The Chairperson of the Third Advisory Board of the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), Dr. Blandina Lugendo, has urged the agency to expand production and improve the quality of seaweed products in order to unlock greater economic benefits in Tanzania’s fisheries sector.
Speaking during the board’s first meeting held on March 6, 2026 in Dodoma, Dr. Lugendo said the global and domestic demand for seaweed products continues to grow rapidly due to their nutritional value and medicinal benefits.
She said the rising demand presents an important opportunity for Tanzania, calling on the agency to ensure that seaweed products are produced in larger quantities and with high standards so that they can be easily accessible to consumers.
Dr. Lugendo noted that improving the quality and quantity of seaweed-based products would help transform the subsector into a commercially viable venture capable of generating income for citizens and contributing to national economic growth.
“We must scale up production of these seaweed products and ensure they are produced commercially and efficiently so they can bring tangible benefits to citizens and the nation as a whole,” she said.
She further called on FETA to develop a clear commercial strategic plan for the products it produces in order to strengthen the agency’s revenue base and ensure sustainability of its operations.
In addition, Dr. Lugendo urged the agency to establish strong mechanisms for maintaining product quality standards, noting that protecting quality would help safeguard both the market and FETA’s reputation as a public training and research institution in the fisheries sector.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fisheries Education and Training Agency, Dr. Semvua Isa Mzighani, said the agency will work on improving seaweed products so that they deliver greater value within the fisheries sector.
Dr. Mzighani assured the board that the agency is committed to increasing both the production and quality of seaweed products as part of broader efforts to strengthen the institution’s image and support government initiatives aimed at developing Tanzania’s fisheries industry.
