Zanzibar produces 2.5 million fish fingerlings in blue economy boost
What you need to know:
- The ministry has also finalised management plans for marine protected areas and issued investment permits to four projects operating within them.
Unguja. Zanzibar has produced 2.5 million fingerlings of fish and sea cucumbers to strengthen its blue economy and increase economic opportunities for local communities.
According to the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, one million fingerlings were produced in Pemba and 1.5 million in Unguja.
So far, 26,000 have been distributed to 310 fish farmers. The initiative is part of a collaboration between the ministry and the Mwambao Coastal Community Network through a hatchery on Pemba, while the Zanzibar Marine Hatchery in Unguja, which is co-owned by the ministry, produces fingerlings of fish, crabs, and sea cucumbers.
“We’ve distributed 22,000 sea cucumber fingerlings in Unguja and 4,000 fish fingerlings in Pemba,” said ministry coordinator Mr Omar Saleh Mohamed.
He said the project supports the implementation of the 2022 Blue Economy Policy by promoting sustainable marine resource use and training entrepreneurs to tap into aquaculture opportunities.
The ministry has also finalised management plans for marine protected areas and issued investment permits to four projects operating within them. Through the “Inuka na Blue Economy” programme, 1,031 boats.
Out of the number 227 of them deep-sea vessels have been distributed to local fishers in partnership with Zafico and CRDB Bank.
Seaweed production has also grown by 124.6 percent, from 8,785 tonnes in 2020 to 19,716 tonnes in 2024, with farmers receiving boats, farming tools, and training.
Marine farming expert Khamis Hassan Ali urged communities to explore the farming of sea cucumbers and other high-demand species. Seaweed farmer Asha Ismail said recent training has improved her yield and farming techniques.
