The Collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) are a sea urchin species around Zanzibar. Its gonads, which contain either the roe (females) or milk (males), are a delicacy. This sea urchin species is harvested in the hot months of the year, and…

The Black Lollyfish (Holothuria atra), the Black sea cucumber, is found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region and Zanzibar. It has a distinct cylindrical body, typically black or dark brown in color, with a smooth, leathery texture. It is commonly covered…

Sandfish sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) are the most valued species in many tropical coastal regions, particularly Asia. This is based on their use in traditional medicine and as a delicacy. Overexploitation has led to population declines in some areas, prompting…

Coastal foraging and fishing are the foremost traditional activities people do on the coasts of Zanzibar. These activities are not restricted to this island or country but everywhere worldwide with a suitable coast. In English, coastal foragers are also called…

Africanan blue swimming crabs (Portunus segnis) are speared by beachcombers in the lagoons of Zanzibar. These crabs, however, are not the prime target when spearing but only an opportunistic by-catch. The prime target when using spears for fishing is octopuses….

Humpbacked conch shells (Gibberulus gibberulus) are true conchs based on the type species Strombus gibberulus. In Swahili, they are called Chuale and are primarily collected by women, who use them for their family’s subsistence and cash income. They are harvested…

Sea slugs of the taxonomic family Aplysiidae are commonly called ‘sea hares’, because when underwater, their rounded body shape and the long rhinophores on their heads resemble that of a sitting rabbit or hare. Unlike other sea slugs (nudibranchs), they…

Catching octopuses in the lagoons of Zanzibar is an age-old and sustainable activity mainly carried out by adult women. Depending on the number of caught animals, they are used to feed the family and sold to restaurants and fishmongers. As…

Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is common on most shorelines worldwide. This article focuses on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania. There, sea lettuce is used as an export article and supplementary food for humans. In addition to being collected in…

In Zanzibar, two edible red seaweed species are commonly used for food: Spinosum and Cottonii, also called ‘Elkhorn sea moss.’ Both species can be found wild in the coastal area and are also farmed intensively. In addition to these two…

The Long-spine porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus) is one of the many seafood organisms local people catch or collect at low tide in shallow waters around Zanzibar island. This fish is not specifically searched for, but it will be happily speared and…

Description of the crab species Three-spot swimming crabs (Ovalipes trimaculatus) have a rounded triangular carapace with five legs on either side. The tips of the back pair of legs are flattened into paddles for better maneuvering in the water. Adorned…

Seekoraal is the Afrikaans term for the Salicornia natalensis plant, which belonged to the Sacocornia taxonomic genus before being reclassified under the Salicornia genus in 2017. Salicornia plants are succulent, halophytic (salt-tolerant) flowering plants in the Amaranthaceae family. They thrive…

Limpets (Scutellastra sp. and others) have conical, oval-shaped shells that range from 1-10cm in diameter depending on the type of limpet. Their shell is ribbed or smooth depending on the limpet species. The shells are normally brown, grey, or black…

The salt intake of a human in case of an actual survival situation or when living from the provisions of a shoreline by purpose is of utmost importance to its health. If too much salt is consumed, the body has…

Purple Laver (Porphyra capensis) belongs to a genus of cold-water seaweeds that grow in shallow seawater. More specifically, it belongs to the red algae phylum of laver species (from which comes laverbread), comprising approximately 70 species. It grows in the…

Black mussels in Namibia include the following species: Ribbed mussel (Aulacomya atra), Black mussel (Choromytilus meridionalis), Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), Brown mussel (Perna perna) and Bisexual mussel (Semimytilus algosus). In one of my former articles on this website, I discussed…

Description of White mussels White mussels (Donax serra) are wedge-shaped bivalves with coarse ridges across the posterior. The inner surface is smooth and has a purple tinge. It has a short, stubby inhalant and a long, thin exhalant siphon. It…