Empowering coastal economies: Gendered insights into women’s participation in seaweed aquaculture in Zanzibar

This study examines the systemic barriers and socio-economic factors influencing women’s participation in seaweed aquaculture in Zanzibar. It focuses on policy interventions to enhance gender equity and sustainable marine resource management. Grounded in the Gender and Development (GAD) theoretical framework, the research employs a cross-sectional design with quantitative data collected from 94 women seaweed farmers in Paje village, South Unguja region. The findings reveal that access to finance, equipment, and farming experience are statistically significant in influencing participation, while age has a negative effect (p < 0.05). This points to evolving gender dynamics. Contrary to expectations, education level, market information access, and marital status show no statistically significant impact (p > 0.05), suggesting deeper structural barriers. Policy recommendations include gender-sensitive financial inclusion programmes, capacity-building initiatives for young and inexperienced farmers, and institutional reforms to ensure equitable access to aquaculture resources. Likewise, policymakers should address structural barriers, promote inclusive market systems, and challenge restrictive socio-cultural norms to enhance women’s participation. By addressing these challenges, Zanzibar can enhance the inclusiveness of its blue economy policy (2022) and align it with global commitments, particularly SDGs 5 (Gender Equality) and 14 (Life Below Water). This study contributes actionable insights for marine governance, offering a pathway to empower women and foster sustainable livelihoods in coastal economies.