Seaweed collection and culture in Tanzania
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As part of ALCOM's ongoing activities in the SADCC region and at the request of the Government of Tanzania, a study was carried out on the seaweed industry in Tanzania. A number of studies have been undertaken on the physiology, morphology, distribution and ecology of seaweeds in Tanzania, but very little was known about collection, culture and utilization of seaweeds in Tanzania. The purpose of the study was to investigate these aspects. Initial investigations revealed that the history of s eaweed collection dates back to the early 1950s. Eucheuma sp. are the only species collected. The University of Dar-es-Salaam started farming trials with Eucheuma striatum in the early 1980s. The first commercial venture, with Eucheuma spinosum began in 1989. Whether farmed or collected, all seaweed is dried and exported to carrageenan processing factories in Denmark, France or the Far East. Three areas in Tanzania were visited for further study: Zanzibar Island, northern Tanzania near Tanga a nd Mafia Island. All areas had a history of seaweed collection whilst commercial seaweed cultivation had recently started on Zanzibar. Collection of seaweed from the wild is a sporadic and declining economic activity for women and children in coastal fishing communities. Collection occurs during the northwest and southwest monsoons when plants located offshore are uprooted and deposited on beaches. Businessmen, usually involved in the export of beche de mer and seashells, arrange for the dried seaweed to be collected from the coastal villages. Prices paid are very low and the dried product poor, with a high species mixture and debris content. Quantities exported are small and infrequent. The main areas where collection takes place are Mafia and Pemba islands. The export trade in collected seaweed is small and irregular. It is unlikely that this trade will expand because suppliers cannot be guaranteed with regular quantities of a high quality dried product.