The Seaweed Situation In Placencia, Belize: An Update

Placencia, Belize is a gorgeous emerald peninsula in southern Belize with 16 miles of sandy beaches. However, seaweed has been a problem in the region since 2015. Known as sargassum, this type of seaweed is a brown algae that floats in sometimes mile-long clumps and has an unpleasant 'rotten egg' stench when washed on the beach. While sargassum is not known to be harmful to humans, it has impacted Belize's tourism industry, as visitors do not want to be near the sight and smell of the seaweed or be unable to swim in the sea without getting caught up in it.

Placencia has been hit hard by the seaweed, with reports of the smell being powerful and the seaweed covering the shoreline for miles. However, there are still some areas in Belize that have not been affected by the seaweed, such as Secret Beach in Caye Caulker. The seaweed also tends to appear more in the summer months and subside in the winter when the oceans are cooler.

The Belize government has teamed up with local hoteliers and islanders to create a task force to combat the problem, and some resorts employ up to 30 people a day to deal with the issue. While the seaweed has been detrimental to tourism, it also contains rich nutrients that sustain life for marine life, and there is ongoing research into how it can be used as a natural resource on land.

The seaweed problem in Placencia, Belize

Belize is a gorgeous emerald peninsula in southern Belize with 16 miles of sandy beaches. The Caribbean Sea is to the east, and the charming Placencia lagoon lies to the west, looking towards the Maya Mountains on the mainland. The beaches along the Placencia Peninsula are dotted with small resorts that can arrange dive and snorkel trips to the reef, which is about 17 miles away.

However, seaweed has been a problem in Placencia and the wider Caribbean since 2015. Known as sargassum, this brown seaweed is filled with oxygen, which makes it buoyant, and it clumps together in huge masses before washing up on the beach. With rising ocean temperatures, the seaweed problem has escalated.

The seaweed has a sulfuric, rotten egg stench and can cover miles of the beach, which can ruin a tropical vacation if you are expecting white sandy beaches. The seaweed tends to appear more in the summer months and subsides in the winter when the oceans are cooler.

In March 2022, there was an observable increase in seaweed near Belize, with high concentrations in the southern part of the country, including Placencia. Some resorts employ up to 30 people a day to deal with the issue. The seaweed is collected with rakes, wheelbarrows, and ATVs, then taken away by dump trucks and brought to landfill areas.

The seaweed is not known to be extremely harmful to humans, but the smell and sight of it are a direct threat to Belize's tourism industry, which is a driving force for the country's economy.

However, there is hope. Seaweed season is infrequent and unpredictable, and there are days when it won't be encountered at all. The seaweed also mainly collects on the beach, so tourists can still enjoy activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving by taking a boat trip offshore.

Some businesses are also turning the seaweed into animal feed, building materials, bioplastics, lotions, hair products, shakes, and jellies. There is also ongoing research on how to use sargassum to produce methane for energy.

Sargassum seaweed and its impact on tourism

Sargassum seaweed is a type of brown algae that floats in sometimes mile-long clumps and is accompanied by a very unpleasant 'rotten egg' stench when washed on the beach. It is integral to marine life, but in recent years, piles of sargassum have invaded the shores of Placencia, Belize, causing a strong blow to perhaps one of the country's biggest sources of income: tourism.

The seaweed is not known to be extremely harmful to humans, but the gases it releases when decomposing can be hazardous to those tasked with cleaning it up. The seaweed also deprives fish of oxygen and can smother coral reefs.

The origin of the seaweed is unclear. In 2011, when the first bout of Sargasso graced the shores of Caribbean countries, many believed it derived from the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic. However, according to Science Mag, satellite imagery in 2015 showed sargassum blooming off the coast of Brazil, stretching to Africa and back, pushed by currents into the Caribbean.

Belize has been proactive in dealing with the influx of sargassum, conducting many projects and assisting properties that have been affected by the seaweed. Some of these include:

• A 2% tax relief credit to coastal hotels in 2018-2019
• A duty exemption facility for tourism businesses that sought to import equipment, materials or technology to support the cleaning efforts
• $1.5 million through the Belize Tourism Board to support municipalities in beach clean-up
• The formation of the Sargassum Task Force, comprising key stakeholders from the private and public sector
• Municipal relief support which includes the containment, collection, and disposal of sargassum at five destinations, including Placencia
• Awareness campaigns on social media for tourists and stakeholders
• The development of a local forecasting mechanism, along with the Meteorological Service, to support weekly and daily Sargassum forecasts

Sargassum has been negatively impacting tourism in Placencia, Belize, but the country has been proactive in dealing with the issue and supporting the tourism industry.

Efforts to combat seaweed in Placencia

The seaweed problem in Placencia, Belize, is a pressing issue that has impacted the country's tourism industry and coastal communities. Here are some of the key efforts undertaken to combat the seaweed problem in Placencia:

• Sargassum Task Force (STF): The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has formed the STF in collaboration with the Sargassum Task Force to address the seaweed issue. The STF comprises various government ministries, private and public sector stakeholders, and local communities. They provide resources, guidelines, and support for managing and combating the seaweed problem.
• Tax Relief and Duty Exemptions: In 2018-2019, coastal hotels in Belize received a 2% tax relief credit on the hotel tax. Additionally, the STF successfully lobbied for duty exemptions for tourism businesses importing equipment, materials, or technology to support seaweed cleaning efforts.
• Financial Support for Beach Clean-up: The BTB provided $1.5 million to assist municipalities in beach clean-up efforts, specifically targeting five destinations, including Placencia.
• Local Forecasting Mechanism: The STF, in collaboration with the Meteorological Service, developed a local forecasting mechanism to support weekly and daily Sargassum forecasts for Belize. This system aims to improve the accuracy of forecasting with support from regional satellite models.
• Best Practices and Awareness: The authorities in Belize have been spreading awareness about the best practices for Sargassum management among stakeholders and municipalities. They provide resources, press releases, and social media campaigns to educate tourists and locals about the issue.
• Installation of Barriers (Booms): The potential use of booms, or containment barriers, is being explored. These barriers are designed to deflect seaweed away from the shores and funnel it towards a collecting point for easy removal. However, the approval process for installing these barriers involves seeking guidance from the Department of Environment and the Belize Port Authority.
• Support for Tourism Providers and Local Communities: Tourism providers are encouraged to provide information to guests about Sargassum, including its regional presence in the Caribbean and its impacts. Local communities are also encouraged to establish a Local Sargassum Committee or Task Force to develop management plans and determine proper mechanisms for collection, disposal, and use of the seaweed.
• Sustainable Seaweed Farming: Initiatives like the Placencia Seaweed Farming Project promote sustainable seaweed mariculture. This project, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, involves working with the Placencia Fishermen Cooperative to develop and test pilot mariculture farms. It focuses on red seaweed (Eucheuma isiforme) and aims to provide alternative income sources for coastal communities while also offering ecological benefits, such as reduced nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the water.
• Utilization of Sargassum: There are efforts to utilize Sargassum for various purposes. Some businesses are turning seaweed into animal feed, building materials, bioplastics, lotions, hair products, shakes, and jellies. Additionally, research is being conducted on using Sargassum to produce methane for energy.

These efforts demonstrate the proactive approach taken by the Belizean government, local communities, and stakeholders to mitigate the seaweed problem in Placencia and promote sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and the country's vital tourism industry.

Seaweed farming in Placencia

Placencia's seaweed farming initiatives are creating new carbon sinks and helping to restore the region's diverse marine life. Seaweed is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and its derivatives are used in a multitude of products, from food and cosmetics to biofuels and fertilisers.

The seaweed farms in Placencia are also providing habitat for commercially and ecologically important species, such as spiny lobster and queen conch, whose populations have been in decline due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices. The farms have been shown to decrease nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the surrounding waters, and local decreases in ocean acidification have also been detected.

The Placencia Seaweed Farmers work with the Placencia Fishermen Cooperative, which was founded in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. The cooperative includes the Belize Women's Seaweed Farmers Association (BWSFA), which was created in 2019 to support women's involvement in the industry. The BWSFA's president, Mariko Wallen, is planning to launch seaweed farm tours in Placencia, where visitors can learn to harvest seaweed while spotting rare marine life.

Placencia's seaweed farming initiatives are helping to protect the region's marine life and support the local economy, while also providing a delicious treat for locals and tourists alike.

Placencia's beaches and their appeal

Placencia, a village at the southern tip of the sixteen-mile-long Placencia peninsula in southern Belize, is known for its gorgeous beaches. The beaches in Placencia are a beautiful resource, with a narrow, long loaf of toast-colored sand. The beaches stretch for about sixteen miles along the peninsula, dotted with small resorts that can arrange dive and snorkel trips to the reef. The resorts can also arrange day trips to many small, idyllic cayes, such as Laughing Bird Caye, a mini-atoll that offers protected snorkelling and swimming, a white sand beach, and many cooling palm trees.

The northern portion of Placencia includes the Garifuna village of Seine Bight and is less densely populated. It has many of the more expensive resorts and also has "real" surf, although not very high. The water is clean and clear, and the trade winds are gentle and cooling.

Placencia is also the centre of sustainable Belizean seaweed farming. Seaweed has traditionally been collected by fishers and sold in local markets as food. Now, seaweed is being farmed sustainably off the Belize Barrier Reef in the Caribbean Sea. The seaweed is sold in the form of food, as well as soaps and cooking thickeners.

However, seaweed has also been a problem for Placencia's beaches. Sargassum, a type of brown seaweed, has been a problem throughout the Caribbean since 2015, affecting the eastern side of land masses. Sargassum has a strong, unpleasant smell and can cover miles of the beach. In Placencia, the seaweed tends to be worse in the summer months and better in the winter when the oceans are cooler.

Despite the seaweed issue, Placencia remains a beautiful beach destination, with calm, clear waters and gentle winds. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkelling, diving, and other water sports. The beaches of Placencia are a calming and relaxing attraction for tourists and locals alike.

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