A dwindling bee population will be at the top of the agenda at this weekend's conference of Maritime beekeepers and bee researchers in northern New Brunswick.

Researchers from as far away as Pennsylvania will present their theories on what caused the decline in the bee population last spring.

For Paul Vautour, president of the Beekeepers Association of New Brunswick, the meeting in Charlo comes at a critical time.

He says most beekeepers in the province reported record losses in the spring, and many are just now starting to rebuild their hives.

"We're making a comeback," Vautour said. "We're splitting our hives, we've bought what we call nucleus colonies to build up. We're making a comeback, it's looking good."

Vautour says the conference will give beekeepers and researchers an opportunity to talk about more ways to rebuild the industry.

Mike Melanson, in charge of apiculture for the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, says he expects to get a sense of how well the industry is recovering. 

"My role is just to attend the conference to network with some of the beekeepers and get a sense of some of the issues that are going on in New Brunswick and the Maritimes," Melanson said.

Beekeepers say it's too soon to say whether their bee populations will continue to recover.

Vautour says he feels optimistic his hives will make it through next winter.