A local beekeeper is close to accepting defeat in a one-man battle against plans to use what he calls 'a pesticide' in the Island's hives, as part of the fight against the disease varroa.
Jerry Norton, who keeps a substantial number of bees in the north and west of the Island, is objecting to the proposed use of special chemical strips, designed to make it easier to identify the mite which carries the disease.
A proposed change to the 1989 Bees Act goes before Tynwald for approval next week.
Mr Norton agrees varroa needs to be kept away from the Island, but has been involved in legal action with the Department of Environment, Food and Agrilcuture over the planned method of early detection (play audio file):
Mr Norton says if Tynwald passes the order from DEFA he will reluctantly accept the strips must be put in his hives.
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