The High Cost of Tanzania's Blue Economy On Children In Zanzibar
A new report has highlighted the dangers of recruiting children to support Zanzibar's blue economy. The report, by the University of Dar es Salaam, reveals that fishing and related marine activities constitute the most hazardous forms of child labor in the archipelago.
The research suggests that the scale of this involvement is far from marginal. According to the findings, 93% of children engaged in marine work reported experiencing extreme fatigue. Over 58% suffered physical injuries caused by fish spines, boat engines, or sharp processing equipment.
The impact on education is equally stark. School records from these coastal communities show a 20% dropout rate between 2012 and 2015, with child labor cited as a primary driver for students leaving the classroom.
Under Tanzanian law, children under 14 are prohibited from working entirely. Those aged 15 to 17 may engage only in "light work" that does not jeopardize their health or education. Hazardous work - specifically fishing, diving, and hauling heavy nets - is strictly banned for anyone under 18. Despite the legal framework, analysts warn that enforcement remains inconsistent and patchy across the islands.
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Tanzania:
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InFocus
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Zanzibar, under the leadership of President Hussein Mwinyi, is continuing to improve policies and strategies to ensure sustainable utilisation of marine resources in order to realise the blue economy agenda. The blue economy includes the fishing sector, fish farming, establishing fish processing factories, seaweed farming, oil and gas drilling and the utilisation of various marine resources, as well as seashore tourism.
Since taking office in November 2020, Mwinyi has been putting clear
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Nasir Hassan Haji alongside 12 other women in Jambiani village on the Indian Ocean coast, never thought of themselves as farmers or swimmers, but they have had to learn to swim for their floating sponge farm businesses to stay afloat. These farmers have come to rely on the climate-resilient, natural sponges bobbing on thick ropes, where they grow for months before the women harvest, clean and sell them to shops and tourists.
Research by the State University of Zanzibar shows that
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Tourists in Zanzibar (file photo).
