Seaweed industry revenue reaches 13.9bn/-

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA’S seaweed industry generated 13.9bn/- in the current fiscal year, with the coastal crop emerging as a growing source of income for communities and a contributor to the country’s blue economy strategy.

The country produced more than 130,000 metric tonnes of fresh seaweed in the mainland alone during the period, with the government now intensifying efforts to promote value addition, attract investment and expand access to international markets.

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Director of Aquaculture, Dr Madalla Naziel said when opening the 6th Seaweed for Health Conference yesterday that the industry has evolved into a strategic economic sector contributing to employment creation, foreign exchange earnings and environmental sustainability.

“Seaweed farming is one of the most inclusive economic activities within the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It plays a significant role in contributing to national economic growth,” Dr Naziel said.

He said the growing global demand for seaweedbased products is creating new opportunities for producers, citing its increasing use in food, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, animal feed and other industrial applications.

Tanzania remains one of Africa’s leading seaweed producers, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the continent’s output, while the industry currently supports nearly 12,000 farmers, the majority of whom are women.

The country’s seaweed exports continue to penetrate international markets, with licensed exporters supplying products to countries including China, France, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Kenya and India.

Despite the sector’s progress, persistent challenges including climate change impacts, limited access to quality inputs, inadequate financing, low levels of value addition and the slow commercialisation of research findings.

To address the challenges, the government is strengthening extension services, promoting climate-smart aquaculture technologies, improving access to production inputs and expanding local processing capacity.

He added that authorities are reviewing regulatory and fiscal frameworks to enhance competitiveness, attract responsible investment and improve returns for farmers and processors.

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The conference, which attracted delegates from 24 countries, highlighted the increasing global recognition of seaweed as a resource that contributes not only to health and nutrition but also to sustainable economic development.

C-Weed Corporation and Mwani Mariculture’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Murtaza Fazal said the workshop was organised to elevate country’s profile in the global seaweed industry and explore new commercial applications beyond traditional carrageenan production.

“The sector has enormous potential, but unlocking it will require stronger investment, supportive policies, improved infrastructure and greater focus on value addition,” he said.

He said that although Tanzania is Africa’s leading seaweed producer, it contributes only about three per cent of global production, indicating substantial room for expansion.

According to him, continued engagement between industry stakeholders and the government will be crucial in addressing policy bottlenecks, improving incentives for investors and ensuring better returns for seaweed farmers.