Warming oceans forced women in Zanzibar to switch from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming to stay afloat

Sakshi Education

Sponge farming is a relatively new business opportunity that does not harm the marine environment.
A sponge is a living animal which is made of loosely arranged cells that surround a skeleton of fibres.
The specialised cells nestled within thousands of tiny chambers act as microscopic pumps, and tirelessly drawing water into the sponge’s body with their whip-like tails.
Sponges provide homes for many other animals, plants, and microorganisms. In many cases, they all work together in a mutual symbiotic relationship.
Sea sponges exist in all oceans around the world and make up 20% of the global silicon biological sink.
This unique pumping mechanism, which helps sponges extract nutrition and oxygen, also purifies the ocean water by removing impurities, including sewage.
Uniqueness: Sponges, unlike seaweed, possess remarkable resilience to climate change, require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices,
Reproduction: Most sponges are hermaphrodites, harbouring both male and female reproductive organs, enabling them to self-propagate effortlessly.
Dissolved silicon is critical for the growth of diatoms, tiny organisms which absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean using photosynthesis.