In many ways, Zanzibar – a semi-autonomous archipelago of the United Republic of Tanzania – can be viewed as one of the prime examples of sustainable Blue Economy development, particularly for those looking for political resonance. That’s because in 2020, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi's placed the Blue Economy at the very heart of his election campaign. He highlighted the potential of Zanzibar’s marine and coastal resources to drive economic growth, focusing on fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy. In particular, his campaign focused on harnessing those sectors to expand employment opportunities, especially for young people.
When President Mwinyi won the election with a decisive majority, his victory was widely seen as a mandate for his ambitious plans, particularly the integration of the Blue Economy as a central pillar of Zanzibar’s development strategy. Progress was swift. The Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries was formed In November 2020, with a mandate to oversee marine resource management and sectoral development. Zanzibar’s Development Vision 2050 identified the Blue Economy as a key pillar for achieving economic diversification, sustainability, and resilience, focusing on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, and renewable energy. The resulting Blue Economy Policy then provided a framework for the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, with an emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and environmental protection. Results of a sustainable Blue Economy approach have been tangible.
Seaweed farming is now one of Zanzibar’s largest foreign exchange earners, with active participation from women-led cooperatives. In the fiscal year 2021/22, Zanzibar recorded a remarkable increase, surpassing 12,594 tons, thus positioning it as Africa's leading seaweed producer. By 2023, production further escalated to 16,653 tons, reflecting a substantial growth from 8,785 tons in 2020. Fish production also increased significantly under a sustainable Blue Economy approach, reaching 80,000 tonnes by 2023, compared to38,107 tonnes in 2020. This progress is attributed to government Blue Economy initiatives that provided equipment, capital, training, and infrastructure, such as the Malindi fish market and Chamanangwe seaweed factory, empowering local communities and enhancing their economic contributions.
Zanzibar's marine tourism has also experienced significant growth since 2020. In 2023, international tourism arrivals hit a high of 638,498, beating 2019’s pre-Covid pandemic high of 538,264, Again, such progress (an 18.62% increase in visitor numbers) has been attributed to the Ministry’s integrated Blue Economy strategy, especially where it focused on infrastructure. The number of hotels and guesthouses, for example, rose from 620 in 2020 to 709 in 2023. This included eight new five-star properties. The number of major tourist airlines flying to Zanzibar doubled from five in 2020 to ten in 2023, facilitating easier access for tourists.
Moreover, while $1.9 billion of tourism-related investments were made between 2021 and 2024, creating 9,535 jobs for the people of Zanzibar, the sustainable part of the Blue Economy was certainly not overlooked. President Mwinyi has repeatedly kept the focus of eco-tourism, for example stating in September 2024: “As we pursue economic growth, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to environmental conservation.” He also launched the Zanzibar Sustainable Tourism Declaration in Berlin in December 2023.
Success breeds success and emerging initiatives also include plans to encourage more Public-Private Partnership investments in ports, sustainable fishing, eco-tourism, and renewable energy; and expanding training and support for local communities to ensure inclusivity and equitable benefits from the Blue Economy.
For the many people just beginning to explore the potential of the Blue Economy who need reassurance that it is not just the latest economic buzz phrase, Zanzibar is a perfect example of sustainable success. Its Blue Economy journey demonstrates a strong commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and social equity. With strategic investments in sustainable fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy, coupled with proactive climate resilience measures, Zanzibar illustrates not only that it can be done, but how it can be done.