Belize City Declares Sargassum Emergency as Seaweed Piles Up to 20 Inches Deep
The Belize City Council is moving to declare the seaweed piling up along the city’s waterfront a priority municipal environmental incident, after an internal engineering assessment found the accumulation has outpaced what natural tidal action can clear on its own.
In a memorandum to Mayor Bernard Wagner, City Engineer Floyd Williams lays out a preliminary Engineering Situation Report (SITREP) on the sargassum affecting the Sandlighter’s Promenade and the surrounding shoreline, along with a proposed Emergency Sargassum Management Programme carrying an estimated price tag of between $250,000 and $325,000.
@news5livebelize This Is How Belize City Is Removing Tons of Sargassum
A site inspection by Williams’ team found accumulation depths ranging from four inches to roughly 20 inches along the affected stretch of waterfront, with active decomposition already producing hydrogen sulfide odors. The inspection also turned up plastics, bottles and other floating debris trapped within the seaweed mass, along with restricted water circulation near the shore.
Notably, engineers estimate that 70 to 80 percent of the accumulated biomass sits beyond the existing seawall, with the thickest deposits closest to the wall and progressively thinner layers extending seaward.
The memo warns that without intervention, the city faces compounding public health, environmental and economic consequences: offensive odors and rising fly and mosquito activity; deteriorating nearshore water quality and oxygen depletion harmful to marine life; and a hit to tourism, recreation and the “negative visual impact” on one of the city’s principal waterfront assets.
Citing regional forecasts pointing to further waves of sargassum in the coming months, Williams recommends the Council treat the current situation “as the beginning of a seasonal operational challenge rather than an isolated incident,” and formally classify it as a High Priority Municipal Environmental Incident.
The engineering report recommends a two-phase approach to remove sargassum. First, local fishermen would use boats and floating containment nets to gather the seaweed offshore and guide it toward the seawall. Then, a long-reach excavator would load the concentrated sargassum directly into dump trucks for disposal, reducing cleanup time and protecting the promenade.
The emergency operation is estimated to cost about BZ$170,000, with a seasonal maintenance programme bringing the total recommended budget to BZ$250,000 to BZ$325,000.
The report also recommends declaring the buildup a priority, engaging local fishermen, coordinating with relevant government agencies, and setting aside dedicated funding for future sargassum seasons.
Meanwhile, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve has offered its sargassum harvester to assist in Belize City for BZ$10,000, an offer Mayor Bernard Wagner has welcomed as the city faces what he described as an unprecedented amount of seaweed.