Seaweed Farming in Zanzibar - An Industry in Hot Water
Zanzibar is one of the poorest regions in the world. With 16,000 tons per year, seaweed production has become the third largest industry on the group of islands. It is exported to the US, Europe and Asia, where it is used in cosmetics, medicine and as a food additive. It has allowed many Zanzibari women to earn an income and to be independent. Lately, however, a rise in water temperature has stunted the growth of the crops and has caused fine, green algae to grow between the seaweed, reducing its quality and value. The only solution would be to grow the seaweed in deeper waters, but as the women of Zanzibar can’t swim, this is not really an option.
The women are losing their livelihood because we, from the countries that are largely responsible for the climate change, are paying them less for a product, which is of a lesser quality, because of the climate change we caused.
The women are losing their livelihood because we, from the countries that are largely responsible for the climate change, are paying them less for a product, which is of a lesser quality, because of the climate change we caused.