Seaweed farming is increasingly becoming an important alternative source of income to the majority of
people in Zanzibar, especially women. It is estimated that the sector employs more than 23,654 people
majority of them are women. Besides, the sector is the third contributor of foreign exchange after tourism
and cloves. Seaweed contains gelling substances (carrageenan and agar and alginates) that are mainly
extracted and used as thickening materials in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, and painting
industries. In the food industry, seaweed is also consumed as salad and added as ingredient in pastries
and several foods. Seaweed is the largest marine export product in Zanzibar.