Challenges and opportunities of seaweed supply chain in mainland Tanzania

Abstract

Seaweed farming has emerged as a vital livelihood source and a driver of resilience for coastal communities globally. This study investigates the seaweed supply chain in six selected sites on mainland Tanzania, highlighting its challenges and opportunities using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation. Survey respondents were selected through proportional stratified sampling, while key informants were identified using purposive sampling to capture institutional and value-chain perspectives. The findings indicate that income generation is the primary motivation for engagement in seaweed farming. However, the sector is constrained by limited market access, weak infrastructure, monopolistic buyer practices, and insufficient technical support. Over 70% of survey respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the current scale of operations, and only 12% reported involvement in value addition, mainly due to limited processing capacity and skills. Production remains dominated by traditional methods, with minimal uptake of climate-resilient practices, increasing vulnerability to environmental variability. Governance challenges particularly the limited participation of primary producers, most of whom are women, in decision-making and market arrangements further constrain sector development. The study identifies opportunities for enhancing sustainability through policy reform, private sector engagement, technological upgrading, and strengthened value-chain integration. Embedding seaweed farming within coastal development and ocean sustainability strategies could improve livelihoods while supporting more resilient marine-based economies.