WWF Tanzania supports seaweed groups with materials and equipment

Posted on 28 February 2025

As a part of adaptation to climate change and enhancing the Blue Economy agenda, WWF Tanzania under the NORAD Mangrove Project, is strengthening nature-based solutions by supporting community sea weed enterprises in Mafia and Kilwa Districts. Through the project, several equipment and materials for seaweed value addition worth TZS 109 million (USD 41,900.4) have been donated to 19 groups in Somanga and Mafia with a total of 250 beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Modesta Medard, WWF’s Seascape Programme Lead, emphasized that the equipment and materials are capital for enabling the groups to advance their seaweed investment to produce high-quality seaweed products and called on the beneficiaries to ensure the marine environment is protected as they undertake their activities.
The support is expected to increase financial flow and empower the coastal local communities to build social-ecological resilience. These groups have been equipped with hands-on skills from the Fisheries Educational Training Agency (FETA), which is responsible for marine and coastal resource training and extension services in Tanzania.
The NORAD Mangrove project’s vision is a suitable RUMAKI Plus seascape that provides people’s livelihoods and economic development. Through that, the project looks forward to improving the management and conservation of resources as well as improving the incomes of coastal communities.

The Project aims to establish nature-based solution initiatives and value addition to enhance the resilience of coastal communities in diversifying their livelihood activities in the RUMAKI Plus seascape and reduce pressure on the marine resources environment.

This Group has intensive theory training from the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), the training was based on practical and theoretical plus hands-on skills in seaweed value addition, such as bar soap, and body oil, For now, this capital seed equipment will play a vital role in producing more competitive products in the markets
“We are so grateful for the support that WWF Tanzania has continually provided us with. We started with seaweed value addition and today they have supported us with equipment that will make our work easier and more productive. Our group makes sea weed body oil, jelly and bar soap.– SAID HAMBA – Member of the SOMAGRO group.

250 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from this seaweed equipment and materials to produce the product which fits for human consumption. A facilitator from FETA said “I expect that this group will be good seaweed value addition actors, since they have already recognized the benefits of the seaweed also the motive behind them is real, and market demand itself of seaweed is growing up to date” Mashaka Kapagala – Head of Aquaculture unit and Seaweed training facilitator – FETA.

Beneficiaries receiving equipment