Home Uncategorized Department of Environment enhances sargassum monitoring and response capacity

Department of Environment enhances sargassum monitoring and response capacity

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Posted: Friday, November 7, 2025. 1:32 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma:  The Department of the Environment (DOE), under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, in collaboration with the National Sargassum Task Force, has strengthened Belize’s ability to monitor and respond to the influx of Sargassum along the coastline.

Today, the DOE officially handed over a drone, a laptop, and a Sargassum Forecasting Tool called SAMtool, which is a cutting-edge digital platform designed to enhance a country’s ability to track Sargassum movement at sea and anticipate its trajectory and accumulation.

“This tool will strengthen Belize’s national preparedness and response strategies. The SAMtool was handed over to the technical expertise of the National Meteorological Service of Belize to strengthen their forecast and reporting. Collectively, these tools will enable more precise data analysis, enhance early warning capabilities, and support informed decision-making to protect coastal communities, the tourism industry, and fragile marine ecosystems,” DoE noted.

The hand over ceremony featured a live demonstration of the SAMtool software by the National Meteorological Service. The presentation highlighted how integrated data can be used to predict Sargassum movement and support more coordinated mitigation efforts by the National Sargassum Task Force. Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, the National Meteorological Service of Belize, and the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management reaffirmed their shared commitment to a unified, science-driven approach in addressing the persistent Sargassum challenge affecting Belize’s coastal zone.

This was made possible through the regional initiative “SICA AZUL – an Intersectoral Management for the Protection of the Marine Environment” being implemented by the Organization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA) and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) under the Central American Integration System (SICA), with financial support from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Through the SICA AZUL Project, the DOE continues to advance innovation, build institutional capacity, and strengthen regional cooperation in support of effective Sargassum management. These efforts form part of Belize’s broader objectives to enhance environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable coastal development.

The DOE extended its appreciation to its national and regional partners for their invaluable support and collaboration in implementing the SICA AZUL Project.

 

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The post Department of Environment enhances sargassum monitoring and response capacity appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Friday, November 7, 2025. 1:32 pm CST. By Zoila Palma:  The Department of the Environment (DOE), under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and
The post Department of Environment enhances sargassum monitoring and response capacity appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

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