The Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul is covered with thick slime. The spread of a dense mass of gray-green color in this water area was the largest in history. It was found not only on the surface of the water, but also at a depth of up to 30 meters.
What is sea slime?
Sea slime is a natural phenomenon that occurs when phytoplankton overgrowth due to high temperatures and water pollution. It consists of protein, carbohydrates, and microscopic algae. In Turkey, it was first discovered in 2007 in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece, but then the dangerous substance was not so much and it did not pose a serious problem.
Slime in the sea off the coast of Istanbul. Photo: frame from youtube
Where did the slime come from in the Sea of Marmara?
Thick mucus began to appear in December last year and by the beginning of June reached a gigantic size. Turkish scientists conducted research and called on the country’s authorities to take emergency measures. According to director of the Middle East Technical University of Turkey (ODTU) Barysh Salihoglu, a significant contribution to its formation is made by untreated runoff that flows into the sea from industrial enterprises, as well as runoff from rivers.
Scientists also believe that the slime began to appear due to climate change. According to them, high temperatures promote the reproduction of microorganisms that are contained in “sea snot”. According to Muharrem Balci, a professor of biology at Istanbul University, the slime is the result of a kind of nutrient overload of algae, which is fed by warm weather and water pollution, which has deteriorated dramatically over the past 40 years. “This slime now covers the surface of the sea like a tarp for a tent,” Balchi said.
What is the danger of the substance?
According to experts, the slime gradually sinks to the sea floor, where it covers the corals, destroying them. It also prevents the killing of marine life, as it blocks the flow of oxygen into the water. According to the Turkish news site Cumhuriyet, in the Sea of Marmara, slime has already filled the waters up to 30 meters deep.
In addition, due to the thick substance on the sea surface, ships have to swim through a thick layer of slime, some fishing boats can not go to sea, because the slime clogs their engines and nets.
What measures are the Turkish authorities taking?
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan he promised to clean the coast of Istanbul from slime. The Head of State instructed Environment Minister Murat Kurum to address this problem.
According to Erdogan, the thick substance threatens, among other things, the ecology of the Black Sea. The leader of the republic announced the adoption of immediate measures. Now a team of 300 experts is working on the site of its accumulation, who are trying to assess the scale of pollution and find the causes of its occurrence.
According to Professor Bayram Ozturk of the Turkish Center for Marine Research, the slime problem will not go away if the authorities do not invest more in a program to clean up sewage drains from Istanbul.