Strengthening Zanzibar’s Blue Economy: Dhow Licious Fiberglass Boats.

Fiberglass is a man-made composite material made from extremely fine, flexible glass fibers. It is a versatile material known for its lightweight strength and moldability. It is widely used across multiple sectors, but is best known for its application in the marine sector. 

The archipelago of Zanzibar – comprising the islands of Unguja and Pemba – places the ocean and coastal sectors at the heart of its economic future. The Blue Economy concept, defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of marine ecosystems, has been embraced in Zanzibar’s policy frameworks.

In a significant contribution to the Blue Economy agenda of Zanzibar, boat-manufacturing firm Dhow-Licious has delivered a fleet of shallow-water fiber-glass fishing boats to fisher communities in Pemba, under a collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries. This marked a concrete step towards improving small-scale fisheries capacity, livelihoods, and sustainable ocean use in the Zanzibar archipelago.

This initiative holds importance for multiple reasons:

1. Improved asset base for fishers. Replacing older craft with fiber-glass boats can reduce maintenance, improve safety and reliability, enabling fishers to spend more time at sea, reach better fishing grounds, and reduce downtime.

2. Alignment with Blue Economy policy Zanzibar’s Blue Economy policy (2022) identifies fisheries and aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, energy, and governance as core sectors. Enhancing artisanal fishing capacity contributes directly to sustainable use of marine resources and livelihood generation. 

3. Local manufacturing and value-chain linkage By sourcing boats locally (via Dhow-Licious), the project fosters domestic marine-manufacturing capacity, enhances skills, and supports downstream maintenance and logistics ecosystems. Dhow-Licious itself highlights sustainability, craftsmanship, and partnership with governmental organisations.

4. Community empowerment and inclusion Donating assets to local communities in Pemba supports inclusive growth, particularly for young fishers, women, and coastal households reliant on fisheries. Whilst specific gender data was not cited for this donation, Zanzibar’s broader Blue Economy agenda emphasises employment for youth and women in marine sectors.

The donation by Dhow-Licious of fiber-glass fishing boats to communities in Pemba represents a practical and symbolic contribution to Zanzibar’s Blue Economy ambitions: linking private-sector manufacturing, government policy, and community livelihoods in a sustainable marine sector. For NGOs, government agencies, and business partners seeking to support Blue Economy pathways in Tanzania, this model underscores the importance of asset-delivery combined with capacity-building, infrastructure linkages, and ongoing stewardship. Going forward, documenting the outcomes — in terms of incomes, fisher welfare, marine-ecosystem health, and value-chain integration — will be critical for scaling such interventions and ensuring that the Blue Economy delivers its promise of sustainable prosperity for Zanzibar’s coastal communities.