A woman harvests seaweed in the shallow waters of Matemwe, Zanbar. Seaweed farming was introduced to Zanzibar in 1988 and now employs 25,000 people, mostly rural women. More than 150,000 people indirectly benefit from the seaweed industry on the island. Zanzibar seaweed is in demand but women farmers are unable to farm the higher-value variety because cultivation takes place in deep water and is highly specialised. Women farmers are also locked into fixed-rate sales with agents, severely limiting the value of their seaweed.