Zanzibar validates its sustainable octopus fishery management plan
From 10 to 12 June 2025, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), under the ECOFISH Programme funded by the European Union, organised a Validation and Knowledge Sharing Workshop for the Zanzibar Octopus Fishery Management Plan (ZOFMP) 2026–2030 in Zanzibar. The plan aims to address the growing pressures on octopus stocks, which are vital for local livelihoods and food security in this ocean-dependent island economy.
The workshop gathered 38 stakeholders, including representatives from the Zanzibar government, Shehia committees, NGOs, and the private sector. Together, they validated a participatory, ecosystem-based strategy designed to shift Zanzibar’s octopus fisheries from an open-access, informal model to a co-managed, sustainable system.
Key outcomes of the workshop included:
· Formal endorsement of the ZOFMP as a national fisheries management plan;
· Agreement on Shehia-based access rights, harvest control rules, and community enforcement responsibilities;
· Integration of gender and youth into management structures and training;
· Inclusion of reef restoration, improved hygiene measures, and digital market tools like ABALOBI;
· Alignment of the plan with national strategies, including the Blue Economy Policy (2022), Fisheries Master Plan (2023–2038), and Zanzibar Development Vision 2050 Sustainable octopus fis….
Octopus fisheries in Zanzibar support an estimated 7,300 individuals, of which 30% are women. It is primarily harvested for local consumption and tourism, with less than 10% of the total catch exported, mainly to destinations such as Hong Kong, the Middle East, and Kenya.
Over the past three decades, the island has undergone significant sociocultural changes, including shifts in social values, fishing habits, and techniques, which have compounded the challenges of resource management – declining catch sizes, reduced weights, and unsustainable harvesting practices. Seasonal closures have shown short-term benefits but revealed challenges during reopening events, often leading to overfishing and reef stress.
The ZOFMP 2026–2030 provides a replicable model for community-based co-management, balancing ecological sustainability with local livelihoods. It also builds on the success of earlier efforts in the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, supported since 2012, and aims to inspire similar initiatives across the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region.
This validation marks a significant milestone in Zanzibar’s commitment to sustainable coastal resource management and paves the way for regional learning under the broader ECOFISH framework.
