Since more than half century, seaweed resources has contributed to Zanzibar economy. After a couple of decade of wild seaweed harvesting, the overpressure and governemental policies contributed to the decline of this activity during the 1970's.
Cultivation has been introduced at the end of the 80's, initially with local strain, and after with the philippines Euchema dentilacum. Women first, and then men (when they saw that seaweed farming was economically viable!) started cultivating this algae.
Now seaweed farming has become an important part of the coastal society economy in Zanzibar. Almost all the places suitable to grow Eucheuma are occupied by farms. But this activity rises questions:
Seaweed farmers are keeping very few of the crop added value. For example, the retail value of a kilogram of lower grade carrageenan products ranges from $30 to $50, meanwhile the price paid to farmer used to be 9 cents in Tanzania (ok, these data may be little old, but it is still the same range!).
There is a margin to improve farming practices in Zanzibar: seedling, growing, drying, management, colective organization... others experiences in Asia or in other islands (Kiribati) may be useful...
Eucheuma has been recorded by IUCN as a potentially destructive invasive algae in Hawaiian waters. Its high growth rate, ability to regenerate by vegetative fragmentation rises questions about its impact on environment, especially on coral ecosystems.
Think about all these questions, and then go to help seaweed farmers in Jambiani!
Some references:
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