The Government of Belize has initiated proactive measures to address the escalating sargassum threat across the Caribbean region through its specialized National Sargassum Task Force (STF). This coordinated national response comes as satellite monitoring indicates increased sargassum activity heading toward Belizean coastal waters for the 2026 season.
Co-led by the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, the STF has identified five priority zones for intervention: San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Seine Bight, Hopkins, and Placencia. The comprehensive preparedness strategy involves both technological and infrastructural enhancements to mitigate the environmental and economic impact of the seaweed influx.
Strategic acquisitions include specialized shoreline maintenance equipment such as a Barber Beach Rake and replacement components for existing machinery in Placencia. Concurrently, infrastructure assessments are progressing in San Pedro and Caye Caulker to evaluate disposal site suitability and logistical requirements.
The task force is employing the sophisticated Sargassum Monitoring (SAMTool) platform, which utilizes satellite detection and drift prediction technology to forecast landfall patterns. This advanced monitoring system enables authorities to anticipate accumulation hotspots and optimize cleanup coordination.
Additional resources deployed include a purpose-built workboat designed for sargassum removal in shallow marine environments and a continuous collection floating unit for near-shore operations. Current operations remain in limited pilot phases, with full-scale deployment across all five locations scheduled progressively as equipment and support systems become operational.