Amateur beekeepers who have not registered their hives with the Department of Agriculture and Food have been urged to do so as soon as possible

Amateur beekeepers who have not registered their hives with the Department of Agriculture and Food have been urged to do so as soon as possible to avoid the risk of a penalty.

The reminder follows recent discoveries of some unregistered hives around the State which could pose a threat to the local bee industry.

Anyone who owns, or who has charge, care or possession of bees or any beehive is considered a beekeeper and is required by law to be registered with the Department of Agriculture and Food within 14 days after becoming a beekeeper.

Currently 840 beekeepers are registered in Western Australia, of which about 90 ninety per cent are amateur beekeepers.

Department senior apiculturist Bill Trend said the department will not penalise any beekeeper who comes forward now to register, as many amateurs may not have realised the requirement to register.

Mr Trend said registration was vital to enable the department to locate hives and beekeepers in the event of a pest or disease incursion.

"Beehives can harbour diseases that could seriously threaten the Western Australian bee and honey industry," he said.

"So it's vital we know where beehives are and who owns them so that if there is an outbreak of endemic disease, like American foulbrood, or exotic diseases European foulbrood or pests like varroa mite, the department and industry can respond quickly and effectively to try and eradicate the threat."

All registered amateur and commercial beekeepers are allocated a hive brand and are required to brand their beehives.

They are also required to notify the Registrar of Brands in writing of a change in address, a change of ownership of beehives or if they had disposed of their beehives.

Amateur and commercial beekeepers are also required to pay ‘fees for service' on all beehives containing a colony of bees used for honey or pollen production, queen bee rearing or contracted pollination services.

"This is important because the number of beehives declared is the number that will be used by the bee industry in any event of an outbreak that results in compensation payments," Mr Trend said.

Applications for registration and ‘fees for service' can be made to the Registrar of Brands, Department of Agriculture and Food.