Women seaweed farmers in Zanzibar

A woman walks among the shallow water seaweed farms on Zanzibar's main island. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Farmers

Farmers prepare to plant the higher value species of seaweed, Cottonii, in a deep water farm. Crops in shallow water farms have been failing in Zanzibar due to warming seawater temperatures attributed to climate change. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

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A seaweed farmer carries netting to the beach in order to prepare for planting. In order to grow the high value species of seaweed in deep water, a special type of net must be used to surround the plants so they don't break off and drift away. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Arriving on the beach

A seaweed farmer carries a life jacket for her boat trip into the deep water. Many women in Zanzibar cannot swim. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

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Cottonii is the source of the higher value type of carageenan, which is used as a stabilizer and thickener in everything from toothpaste to chocolate milk. Production of Cottonii has been in massive decline in Zanzibar due to rising seawater temperatures attributed to climate change. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Dr. Flower Msuya

Dr. Flower Msuya is piloting a new technology for deep sea farming, adapted from Brazil. So that female farmers can safely go out to the deeper waters, she provides life jackets for the women who can't swim. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

On the water

Female farmers are adapting to a changing climate in order to maintain their source of income. Here, one farmer travels out to the deeper water to see to her seaweed crops. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Deep water farms

A group of farmers travels out to tend to their crops in the deep waters. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Shallow water farms

A farmer tends to her crops in a shallow water farm. Yields have been decreasing due to warming sea temperatures attributed to climate change. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Maryam Mwazi

Farmer Maryam Mwazi says, over the past decade, seaweed farming has given her financial independence. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Boat to deeper waters

An areal view of seaweed farms in Zanzibar, Tanzania, October 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Woman at home

Before farming seaweed was an option, many women in rural coastal communities were completely dependent on their husbands for their livelihoods. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Shallow water farms

An areal view of traditional, peg-and-line shallow water seaweed farms. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Spinosum

The lower value seaweed, called Spinosum, still grows in Zanzibar. It is purchased from farmers by export companies and sold to international corporations. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Sunset

Sunset on the beach. Zanzibar, October, 2017.

This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.