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Impact of environmental changes on farmed seaweed and farmers: the case of Songo Songo Island, Tanzania

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dc.creator Msuya, Flower E.
dc.creator Porter, Marilyn
dc.date 2016-02-15T09:40:39Z
dc.date 2016-02-15T09:40:39Z
dc.date 2014
dc.date.accessioned 2018-04-18T11:12:25Z
dc.date.available 2018-04-18T11:12:25Z
dc.identifier Msuya F.E. and Porter M. 2014. Impact of Environmental Changes on Farmed Seaweed and Farmers: The case of Songosongo Island, Tanzania. Journal of Applied Phycology, 26:2135-2141.
dc.identifier DOI 10.1007/s10811-014-0243-4
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/383
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/9187
dc.description To access full text visit link.springer.com
dc.description Tanzania, like many other countries where eucheumatoid seaweeds are farmed, is experiencing die-off of Kappaphycus alvarezii. Farming is failing in many cultivation sites in shallow intertidal areas where it used to grow well. Production has fallen dramatically, and in some areas, hardly any seaweed is produced any longer. This study was carried out in Songo Songo Island, southern Tanzania, one of the most affected areas, during February–May 2009.Water temperature averaged 35.7±2.4 °C, higher than what had been observed in seaweed farms in other areas in Tanzania. Salinity was normal seawater at 34.7±0.5 ppt. In the abandoned farming sites, signs of ice-ice, epiphytic Neosiphonia and “dark spots” were observed on the seaweed. Fouling was also observed. Seaweed production decreased from 423.9 t worth US$82,000 in 2003 to 26 t in 2008 worth only US$4,500, and 28 t in 2012 worth US$4,300. Number of farmers was highest (809) during the production peak in 2003 then decreased to 320 in 2008. The number of fishing vessels decreased with an increase in number of farmers and seaweed production and increased when the number of farmers and seaweed production fell. Thus, high-surface water temperatures coupled with fouling, epiphytism, and ice-ice disease signs have caused dramatic decrease in seaweed production in Songo Songo. The onetime lucrative seaweed farming activity in Songo Songo Island of Tanzania has been reduced to almost standstill.
dc.language en
dc.publisher Springer
dc.subject Seaweed farming
dc.subject Seaweed production
dc.subject Seaweed farmers
dc.subject Surface water temperature
dc.subject Kappaphycus alvarezii
dc.subject Songo Songo
dc.title Impact of environmental changes on farmed seaweed and farmers: the case of Songo Songo Island, Tanzania
dc.type Journal Article, Peer Reviewed


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