Sargassum continues to be major challenge in San Pedro
By Zoila Palma: Sargassum continues to pose a major challenge for San Pedro and coastal areas, with fears that this year could mirror last year’s severe influx. Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez said the problem began early in the year and remains a growing concern for local authorities, businesses, and residents affected by […] The post Sargassum continues to be major challenge in San Pedro appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Black News 
By Zoila Palma: Sargassum continues to pose a major challenge for San Pedro and coastal areas, with fears that this year could mirror last year’s severe influx.
Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez said the problem began early in the year and remains a growing concern for local authorities, businesses, and residents affected by the seaweed’s strong odor and coastal flooding.
Perez told 7News Belize that several ideas have been proposed to make use of sargassum, including converting it into fertilizer, construction materials, or energy products.
“The issue about the sargassum started very early this year. Last year was one of it’s worst and by all accounts we have seem to be going into that next year again,” Perez said. He added, “We have many projects that we have been entertaining and so many people coming in to offer us the different ways to use it. Ways for energy which is another one it is a good thing.”
Despite growing interest in commercial uses, Perez stressed that the main challenge remains controlling and collecting the seaweed before it reaches shore.
“No one has yet that rightful magic recipe or that to say this is how we collect it because the only way to collect the sargassum to eliminate it is to collect it at sea,” Perez explained.
He explained that once the seaweed washes ashore and begins to decompose, it becomes significantly more difficult to manage and creates the unpleasant conditions that residents and visitors experience.
Perez said the battle against sargassum is ongoing and requires coordination across the area.
“The resorts spends thousands of dollars every month on labor costs to clean up their beaches,” he added.
Perez said that while solutions for using sargassum exist, the priority remains finding effective methods to collect it at sea before it reaches Belize’s coastline and begins to rot.
The post Sargassum continues to be major challenge in San Pedro appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
