Climate change threatens Zanzibar’s blue economy as fisheries and coral reef decline
Zanzibar’s blue economy is under threat from climate change, with rising sea levels, coral reef destruction, saltwater intrusion, and erratic weather patterns disrupting key sectors such as fishing, tourism, and agriculture.
The fishing and tourism industries, support nearly two-thirds of Zanzibar’s population.
While addressing a Circular Economy workshop, Omar Mohamed, the coordination officer at the Ministry of Blue Economy, revealed that up to 54% of Zanzibar’s population is affected, calling for urgent action to protect livelihoods and ensure food security.
"Coral reef destruction is crippling tourism and fisheries, while saltwater intrusion and erratic rainfall are jeopardizing freshwater sources and agricultural productivity," Mohamed stated.
"These sectors support nearly two-thirds of Zanzibar’s population, with fishing contributing between 4% and 8% of GDP, while tourism accounts for over 29%," he noted.
Mohamed Hamad, another official at the workshop, emphasised that research and fishermen’s testimonies indicate a decline in fish breeding grounds, highlighting the need for decisive government intervention, the Citizen Tanzania reports.
The Zanzibar island is situated in the Indian Ocean just 15 miles off Tanzania’s coastline.
