Coastal fishermen and seaweed farmers are increasingly turning to weather forecasts to guide their daily activities following expanded awareness campaigns under the ECOFISH Project, a joint initiative between the Tanzanian and Danish governments aimed at strengthening climate resilience in marine communities.
Implemented through the Tanzania Meteorological Authority in partnership with the Danish International Development Agency, the project is focused on improving access to early weather warning services while helping fishing communities adapt to the growing effects of climate change.
Through field visits and training seminars, meteorological experts from TMA have been engaging directly with fishermen and seaweed farmers to better understand the realities they face at sea and to equip them with knowledge on how to interpret and use weather information in planning their activities.
The initiative reflects growing recognition of the role accurate weather forecasts can play in protecting lives, improving productivity and reducing losses among communities that rely heavily on marine resources for survival.
Speaking during one of the training sessions, TMA weather expert and ECOFISH Project coordinator, Dr. Sarah Emerald Osima, said the programme has become an important platform for strengthening resilience in coastal areas through research, education and modern early warning technologies.
She noted that climate change continues to pose serious risks to fishing activities, making timely and reliable weather information increasingly essential for fishermen and seaweed farmers.
Beyond community education, the project is also investing in long-term expertise development by sponsoring seven postgraduate and PhD students drawn from the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, the Institute of Marine Sciences and the University of Dar es Salaam. One of the beneficiaries is a staff member from TMA.
According to Dr. Osima, the scholarships are intended to build a new generation of specialists capable of supporting Tanzania’s fisheries and meteorological sectors in the future.
Participants attending the seminars said the training had transformed the way they approach fishing and seaweed farming, especially in understanding the importance of checking forecasts before going out to sea.
“We now understand why weather information matters. Before, many of us depended on experience and assumptions, but now we know how to interpret forecasts as explained by experts,” said Wete District Fisheries Officer, Suleiman Ali Amadi.
The ECOFISH Project is among ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable blue economy activities while ensuring coastal communities are better prepared to respond to changing weather patterns.
