On the coast of Jambiani, Zanzibar, a group of 12 single mothers snorkel out to work on floating sponge farms in the Indian Ocean. Their occupation provides a lucrative alternative to the traditional, but increasingly difficult, seaweed farming, which has seen reduced yields from climate change-induced higher water temperatures. Sponges are more tough to hot temperatures than seaweed, and also act as natural water filters, reducing pesticide and sewage pollution in the sea. They also produce fatty and amino acids which benefit creatures living on the seabed below. The sea sponge farm initiative has meant that the women involved gain skills in swimming, diving, and using snorkeling equipment, as well as the financial elements of keeping the business afloat. Furthermore, the financial freedom the farm provides to women has allowed them to remodel traditional gender relations and move away from staying primarily in the domestic realm and relying on the incomes of their husbands.
