Bee population thriving thanks to strict rules

It's illegal to import the bees, or second-hand bee keeping equipment, as it's feared they could transfer a parasitic mite - which the Island has so far managed to avoid.

 

The Varroa mite infests honey bees weakening them significantly. 

 

Bee inspector Harry Owens is urging keepers to stick to the import ban as the implications for the 800 beehives here could be devastating: