Surely: 10-something years ago beekeeping is unpopular hobby frequented by v elderly men in bad jumpers= there are fewer beekeepers (as they go tp the apiary in the sky) therefore fewer colonies.
Then: beekeeping becomes "trendy" hobby (see: attractictive Ocadians :-) with fewer cordroy patches on elbows) and colony numbers increase.

I don't see proof of anything in that. Are you not both arguing about nothing? The figures are nothing other than "lies damn statistics and misquotes" or however it goes.