Sargassum begins to clear from San Pedro’s beaches

Sargassum is beginning to clear from San Pedro’s beaches after 38 weeks of cleanup efforts. The San Pedro Town Council said recent weather has helped, and sand has naturally returned to some areas. Meanwhile, the Government of Belize is seeking $20 million in financing to help address the ongoing problem.
Repeated sargassum wash-ups have choked beaches, affected tourism, and created costly cleanup demands. In San Pedro, council crews have worked continuously to remove accumulations, requiring significant spending on personnel, transportation, machinery, fuel, and daily operations.
The council reported spending approximately $1.2 million last year, with similar operational demands this year. This is the second consecutive year the town has spent 38 weeks responding to sargassum, with only brief breaks.
The sustained cleanup has delayed the council’s Beach Restoration Program, which it hopes to resume as conditions improve. The program will focus on helping beaches recover from months of erosion and cleanup activity and improving their resilience to future sargassum arrivals.
Beachfront businesses and property owners have also shouldered substantial costs, with some spending up to $30,000 per month to maintain their sections of beach. The council warned that these expenses are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain, especially when neighboring properties don’t participate.
Some businesses are considering discontinuing their cleanup efforts because of the financial burden. The council said it needs broader participation and support for those already doing the work.
San Pedro Town Council Operations Manager Alex Ek said crews have worked daily throughout the 38 weeks, removing as much as 150 tons of sargassum in some weeks. He said the council continues to work with businesses and volunteers, while recent weather has helped ease conditions.
Prime Minister John Briceño discussed the financing effort after returning from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. He described sargassum as a regional challenge requiring a coordinated response.
Briceño said Belize has been working with the World Bank to access low-interest financing with long repayment periods. “So, we are looking at about twenty million dollars to be able to start to address sargassum seriously,” he said.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the growing effects of climate change on Belize, including flooding, changing weather patterns and sargassum.
The town council said it is contributing to national sargassum planning, evaluating proposed technologies, consulting technical experts and developing regional partnerships. It is also working with local businesses to document their challenges, connect them with potential international partners, and collaborate with the Belize Tourism Board on equipment investments.
If secured, the proposed financing could strengthen cleanup operations, support equipment purchases, and help develop longer-term solutions.
For now, San Pedro’s beaches are recovering, but the council cautioned that another major influx could quickly reverse that progress. It stressed that immediate cleanup needs must receive attention alongside long-term planning.