The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate is conducting a biosecurity training exercise in Curtin today (26 April) to ensure the Territory is prepared for an outbreak of disease among its bee population.
Senior Manager, Biosecurity at the Directorate, Stephen Hughes said bees played a key role in food production by pollinating about a third of the world’s crops and populations were in decline because of pests and disease.
He said the Varroa mite was of particular concern with Australia one of the few places free of the deadly pest.
“Australia is one of the top 10 honey producing countries in the world,” Mr Hughes said.
“Bee products include beeswax production, queen bees and packaged bee sales, pollen, and paid pollination services.”
He said the industry had an overall estimated value of $90 million a year.
“This valuable industry and many of our food crops which rely on honey bees for pollination would be put at risk if Varroa mite were ever to become established in Australia,” Mr Hughes said.
“Today’s exercise will be a vital part of maintaining and improving our preparedness, and ability to respond to an emergency pest or disease outbreak.”
He said comprehensive arrangements were in place to respond to an outbreak of Varroa mite, however continued prevention and preparedness remained a national priority.
“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
“We all have a role in preventing an outbreak of Varroa mite. Even if you don’t own bee hives or work with bees, you need to consider the biosecurity requirements for online purchases and goods bought during overseas travel.”
Exercise Bee Prepared is being held at the Ron Reynolds Training Centre in Strangways Street, Curtin as part of an Australia-wide program with over 20 local biosecurity staff attending.
It was being held in partnership with Plant Health Australia and beekeeping associations.
