Bee deaths spark investigation after traces of chemical Fipronil found in hives
19/2/21
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/dalby-bee-deaths-spark-fipronil-investigation/13162662
A southern Queensland beekeeper is desperate for answers after losing up to 600,000 honeybees to suspected poisoning by a controversial agricultural chemical.
Peter Donohoe, from Dalby, first contacted biosecurity officials after finding hundreds of dying bees on his property on Christmas morning.
“I went out and there are dead bees in front of every hive and bees dying at the same time,” he said.
“I tried to see what bees I could save and we started moving them and splitting [the hives].
“Exactly four weeks later the leftover bees that were there got hit again.”
Mr Donohoe shifted the survivors, mostly Italian bees, to a new location near the Dalby township but the deaths have continued up to this week.
He estimated 15 hives had been destroyed, while the remaining hives were weakened.
“It’s gut-wrenching. I can’t really cope with it,” he said.
“You’re left with an absolute mess of dead bees and empty boxes.
“It’s bad enough seeing the dead bees but when you see all the dying bees falling from the hives … it’s a sight you don’t want to see.”
Link to ‘shocking’ insecticide
Mr Donohue said he sent samples from the hives to a laboratory in Brisbane, where they tested positive for the chemical Fipronil.
The broad-use insecticide is banned in the United States and Europe, but legal in Australia, and is mainly used on cotton in Queensland.
In 2019, an EPA investigation found Fipronil likely contributed to the deaths of millions of bees in New South Wales, sparking calls for a ban from some beekeepers.
Mr Donohue echoed those calls.
“The chemical’s got to be banned because it’s a terrible chemical, it’s shocking,” he said.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been reviewing the use of Fipronil and its risks to human health and the environment since 2011.
In a statement, the APVMA said registered Fipronil products were safe to use according to label directions, which included not spraying in areas where bees were known to forage and notifying beekeepers to move hives before spraying.
It expected to propose a regulatory decision this year.
Biosecurity Queensland is investigating Mr Donohoe’s complaint.
A spokesperson said there was no evidence that “immediately” suggested the bee deaths were caused by spray drift but it was possible for bees to bring chemicals back to their hives after foraging.
Chair of the Australian Honeybee Industry Council Trevor Weatherhead said the chemical posed ongoing problems for the industry.
“Where we’ve had large bee deaths it’s usually been attributed to Fipronil,” he said.
“One of the things we tell the beekeepers to do if they do have deaths like this is to fill out the adverse experience report that goes to the APVMA.
“The attitude is, if you don’t fill that report out and send it in, then it didn’t happen in the eyes of the government.”
With bees travelling up to 8 kilometres from their hives, Mr Weatherhead said keepers and neighbouring farmers should communicate regularly about their plans, which some do via Crop Life Australia’s free ‘Bee Connected’ smartphone app.
“Growers definitely should be on the app,” he said.
“It will then advise them of beekeepers in the area and they can talk with them.”
‘I’m finished’
Since reporting the deaths at his property, Mr Donohoe said he had spoken to eight neighbours who had also lost bees.
He welcomed Biosecurity Queensland’s investigation but said he would not be able to restore his colony.
“After this lot, I’m finished. I’m only a pensioner,” he said.
“I’ve spent 10 years getting the bees to where they are now.
“We couldn’t even keep the honey or the comb out of the hives. We had to destroy it all.”