Early Sargassum Chokes Belize’s Easter Hotspots; And This Is Just the Start

Belize’s 2026 sargassum season is already building at an unusually rapid pace, with thick mats already visible across Easter weekend hotspots, including Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Hopkins.

Satellite data from the University of South Florida and NOAA show sargassum levels across the Atlantic and Caribbean at record highs, warning in its March Sargassum Forecast report that 2026 is “set to be another major year” and “likely to be a record year by summer”.

Mexico is also already struggling, with Tulum collecting 244 tonnes of seaweed by February, up from 59 tonnes last year, according to local reports.

Meanwhile, the early surge adds urgency to cleanup efforts for local authorities in Belize. Even before Easter break, the San Pedro Town Council ramped up cleanup crews, while hotels and restaurants deploy floating barriers to keep the seaweed offshore. However, waste management remains a pressing issue, with illegal dumping worsening the problem on Ambergris Caye.

Nonetheless, Belize may be eyeing a potential solution. Chilean firms specialising in recycling sargassum and waste are scheduled to visit Belize on April 7 to explore harvesting and repurposing opportunities, Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson said during the 2026/2024 budget debate in March.

 

This Easter weekend serves as an early reminder of the environmental and economic challenges ahead as the Caribbean braces for another historic sargassum year.