Tanzania's blue economy encompasses its 804-kilometre Indian Ocean coastline, Zanzibar and Pemba island waters, and the three Great Lakes: Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa. Total fish production is approximately 370,000 tonnes annually, of which Nile perch from Lake Victoria, exported to Europe, is the most valuable. Shrimp trawling in the Indian Ocean generates premium export products for EU and Japanese markets. Tanzania's blue economy strategy, published in 2023, targets $7 billion in annual blue economy revenue by 2030 from fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore oil and gas, maritime transport, and seabed mineral extraction.
Marine Tourism and Zanzibar
Zanzibar's tourism industry, which recovered strongly post-COVID to receive over 500,000 visitors in 2023, is the most visible component of Tanzania's blue economy. Sustainable marine tourism, dive tourism, and beach resorts generate significant foreign exchange and employment. The government is developing a marine protected area network around Zanzibar and Mafia Island that balances conservation with sustainable fishing and tourism. Blue economy investors and businesses can access Tanzania market data and partner contacts on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.