The production of the prestigious Denominación de Origen Protegida Tenerife honey will be almost wiped out this year as a result of the drought and heatwaves, says Juan Jesús Ramos Fariña, the president of Apiten, the island’s apiarist association. Prices are expected to rise considerably, and the Teide broom and Tajinaste honey will be particularly affected. So far this year production is down 50%, but it is expected to fall to 90% by the end of the year. Losses in the bee-keeping sector will be substantial, said Sr Ramos, with this year being critical for the industry: catastrophic wouldn’t be too strong a word for the current situation, with no official monies available to help because of the economic crisis.

Update 5 July: The press is reporting that the first case that could possibly be charged for emergency rescue is that of a 45-year-old windsurfer who needed assistance in El Médano on Tuesday afternoon. According to emergency services sources, the alert was activated by Protección Civil officers in the area after observing the windsurfer experiencing problems, and being unable to get back to land by his own means. Lifeboats and a GES helicopter were called out, and it was the helicopter which rescued him and transferred him to TFS safe and sound.   ... Read more...