Belize's Sargassum Woes: Worst In Summer

The problem of sargassum in Belize has been an issue since 2014, with the Caribbean experiencing record blooms of the seaweed-like algae. In large quantities, sargassum becomes problematic as it clogs shorelines and washes up on beaches, decomposing and creating a strong, unpleasant smell.

The issue tends to be worse in the summer months, with rising ocean temperatures, and is more prevalent on the eastern side of land masses. In Belize, the southern region, including Hopkins and Placencia, has been hit hard, while other areas, such as the west side of Ambergris Caye, have been less affected.

The government of Belize has teamed up with local hoteliers and residents to tackle the problem, with workers using rakes, wheelbarrows and ATVs to collect the sargassum, which is then taken away by dump trucks. However, this constant removal of the seaweed is causing beach erosion, and new sand has to be brought in.

The more permanent solution appears to be to collect the sargassum before it hits the shore, and some resorts employ up to 30 people a day to deal with the issue.

The smell of sargassum is like a sulfuric rotten egg

The smell of sargassum is often likened to that of a sulfuric, rotten egg. This is due to the release of hydrogen sulfide, a substance produced when sargassum seaweed decomposes. While sargassum is typically found floating in the Sargasso Sea, a region in the North Atlantic Ocean, it has become an issue for countries like Belize when large quantities wash up on their shores. The decomposition of sargassum not only emits a putrid odour but can also cause respiratory, skin, and neurocognitive issues for those who come into close contact with it.

In Belize, the problem with sargassum seems to be at its worst between January and April, with varying levels of severity from year to year. The southern tip of Placencia, however, tends to remain free from sargassum even when other beaches along the coast are affected.

The proliferation of sargassum is thought to be caused by an increase in fertilizers from the Amazon and Congo river basins, dust from the Sahara Desert carrying nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron, and rising ocean surface temperatures. As sargassum thrives in warmer temperatures, its growth is accelerated, resulting in thicker rafts that wash up on the shores.

To address the issue, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has implemented several measures, including tax relief for coastal hotels, duty exemptions for tourism businesses importing equipment for sargassum clean-up, and financial support for municipalities in beach clean-up efforts. Additionally, the Sargassum Task Force has been formed, comprising key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, to develop a comprehensive management plan.

The seaweed mostly affects the eastern side of land masses

The seaweed problem in Belize is at its worst in the summer months, with the southern tip of Placencia typically being free from sargassum.

Sargassum is a genus of brown macroalgae (seaweed) that floats in sometimes mile-long clumps, giving off a very unpleasant 'rotten egg' stench when washed on the beach. It is integral to the homes of marine life, but in recent years, piles of sargassum have invaded the shores of Belize, threatening the country's tourism industry.

The Sargasso Sea, a region of the Atlantic Ocean, was named after the algae because it hosts a large amount of sargassum. The sea is bounded on the west by the Gulf Stream, on the north by the North Atlantic Current, on the east by the Canary Current, and on the south by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current. These four currents form a clockwise-circulating system of ocean currents called the North Atlantic Gyre.

While sargassum is a problem for tourism, it does have some benefits for the ecosystem. In limited amounts, washed-ashore sargassum plays an important role in maintaining Atlantic and Caribbean coastal ecosystems. It provides vital nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to coastal ecosystems bordering the nutrient-poor waters of the western North Atlantic tropics and subtropics. It also decreases coastal erosion.

However, when too much sargassum accumulates, it becomes a problem. Large quantities of decomposing sargassum consume oxygen, creating oxygen-depleted zones that can kill fish. It also produces hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S), which is harmful to humans. During a sargassum inundation event in 2018, 11,000 Acute Sargassum Toxicity cases were reported in an 8-month span on just the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The excess sargassum can be attributed to human activity, specifically, changes in currents and water temperatures due to global warming, and the clearing of forested land for heavily fertilized farmlands. The excess nutrients from the fertilizer make their way down major rivers and into the Atlantic Ocean, leading to overgrowth of sargassum.

To combat the problem, the Belize Tourism Board, in conjunction with the Sargassum Task Force, has put together resources for visitors, locals, stakeholders, and municipalities. Some of the measures include tax relief for coastal hotels, duty exemptions for tourism businesses importing equipment for cleaning efforts, financial support for municipalities in beach clean-up, and awareness campaigns on social media.

The seaweed tends to appear more in the summer months and subsides in the winter

The seaweed problem in Belize, caused by sargassum—a brown, floating seaweed—is worse in the summer months and tends to subside in the winter.

Sargassum is a free-floating seaweed-like algae that grows and propagates on the water's surface using little air-filled "berries" to float. While it serves as a floating nursery for marine life, large quantities can be problematic. Starting in 2014, the Caribbean began experiencing record blooms of sargassum, with masses so large that they are now tracked by global satellites. The Mexican Navy has even been called in to help tackle the problem in the Yucatan.

The seaweed problem can ruin a tropical vacation, with its strong sulfuric, rotten egg stench and miles of beach coverage. It also makes the water unswimmable. In neighbouring Quintana Roo, several beaches have been closed due to excessive sargassum.

The Government of Belize has teamed up with local hoteliers and islanders to create a task force to combat the problem. They are developing teams of workers with rakes, wheelbarrows, and ATVs to collect the seaweed out of the water and off the beaches. The seaweed is then taken away by dump trucks and brought to landfill areas. Unfortunately, this constant digging and bulldozing is causing sand erosion, and new sand has to be trucked in.

Some resorts employ up to 30 people a day to deal with the issue. A more permanent solution appears to be collecting the seaweed before it hits the shore. Mexico has mobilised their Navy to collect the algae before it hits the shore, with varying degrees of success. Belize is also considering installing barriers in the ocean and capturing the sargassum in the channels of its offshore barrier reef.

The Mexican Navy has been called in to help tackle the problem in the Yucatan

The Mexican Navy has been called in to help tackle the problem of sargassum in the Yucatan, with varying degrees of success. The Navy has been working to collect the algae before it hits the shore. This is because sargassum is a type of free-floating seaweed-like algae that floats on top of the water using little air-filled "berries". It is integral to the homes of marine life but has been invading the shores of Belize, causing a blow to the tourism industry.

Sargassum is not a new problem, but it has become more prevalent in recent years, with Caribbean islands, the Mexican Caribbean, Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the west side of Africa reporting major problems. The issue arises when large amounts of sargassum come in and start to rot, causing an unpleasant smell and attracting bugs. It also colours and clogs the water and can kill local fish along the shore.

The Mexican Navy's involvement in tackling sargassum is part of its mission "to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy has a reputation for being well-run and well-organized, and it has a close relationship with the United States Navy. It has been working to modernize its capabilities, including building offshore patrol vessels and high-speed interception boats.

The Mexican Navy's efforts to tackle sargassum in the Yucatan are just one part of a broader strategy to address the problem. In Belize, for example, the government has implemented tax relief for coastal hotels affected by sargassum and provided duty exemptions for tourism businesses importing equipment and materials to support cleaning efforts. The formation of the Sargassum Task Force, comprising various government ministries and private and public sector stakeholders, is also working to address the issue.

The government of Belize has created a task force to combat the problem

The government of Belize has created a Sargassum Task Force (STF) to combat the problem of sargassum, a type of free-floating seaweed that has been washing up on the country's coastlines since 2011, causing ecological damage and hurting the tourism industry. The STF is composed of various government ministries, private and public sector stakeholders, and local government representatives. They have implemented several measures, including tax relief for affected coastal hotels, duty exemptions for tourism businesses importing cleaning equipment, financial support for beach clean-up efforts, and awareness campaigns.

The STF has also developed a local forecasting mechanism with the Meteorological Service to predict sargassum influxes. They are exploring the use of booms, or containment barriers, to deflect sargassum away from the shores, but installation requires approval from the Department of Environment and Belize Port Authority. The STF continues to spread awareness on best practices for sargassum management and supports properties in implementing effective methods for containment, collection, and disposal.

The government of Belize recognizes the urgency of addressing the sargassum problem, which is not unique to the country but affects the wider Caribbean region, impacting tourism and local economies. By establishing the STF and implementing a range of measures, they aim to mitigate the negative effects of sargassum on the environment and the tourism industry, which is vital to Belize's economy.

Frequently asked questions