A local beekeeper thinks the import of bees to the province is unnecessary and opens us up to potential problems.

Newfoundland is one of only a small number of known areas that is free of deadly bee parasites and illness.

Bees were imported to the island a few years ago, and while there were no problems reported, Paul Dinn of Adelaide’s Newfoundland Honey says the fear among some beekeepers is it could happen again.

Dinn says there are enough people beekeeping now that we can grow our own colonies, rather than open ourselves up to risk. His advice: “Give it time.”