Zanzibar
Sea hare without caviar
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…
Sea lettuce for salad
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…
Edible red seaweed on Zanzibar beaches
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…
Long-spine Porcupinefish on the coast of Zanzibar
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…