7 News Belize

Wide Sargussum In Seas Off San Pedro
posted (August 3, 2015)
The entire Caribbean, including the islands and Coast of Belize as well as Mexico's eastern seaboard are under attack by Sargussum - which you might call seaweed. But sargussum is different from the traditional seaweed - the brown mass it moves in vast drifts and is a living organism. But, it's a blemish on the beaches and shoreline- and a major headache to clean because it rots and generates a foul odour. In San Pedro on Saturday - with a sargassum spread right in front of her - The Director of Tourism told us it is on their radar.

Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism
"The seaweed, the sargussum, is something by nature which we are working with stakeholders in some way or the other to get the necessary equipment or resources to clean up the beach. most of them have employed additional workers to clean up the beach daily, which yes it's unfortunate that we have that situation, it do creates some employment for some of the persons out here. We are now just trying to deal with it how we can to minimize the effect on tourism."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it resulting a lot of negative reviews on Trip Advisor?"

Karen Bevans
"We have had comments, not a lot, because I think when it comes to natural causes, people are a little more patient and understanding. So we haven't had a lot but we have had comments on it yes and we are dealing with it."

Some scientists say the sargussum inundation could be a attributable to climate change.

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