Space-sponsored bills to protect bee industry advance

SPARTA — Three bills Assemblyman Parker Space sponsors to protect and enhance the state’s commercial and recreational bee industry, which is essential to the Garden State’s food supply, recently won Senate Economic Growth Committee approval.

“Most people are not aware of just how important bees are to the agriculture industry, specifically to our food chain,” said Space, R-Sussex, Warren and Morris, whose family has farmed in Sussex County for eight generations. “In New Jersey, they are instrumental in pollinating our cranberry, blueberry, strawberry, peach, pumpkin, squash, and apple crops."

Space said the state's $7 million honey bee industry contributes to the production of nearly $200 million worth of fruits and vegetables annually.

“These measures will provide additional protections to the state’s 3,000 commercial and hobbyist beekeepers while ensuring they conform to safety standards," Space said.

One bill extends “Right to Farm” protections to commercial beekeepers to protect them from nuisance complaints. Currently, if a complaint is filed, the case is referred to a municipal court which can be time consuming and costly. In addition, prosecutors and judges usually have little understanding of the industry. Under this measure, such complaints would be referred to a county agricultural board which better understands issues involving beekeeping.

Beekeeping as a hobby is gaining popularity in New Jersey in both urban and suburban areas, but because the general public and local officials know very little about the hobby, some municipalities are attempting to ban beehives. Space’s second bill allows for hobbyist beekeeping and protects hobbyist beekeepers by authorizing the state Department of Agriculture to regulate the keeping of beehives while at the same time giving municipalities a role in managing this growing hobby at the discretion of the Department. It also requires the Department to prepare best management practices for hobbyist beekeepers.

The third bill establishes a fine of up to $500 for each offense when an individual intentionally destroys a man-made native bee hive. A native bee is native to the state and, unlike a honeybee, does not produce honey, but provides for the pollination of crops and plants.