In the sleepy villages of Kibuyuni and Mwazaro in Kwale County, a quiet revolution is taking place beneath the waves. Here, women who were once marginalized from the lucrative fishing trade are finding their fortune in "green gold"—seaweed farming.

Fatuma Madonga, a pioneer farmer, wades into the knee-deep waters at dawn. She is one of hundreds of women who have turned the tides on poverty by cultivating *Eucheuma* and *Kappaphycus* seaweed. What started as a pilot project by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) has blossomed into a lifeline, proving that the Blue Economy is not just for industrial trawlers.

A Woman’s Domain

Unlike deep-sea fishing, which requires expensive boats and is culturally male-dominated, seaweed farming is accessible. It requires low capital but high labour—perfectly suited for the communal work structures of coastal women. "We no longer wait for our husbands to bring us fish money," Fatuma says. "We harvest our own money from the sea."

• The Numbers: While Kenya contributes only 0.4% of Africa’s seaweed output (dwarfed by Tanzania’s Zanzibar), the sector is growing. A farmer can earn an average of KES 7,200 (USD 56) per 45-day cycle—a significant sum in a region with high unemployment.
• Value Addition: The industry is moving beyond raw exports. Women's cooperatives are now producing seaweed soap, shampoos, and food thickeners, capturing more value locally.
• Climate Resilience: Seaweed is a carbon sink, absorbing CO2 and combating ocean acidification. However, rising sea temperatures pose a threat, causing "ice-ice" disease that bleaches the crop.

Challenges in Paradise

Despite the success, the sector faces headwinds. Farmers lack modern drying technology, forcing them to sell raw seaweed at low prices to middlemen. Access to credit is also a hurdle, preventing scaling. The government’s "Blue Economy" strategy promises to address these gaps, but for the women of Kwale, the daily reality is still one of hard labour under the scorching sun.

Yet, the impact is undeniable. School fees are paid, houses are improved, and women have a seat at the decision-making table. In Kwale, seaweed is more than a crop; it is the currency of independence.