Blue Economy Minister Warns of Escalating Sargassum Threat

Coastal communities are bracing once again, another heavy surge of sargassum is heading for Belize’s shores. The National Meteorological Service is warning that San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia could all feel the strain in the coming days. And San Pedro isn’t waiting around. On Monday, the Town Council rolled out a new plan to place sargassum corrals along the shoreline, hoping to give hotels and businesses some relief from the nonstop cleanup costs. That same day, Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez took the issue to the National Assembly, calling sargassum one of Belize’s most urgent environmental challenges and outlining the government’s strategy to tackle it head‑on.

 

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy

“No discussion on our Blue Economy today would be complete without addressing one of the most pressing and visible challenges of our communities, the growing phenomenon of sargassum. Across the Caribbean and here in Belize, sargassum influx has increased here in frequency and intensity. For communities like San Pedro and Caye Caulker, Hopkins, Placencia and other coastal communities, it affects our beaches, impacts tourism, disrupts fishing activities, places pressure on public health. This government is not treating sargassum as a seasonal inconvenience. We are treating it as a national priority. Through the ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, we are advancing a long term scalable national response, including effective collecting systems, environmentally sound disposals, conversion and value creation opportunities, because even in challenge this government sees opportunity.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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