries that relied on them for food production.He said there was an estimated 1.73 million hectares now in red zones in New South Wales, which, under the agreed rules of an eradication program, meant they would not be allowed to host bees for at least three years.
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