Honey bees during the weekly inspection at the Randalstown and District Beekeeper’s Association apiary set in the private estate of Lord O’Neill at Shane’s Castle. Pic by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images.
The number of bees in Northern Ireland continues to decline with 21 species set to become extinct if there is no intervention.
That’s according to a new report by conservation charity Buglife which highlighted the alarming extent of the problem which has been blamed on the absence of a bee inspectorate in the region.
The warning comes on International World Bee Day and follows concerns expressed by the Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA) that the vital post has been vacant for too long.
The last full-time bee inspector retired at the end of October 2024 and the part-time inspector role has been vacant since December 2024.
Honey bees during the weekly inspection at the Randalstown and District Beekeeper’s Association apiary set in the private estate of Lord O’Neill at Shane’s Castle. Pic by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images.
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) insists it “is responding to recent reductions in inspectorate staff available for bee inspections” and confirmed a recruitment drive is under way.
Co Down beekeeper Valentine Hodges — who has between 80 and 100 hives — described the situation as “critical” and expressed anger and disappointment.
“We now are at a critical stage where, through lack of recruitment we have no bee inspectors,” she said.
She added that if diseases are allowed to spread, it could have a domino effect on the food supply.