Proposed Beekeeping Rule Un-bee-lieveable:

Sierra Club Comments in Opposition

The New Jersey Sierra Club has submitted comments in opposition to the Proposed Beekeeping Rules by the NJ Department of Agriculture. We also have concerns with the procedural provisions for seeking a waiver of the density limitations that we believe are unfairly complicated and burdensome. Also, the substantive criteria for waivers are confusing and unclear. The rules give enforcement to towns who have no experience with beekeeping. It also limits the size of properties in which hives are allowed.

“We’re concerned that this proposed rule will actual reduce the number of hives and the bee population in New Jersey. We believe that proposed hive densities suggested in the rules are extremely low and scientifically unsound. We also oppose language that does not allow urban bees and other extremely limiting restrictions. This contradicts recent positive experiences around the world with bees in urban and suburban settings. Overall, we believe that these rules will make it more difficult to sustain and enrich bee populations in New Jersey,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The rule is un-bee-leievable because it will hurt beekeepers and bee populations across the state.”

Last year, Federal Court ruled that the EPA violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it approved the bee-killing insecticides neonicotinoids. They recognize the threat bees face nationwide. Bees are in dire trouble across the country and need more protection, not stricter limitations.

“There may be a need for better beekeeping regulations, but we feel that this proposal replaces a flyswatter with a howitzer. These rules seemed designed to help the commercial beekeepers at the expense of smaller and community-based beekeepers. Giving authority to local town officials will allow them to make decisions without being trained or qualified to do so. This could lead to us losing hives rather than better regulations,” said Jeff Tittel.

Bees are an important part of our ecosystem and play a crucial role in the pollination of our crops. Without bees and their pollinating, we could see all these systems collapse. We could lose many of our important crop species as well. Bees are integral to our backyard gardens, our local farms, and the ecosystems we hike in every day. They have been dying in record numbers and we’re concerned we could see bees go extinct. This would have devastating effects on ecosystems across the country but also on our food supply.

“This rule will have stinging consequences for New Jersey’s bee populations. Without bees, there won’t be any blueberries or other important crops that New Jersey relies on. Bees are already threatened both by climate change and pesticide use and this would only make it harder to sustain bee populations in our state. As bees are economically and environmentally important and we believe these rules will hurt bees rather than help them, we are requesting that this proposal be withdrawn,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.