Tag:
Sargassum
Environment
Sargassum influx on Ambergris Caye beaches increases
As the days get warmer and east winds pick up, the arrival of the sargassum seaweed is already making its presence along the coast of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. While island authorities are yet to announce a plan to address the expected excessive seaweed beaching, recent reports suggest that monitoring efforts observe large Sargassum patches in the Caribbean Sea drifting in a western motion.
Environment
2024 Sargassum season is right around the corner
The eyesore of sargassum mats littering our beaches has not been observed in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, for months. This has led to clear and clean coastlines with beautiful sandy beaches. However, as Easter approaches, the threat of sargassum looms, and according to reports, there could be heavy seaweed invasion.
Environment
Report shows impact of Sargassum in Belize and parts of Mexico
A report on the effects of sargassum and management proposals in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Belize was presented to stakeholders in San Pedro Town on Saturday, October 28th, at the Sunbreeze Hotel. Dr. Minerva Arce-Ibarra, a scientist with the non-profit Ecosur, presided over the informational session.
Community and Society
No SargaBlocks for construction in San Pedro
Every year, the influx of the seaweed known as Sargassum brings challenges to the tourism industry in Belize, particularly San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, one of the country’s leading destinations. With the increasing threat to the beaches and coasts, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) had considered a project to turn the seaweed into construction blocks. The project known as SargaBlocks has reportedly been done in parts of Mexico, and in April of this year, the plans to work with a Mexican company were well in advance. However, with the decrease in the seaweed’s presence, the SPTC has now walked away from such a venture, and the SargaBlocks idea was abandoned.
Community and Society
Northern Ambergris Caye resort acquires Beach Surf Rake to remove Sargassum
The Sargassum situation continues to affect Caribbean nations like Belize, which harms tourism. Stakeholders in places like San Pedro, Ambergris have joined the municipality in hiring labor to clean the beaches, but it has not been enough. The manual work even adds to the beach erosion, and it is hard to keep up with the daily influx. To get ahead of the game, Las Terrazas Resort north of San Pedro Town has acquired a special beach rake that can remove the rotting seaweed while leaving the sand behind.
Community and Society
Taly Corporation acquires beach clean-up equipment to tackle Sargassum
The beaches of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and others across the country experience a yearly heavy influx of the brown algae known as Sargassum. It is an inconvenience making the shoreline unattractive with the rotten seaweed threatening the local tourism industry and the environment. While stakeholders and the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) have made extraordinary efforts to keep the beaches free of seaweed, it has been quite a challenge. As such, Taly Corporation, a company doing business on the island, has acquired a heavy equipment/machine known as Surf Rake dedicated to cleaning up the island’s shores from debris and the main culprit, Sargassum.
Community and Society
SPTC looks to renovate central park by using building material made out of Sargassum
The new wave of Sargassum influx at the beginning of this year threatens the tourism industry across Belize. Some stakeholders and the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) have been conducting clean-ups in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, but it is not enough. To alleviate the concern, Mayor Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nunez has been discussing the problem with Mexican entrepreneur Omar Vasquez, founder of SargaBlocks, to possibly make building blocks from Sargassum and use them in an upcoming beautification project.
Community and Society
Hol Chan Marine Reserve to secure SSB loan to combat Sargassum
The beaches of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, as those across the country, are again choking with the heavy influx of the brown algae known as Sargassum. It has become an inconvenience making the shoreline unattractive with the rotten seaweed and threatening the local tourism industry. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) is securing a $3.5 million loan from the Social Security Board (SSB) to address the situation. Some consider this move by HCMR frivolous and that the Government of Belize should bear the expense. The Hol Chan management, however, explained the need for the loan and what the project was all about.
