An Ocean of Opportunity

Equitable, Sustainable Livelihoods

Before seaweed farming, this is how Fatuma made her living. Like many farmers on the Kwale Coast, though, she struggled to cover the cost of expensive inputs and tools and often faced low productivity due to pests and frequent droughts. The challenges of terrestrial farming motivated her to transition to seaweed aquaculture, which has relatively low start-up costs and requires essentially no inputs.

Additionally, seaweed aquaculture can provide financial returns quickly; the two species of seaweed typically grown in Kenya, Eucheuma spinosum and Eucheuma cottonii, grow rapidly, reaching maturity between 45 and 60 days, and can yield six or more harvests per year. That means seaweed farmers can start making money just a month and a half or so after planting. As an added benefit, seaweed doesn’t have to be tended to every day, unlike many terrestrial crops, giving farmers flexibility to take care of their children or maintain a second job.

For Fatuma, the benefits have been significant. “Because of the money I’ve made from seaweed farming, I’ve been able to pay school fees for my children and buy food and clothes,” she said. As the industry has taken off in her village, Kijiweni, she’s seen broader improvements across the community. “Seaweed farming has helped more people send their children to school, and some families have even been able to build themselves new brick houses.”

Best Practices for Environmental and Economic Benefits

In some ways, the nascency of Kenya’s seaweed industry is an opportunity to get it right from the start. In Tanzania and other geographies where seaweed aquaculture is more established, it is common to see poor management practices, such as marine litter, removing or trampling seagrasses and other sensitive habitats, and cutting down mangroves to make wooden stakes on which to hang seaweed lines. By employing best management practices (BMPs), it’s possible to not just avoid these negative impacts, but even deliver environmental benefits; a growing body of research indicates that, under some circumstances, seaweed aquaculture has the ability to remove excess nutrients from coastal waterways, provide habitat for wild marine species, mitigate the local effects of ocean acidification and even sequester some carbon.

Recognizing the potential of BMPs to support ecosystem health, TNC is partnering with Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), the County Government of Kwale, Kenya Fisheries Service and Kenya’s State Department of Blue Economy and Fisheries to build the capacity of farmers across three villages: Kijiweni, Mtimbwani and Changai. During an intensive session last June—incorporating both classroom-based training and hands-on, in-water instruction—51 community members and 23 local partners learned about sustainable and effective practices across the entire production cycle, including farm siting and design, seed planting and maintenance, post-harvest drying and storage, and financial management.

Since implementing these practices, many participating farmers have noted that, in addition to improved environmental outcomes, they have also noticed higher crop yields. Amina Bakari, who has been seaweed farming since 2023, says the more efficient seeding method included in the training, known as the “Double-Made Loop,” has boosted farm output more than twofold. “The difference in productivity with and without best management practices is night and day,” said Amina. “On the same plot, I can now grow twice as much seaweed, which has made my farm much more profitable.”

Community-Based Capacity Building

“Kwale County is paving the way for seaweed production in Kenya,” said Kwale County Executive Committee Member (CECM) of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Hon. Roman Shera. The county government has promoted the growth of the industry for more than a decade, providing inputs and gear for farmers. “However, market access remains a challenge. To generate new economic opportunities, we are collaborating with seaweed farm organizations to improve the quality of seaweed production and develop new seaweed products.”

TNC is working alongside government partners to support these efforts and foster the enabling conditions for seaweed farming. Success will depend on local and national policies that promote aquaculture, invest in infrastructure and create clear pathways to market.

“Seaweed is more than just a marine plant; it is a source of livelihood, a symbol of innovation and a pathway to resilience for our people,” said Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani. “It grows without soil, fertilizers or pesticides, making it both environmentally sustainable and economically viable. Seaweed farming is an untapped treasure with transformative potential—and we are committed to unlocking that potential.”