Sargassum Threatens Belize's Beaches

This year, the beaches of Mexico and Belize are being overwhelmed with Sargassum. While Sargassum is mainly hitting the east side of Cozumel -- 40 tons were removed on the July 19th weekend, away from the resorts -- Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula are getting swamped. However, many tourist beaches are protected by floating barriers that prevent the Sargassum from reaching the beaches.

In Belize, a relatively impoverished nation with limited resources to address the issue, the foul-smelling weed has blanketed shorelines along the coast. Caye Caulker and San Pedro town, on Ambergris Caye, are bearing the brunt, and national emergency crews are doing their best to clean up. The Prime Minister has declared it a national emergency and blamed the problem on developed countries that have improperly disposed of waste into waterways, fueling its growth in the Caribbean Sea.

It's an uphill struggle. Sargassum arrives each summer, but this year it appears to be worse than ever. While some restaurants and hoteliers are working to keep their areas clear, others have donated equipment and supplies to support the efforts to keep the beaches Sargassum-free. However, the weed comes with a high concentration of heavy metals, so the focus must remain on finding safe disposal methods. Sargassum arrives annually.

The weed affects shore diving and snorkeling, but not boat diving.

Ben Davison