Placencia Says “No Funding”: Sargassum Control Left to Property Owners

The Placencia Village Council is warning beachfront property owners and tourism stakeholders to prepare for possible sargassum landings along southern Belize’s coast in the coming days.

In a notice issued Monday, the council reported that sargassum mats have been detected near Roatán and the Gulf of Honduras. Forecast models show the seaweed remaining offshore through Thursday, but the council cautioned that “it is still difficult to say what happens beyond that time,” noting beaching could occur over the weekend into early next week.

The council also stated it currently has no funding for sargassum cleanup initiatives and urged beachfront owners, resorts, hotels, restaurants, and homeowners to implement their own control plans.

Separately, the Belize National Meteorological Service reported that satellite imagery shows limited sargassum near Belize’s coast, although mats were spotted over the Gulf of Honduras. For Placencia, the probability of impact is rated medium, with minimal effects expected in the short term.

Sargassum influxes have become a recurring challenge for coastal communities, often affecting tourism and local livelihoods in Belize.