Zanzibar’s women sponge off the sea — in a good way

The House of Wonders in Stone Town as seen from the ferry from Dar es Salaam. Picture: 123RF/MAGDALENA PALUCHOWSKA

Before farming sponges — which resemble a white, textured rock but are actually simple, multicellular animals — Haji cultivated seaweed, until rising ocean temperatures fuelled by global warming made it difficult to grow her cash crop. Locals say they have already seen fish stocks depleting over the past year. But for women such as Haji, sponge farming has been a buffer against climate and economic shocks the island has endured.

Haji had farmed seaweed since she was a young girl until six years ago, when a friend told her the environmental charity marinecultures.org was teaching women to swim and farm sponges that could be used for cleaning and bathing. The sponges also filter and feed on particles in the water and provide an alternative to overfishing, easing strain on the coastal ecosystem.

But maintaining demand has been tricky, he said, especially when Covid-19 hit, slashing the number of tourists visiting the island.

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